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City's New Pedestrian Safety Initiative Includes Crossing Flags at Select Intersections

By Chuck Sudo in News on Dec 12, 2011 10:55PM

The Chicago Department of Transportation Continues its "It's Up to You" program promoting pedestrian safety by installing street crossing flags at specific intersections.

The ten intersections are:

  • 71st and Spaulding, near Tarkington Elementary School.
  • Central and Walton, near Brunson Elementary School.
  • Belmont and Kilpatrick, near a senior housing building.
  • 93rd and Oglesby, near Trinity Hospital.
  • 63rd and Talman, near a senior center.
  • 50th and Cottage Grove, near Hales Franciscan High School.
  • Devon and Francisco, near the Croatian Cultural Center.
  • 64th and Western, near Claremont Academy.
  • 79th and Throop, near a senior housing building.
  • Elston, Grace and Bernard, near Murphy Elementary School

The initiative is the latest step in the program, which kicked off with the "One of 32" mannequin campaign where 32 mannequins decked in black were set up at points across the city to bring attention to the 32 pedestrian fatalities in Chicago last year.

Tribune transportation reporter John Hilkevitch writes that state law requires vehicles to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. the 10 intersections were chosen because they're uncontrolled intersections near schools, hospitals and senior housing. Pedestrians looking to be more visible to motorists may use the flags, then place them in holders located at each end of the intersection.

It's a noble plan, but we suspect CDOT will be replacing a lot of stolen flags very soon.