Michigan Ave. crosswalk. Credit: Wesley Fryer

While many Chicago neighborhoods are great places for walking, pedestrians still face quality of life and safety issues walking our streets every day. So I was encouraged to learn about an actual city plan to make our streets more complete and livable. Our city has a great track record with its bike plan, and there's great hope that the city's commitment to the pedestrian plan will lead to similarly exciting successes. The program includes a Pedestrian Plan Survey, where you can provide feedback on your experience as a pedestrian in Chicago.

The city is also planning to step up protection of pedestrians with a crosswalk sting to catch drivers who fail to yield -- something promised last year but that never happened. For more on that, see Cops to pose as pedestrians to nab unyielding drivers, Chicago Tribune, June 6.

The following announcement is being circulated by CDOT's Pedestrian Program.

Open House for Chicago's first Pedestrian Plan
June 12, 2008
5:30 - 7:30pm
Grant Park Fieldhouse (337 E Randolph)

Come to discuss the first phase of the Pedestrian Plan, learn about the city's current and upcoming initiatives, give feedback on where you like to walk and where you'd like to walk.

For more information, go to:
www.cityofchicago.org/transportation