Cities Today reported recently that Chicago will be launching a traffic safety program called Smart Streets Pilot, which will focus on enforcing parking violations in bus and bike lanes.

Cameras will be placed on buses and and city vehicles looking to enforce traffic lane violations. An initial 30-day warning will precede a ticket, but after this initial timeframe drivers will be fined for repeated violations. It is unclear what the fine amount will be after receiving the initial warning.

The two-year pilot program will operate in downtown Chicago with eight city enforcement vehicles equipped with cameras to monitor the streets, while the Chicago Transit Authority (“CTA”) will install cameras on up to six buses by 2025. According to the city’s Transport Commissioner Tom Carney: “By keeping bus and bike lanes clear of illegal parking, we can improve safety and reduce delays for commuters.”

The pilot’s results will be reported to the city council, assessing the impact on traffic flow, safety, and transit operations.

This is welcome news to Chicago bicyclists and pedestrians who commute downtown. Too often drivers park their vehicles blocking dedicated bike and bus lanes. This is incredibly dangerous for bicyclists, especially when it happens in densly populated areas like the Chicago loop. Let’s hope this pilot program motivates drivers to park their vehicles properly and eventually make Chicago’s streets safer.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Chicago personal injury lawyers at the Bryant Law Group for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website by clicking on www.blgchicago.com.