'Biking while black': Chicago minority areas see the most bike tickets

Okay as the article points out there are lots of potential explanations for this but not a single North side area listed in the top ticked areas?

As Chicago police ramp up their ticketing of bicyclists, more than twice as many citations are being written in African-American communities than in white or Latino areas, a Tribune review of police statistics has found.

The top 10 community areas for bike tickets from 2008 to Sept. 22, 2016, include seven that are majority African-American and three that are majority Latino. From the areas with the most tickets written to the least, they are Austin, North Lawndale, Humboldt Park, South Lawndale, Chicago Lawn, West Englewood, Roseland, West Garfield Park, New City and South Chicago.

Not a single majority-white area ranked in the top 10, despite biking's popularity in white areas such as West Town and Lincoln Park."

Read full article at the Tribune site...

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on March 29, 2017 at 4:23am
Perhaps this has been said, but what of the ratio of police to civilians in the white areas versus the black/colored areas of the city?

I know the NW side alderman were uppity a while back due to an undermanned 16th district police station, but then you look at the Harrison, Austin, or Englewood districts (the city's bloodiest last year) and I'd venture to say they aren't short of cops. Perhaps there is a further correlation between the ratio of cops to tickets per capita.

The side discussion of WHY there is higher crime in those districts is too in-depth for a simple ticket thread but we all know it is there and ingrained in society.
Permalink Reply by TonyP on March 30, 2017 at 6:34pm

colored?

Permalink Reply by Caiken on March 31, 2017 at 4:54am

yeah, dude, seriously no, change that RN, communities of color is not that hard to get right

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 31, 2017 at 5:31am

+1

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on June 15, 2017 at 6:18am
You're right, however I am unable to edit the post at this time.

But that raises a question, what should white communities be referred to? Caucasian communities? Communities of no color doesn't sound right. Or does that not matter?

(I'm white and I don't honestly care, but want to speak to add sensibilities)
Permalink Reply by Caiken on June 15, 2017 at 6:27am

As a person who passes, I'm gonna step in to answer this but I am just going to gently honestly ask: sensibilities? 

White communities. There are plenty of resources and discourses available on why it doesn't matter and being white, in a white community, is what should be said. It isn't about linguistic or syntactical matching. Communities of color is what is determined by the group as the correct nomenclature, and changing the syntax (___ communities) is absolutely tied to racist and damaging language of the past. 

Should you be interested in more, I'm happy to point you to some resources. But it's not really a discussion that goes anywhere or works towards antiracism or dismantling white supremacy. In all earnestness, props for acknowledging your mistake at least. 

Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on June 15, 2017 at 6:37am

The damaging language is not of the past, it's alive and well in the present! The purpose of this type of language is to create fear and that is true when other terms are used to describe a "non-white" community! 

Permalink Reply by Caiken on June 15, 2017 at 6:39am

Absolutely, Waymond. I don't know if I'm being articulate here, but was trying to push on a learning opportunity. I hope i'm getting somewhere better with it. 

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on June 15, 2017 at 8:08am
Thanks! And I would be interested in some of those resources. Feel free to PM me to avoid cluttering the thread.
Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on June 15, 2017 at 6:33am

The use of the term "black communities" is used people who want to create a separation from the rest of the overall community. I have never heard that term used to describe other communities. The media use that term to sensationalize the "news" and sell newspapers or whatever they are attempting to sell.

You're right I've never heard of Jefferson Park labeled as a "white"community.

Permalink Reply by Chitown_Mike on June 15, 2017 at 8:22am
It's funny you mention Jeff park, I grew up there and my wife and I decided to move to an area with more diversity in the city. Jeff park may never be outwardly labeled as a white neighborhood, but they do fight tooth and nail to stay that way it seems.
Permalink Reply by Waymond Smith on March 30, 2017 at 10:24am

After reading these comments about "Biking While Black" it appears that there appears to be a bit of consensus that the Chicago Police Department is using the "reason" of riding on the sidewalk as a policy to stop and ticket blacks. Do you feel that this replaces the "stop and frisk" policy that the City of Chicago had in effect until they were sued by the ACLU? 

In my opinion that what's occurring, and I feel that a class action suit against the Chicago Police Department and the City of Chicago should be considered. How do you feel about it?

The Chicago Tribune stated that all bicyclists who break the law should be ticketed and I agree. During my rides across the city I see cyclists on the north side breaking numerous traffic laws while the police just watch.

The effect of this policy and the lack of a biking infrastructure discourages residents in the affected communities from riding bicycles and these communities really can use the benefits that biking provides.

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