CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) - A proposal will go to a full Chicago City Council vote later this month that, if approved, would begin testing of cameras to issue tickets for drivers that illegally park in bus and bicycle lanes.
Safety advocates approve of the idea.
“One way to change people’s behavior and to recognize the change in the environment is through ticketing,” said Robert Schultz, campaign organizer at the Active Transportation Alliance.
The organization focuses on bike and pedestrian safety. Schultz has twice been hit by and testified during public comment in favor of using cameras to issue fines to bike and bus lane violators along with drivers that block the crosswalks. He also recognizes there could be controversy over low income residents becoming burdened with the fines.
“We hope that the city has robust signage and does give people ample warning so that we can hopefully end up with a system where no one is incurring these fines because they know how important it is not to park in a bike lane or a bus only lane,” Schultz said.
If approved by the City Council on March 15, a pilot program would cover areas in 8 of the city’s 50 wards.
Although Schultz believes the idea does not go far enough, he thinks it is a positive development.
“With every change that I’ve been a witness to, there’s always small steps that are taken towards a larger goal. So, these are steps in the right direction,” Schultz said.
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