We asked readers what they think of a proposal to lower the speed limit on many Chicago streets to 25 mph from 30 mph. We received more than 500 responses. Here’s what some people said, with responses lightly edited for clarity.
“It’s good for pedestrian safety and will barely impact travel times. Heck, on some streets, by the time you get up to 30 mph, it’s time to start braking in advance of the next light.”
Benjamin Recchie, Little Italy
“Get people to stop running stop signs. That’s more important.”
Lamarcus Brooks
“Ridiculous! Money grab. The scooters and bikers will go faster than autos. Why not enforce the traffic laws on them racing through red lights and stop signs?
Mimi Tuerk Condon, 78, Streeterville
“Road safety is atrocious in the United States compared to every other developed country. Lowering the speed limit slightly will allow for some much-needed design changes to our streets. Design changes are much more effective than speed limits but they’re not possible when the speed is too high.”
Collin Pearsall, 31, Humboldt Park
“There is near zero enforcement of any traffic laws in the city. We could lower it to 5 mph, and it wouldn’t make a difference.”
Chris Steinmetz, 49, South Side
“Speed up the construction projects at intersections, eliminate extra-wide bike lanes, ticket and tow illegal parkers, because a driver would be heavily challenged to find a Chicago street capable of handling 30 mph traffic. As usual, Chicago’s politicians prefer to fix the result rather than the cause.”
Howard Sims
“On side residential streets maybe. No way on major streets.”
Mike Jackson
“Great idea. The response time is better when a sudden stop is required to avoid a car door, bicyclist, balls or kids running in the street, etc.”
Alice Anne, Brighton Park and Lake View
“Good luck with that.”
Meechelle Tomas, 55, Rogers Park
“If drivers don’t like it, they should consider using our city’s public transit system and advocating for improvements there.”
Emily Minehart, Logan Square
“Cash grab for speed cameras. The speed was dropped for the camera near me by 5 mph, resulting in more tickets (three) than I have gotten in the last 30 years (two).”
Kevan Davis
“Instead of lowering the speed limit, ticket pedestrians who cross the street looking at their phones and wearing ear buds. This is a cold weather city and we need to have infrastructure for cars to move through the city quickly.”
Gino Catalano, Wicker Park
“As a non-driver, I am enjoying all the car-brained fools having a meltdown over a 5 mph speed reduction. Grow up and slow down, you are driving a weapon that kills people.”
Donna Oppolo
“Lower speeds can help reduce the number and severity of accidents while also making streets safer for pedestrians and bikers. I understand the need for people to be able to utilize cars. At the same time, it’s critical that we think about ways to incentivize other forms of travel (e.g., CTA, bike, walking).”
Jacob Caplan, Humboldt Park
“It won’t change everyone’s speed overnight, but the studies show that you’re half as likely to be killed by a car going 25 mph versus 30 mph. Huge fan.”
Spencer Colton, 25, Lincoln Park
“Bad idea! [The city is] already squeezing traffic due to bike lanes on major streets. … The city should focus on making all the park and school speed limits the same, not 20 here and 25 there, and the hours should be stated the same for those — 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., not when children are present.”
Harold Turrentine, Irving Park
“What would help more is citing people talking on cell phones while driving and resurfacing the roads that have so many potholes.”
Robyn Michaels, 70, Rogers Park
“I think it stinks, except on my street. Make it 20.”
Adam Weber, Avondale