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Residents press council for action as bicyclist recounts near-misses; police promise targeted patrols
Summary
A resident described multiple near-collisions with speeding drivers in residential neighborhoods; Police Chief Ranish said officers can focus enforcement on problem areas if residents report incidents.
A longtime Evanston resident, Virginia Blue Will Wilson, told the City Council she has ridden about 575 miles since April and described multiple near-collisions with drivers in neighborhoods near Lafayette Elementary, Aspen Ridge and Upper Broken Circle.
Wilson said drivers often “blow past” her and other cyclists and that parents picking up children sometimes make sudden U-turns, creating dangerous conditions for bicyclists and children. “I’ve almost been hit three times,” she said in public comment; later in the same address she said she had experienced “at least six” near-death incidents since April.
Police Chief Ranish acknowledged the complaint and described enforcement limits for a small department covering roughly 100 miles of road. “We have generally two officers on at a time,” he said, and added the department can place extra officers in problem areas as manpower permits. “If Broken Circle is a problem right now, we can give extra attention to it, get people slowed down,” Ranish said.
Ranish explained practical enforcement constraints: speed citations typically require an officer to observe and document a vehicle’s speed, and the department lacks capacity to be everywhere but will respond to repeated complaints. He encouraged residents to call the police when incidents occur so the department can concentrate patrols. “If you got a problem area, call our agency. We’re happy to take those calls and put extra officers there as manpower permits,” he said.
Council discussion touched on traffic-calming options. A council member noted the tradeoffs associated with speed bumps, including increased braking and acceleration near the bump and noise for adjacent residents. A commenter suggested radar speed-display signs as a low-cost reminder; one resident said the signs have changed driver behavior where they are currently installed.
No ordinance or formal action was recorded; the council and police encouraged residents to report problem drivers and said the department would direct additional enforcement to identified locations where possible.
