The Law Offices of James M. Freeman, P.C.

Mary Wisniewski authored an article for Reuters on Rahm Emanuel's plans to expand bicycle infrastructure in the City of Chicago.  She interviewed me in preparation for this article and ended up quoting me on my pro-enforcement stance.

Interestingly enough, when she called to get an opinion from me for the article she started by asking if I thought Chicago might experience some of the same anti-cycling backlash New York cyclists are dealing with in light of Emanuel's plan to rapidly expand bicycling infrastructure in Chicago.  I indicated that tensions between cyclists and other users of Chicago's roadways are already chronic.

I tried to explain that tensions between cyclists, pedestrians and drivers already exist in Chicago, and to think we're not seeing the same backlash that New Yorkers are feeling is an illusion.  Just because there isn't a high profile lawsuit brought to prevent installation of bicycle infrastructure doesn't mean anti bicycle biases aren't hindering our ability to get more cycling infrastructure and legislation through.

If we want to see expansion of cycling infrastructure we need to hold bicycling out as a civilized and legitimate form of transportation.  In Chicago, that isn't happening, and I believe it is largely due to the absence of meaningful enforcement of traffic laws as to cyclists.