Tribune: More bike tickets in African American areas

The Chicago Tribune has published a new analysis that raises troubling questions about communities of color receiving a disproportionate number of tickets issued for bike violations.

Specifically, the Tribune’s analysis found that “more than twice as many citations are being written in African-American communities than in white or Latino areas.”

Active Trans advocates for fair enforcement of traffic laws as part of a comprehensive approach to street safety. However, we strongly condemn using traffic enforcement to target specific members of our communities.

We urge the Chicago Police Department to issue a public response to the Tribune’s findings.

As the City of Chicago prepares to release its Vision Zero Action Plan, we have a unique window of opportunity to engage in a meaningful conversation about fair enforcement of traffic laws. We will continue to work with our community partners and grassroots leaders to ensure these important issues remain at the forefront of the conversation.

Learn more about Active Trans’ position on fair enforcement as a Vision Zero priority.