A wellspring of support for a safer Milwaukee Ave.

More than 60 people showed up at Arc’Teryx Chicago in Wicker Park to rally for a safer Milwaukee Avenue on a recent humid evening. 

Changes to make this corridor crash free are long overdue. As one of the busiest streets for walking and biking in Chicago, Milwaukee Ave. has had an unacceptably high crash rate between 2011 and 2015, with 195 crashes that resulted in people biking getting injured and 56 pedestrians getting injured, along with one pedestrian fatality.

The rally brought together engaged pedestrians, bike commuters, families living in the neighborhood and businesses in the neighborhood such as Rapha, Chrome and Reebok. The energy of the crowd was positive and hopeful for change. 

The City of Chicago, the local aldermen and the Wicker Park Bucktown Special Service Area are developing a project to make low-cost, near-term improvements to the heavily trafficked corridor and Active Trans is calling upon you to engage in the process at the next public meeting on Wednesday July 12.

If you missed out on this great event, there are still ways to show support for a crash free Milwaukee Ave.:

• Sign and share the petition at activetrans.org/MilwaukeeAve
• Share out a message on social media using the hashtag #crashfreeMKE
• If you live in the 1st Ward, call Alderman Joe Moreno (773) 278-0101, 2nd Ward call Alderman Brian Hopkins (312) 643-2299 or the 32nd ward call Alderman Scott Waguespack (773) 248-1330.
• Come to the public meeting hosted by the city on Wednesday July 12th at 5:30pm at the A.N. Pritzker School Auditorium, 2009 W Schiller St.

 There was also an interactive activity that encouraged people to fill out a banner completing the phrase, “I support a crash free Milwaukee Ave because…”

The responses ranged from creative and light hearted to serious personal narratives about crashes on the street.

Here are a few of the responses to the statement, I believe in a crash free Milwaukee Ave. because:

• It’ll make the road safer for everyone
• I’ve already been hit twice
• Riding past ghost bikes isn’t fun
• I can’t afford to go to the hospital if I get in a crash
• We’re all in this together. Safe walking = safe riding = safe driving
• Biking and walking should be FUN not Scary ☹

If you were not able to make the rally, we hope to see you at the next public meeting on Wednesday July 12, and you can still sign and share the petition for safer crosswalks and bike lanes on Milwaukee Ave. in Wicker Park.

A huge thanks to Arc’Teryx for hosting the event and being a great partner.