Pedestrian Traffic In Downtown Chicago Back To Pre-Pandemic Levels

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Whenever asked why my family and I live in Chicago, I always have the same simple answer: It’s world class city. That’s why it was no surprise when I read that the “State of the Loop” report from the Chicago Loop Alliance indicated downtown pedestrian traffic is back to pre-pandemic levels. The explaination the group provided is that people our drawn to Chicago’s city center for the arts (music, theater and museums), culture and food scenes.

The reported noted that in 2025 downtown foot traffic was at 116% of what is was in 2019.  The study showed that more people attend arts and culture events than the games of all of the city’s professional sports teams combined.  The report further noted that events like the Lollapolooza added $514 million in direct economic impact on the city. An outline of the report can be read here.

Again, these numbers are no surprise to me as I see the number people outside my office on Michigan Avenue. The number of people walking around in site seeing during the summer and fall is staggering to see. All the foot traffic can increase the chance of pedestrian and auto accidents. It is important to be aware of your surroundings when walking around downtown Chicago. Always follow the traffic signals, and also be cognizant of all the separate bike lanes downtown, as bicyclists have the same traffic rights as vehicles.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident then call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group for a consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago Rated As The Worst Traffic Congested City In The U.S.

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Traffic analytics company, INRIX, issued it’s 2025 Global Scorecard last month and it was not good news for Chicago, Illinois. Chicago was ranked as the most congested city in the United States for 2025, ahead of New York, Philadelphia, Los Angeles and Boston.

Chicago drivers lose an average of 112 hours annually in peak traffic over the time they would have spent in normal traffic. That’s 10 more hours lost in peak traffic than drivers in New York (102 hours), which came in second in the U.S., followed by Philadelphia (101 hours), Los Angeles (87 hours) and Boston (83 hours). For Chicagoans, the lost time cost the average motorist $2,063, while the city as a whole lost $7.5 billion, according to INRIX.

Overall, congestion resulted in U.S. drivers losing an average of 49 hours annually to traffic jams, an increase of six hours from 2024. That’s also the equivalent of about six working days, costing $894 in lost time and productivity.

A snapshot of Chicago’s INRIX report can be seen by clicking here.

I think it’s important to point out several reasons why Chicago rose to the top spot. First, the mulityear Kennedy Expressway construction project was completed through a bulk of 2025. It started in March and ran through the end of November. The closed lanes and exits along 1-90/94, plus the closed express lane led to denser congestion and longer commutes all summer and fall.

Also, the Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) chose 2025 to close multiple bridges all at the same time for much needed repairs. Those include the Lake Street, Cortland Street, Chicago Avenue and State Street Bridges. The Cortland and Chicago Avenue closures make transportation incredibley difficult when driving between the east and west sides of the city and often times requires jumping on the Kennedy for short periods in order to cross the Chicago river.

All of this construction, all at once, has made commute times much worse for Chicagoans. I will be interested to see if Chicago improves next year now that the Kennedy construction is complete.

If you have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or you can go directly to the website at www.blgchicago.com.

Illinois’ New Transportation Laws For 2026

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A new year is upon us and there are dozens of new Illinois laws that took effect on January 1. I thought it would be helpful to drivers to list all the transportation related bills that take effect this year:

House Bill 2751 – Prohibits the sale of cars by car dealers in locations other than their dealership.

Senate Bill 1507 – Requires UIC to conduct a safety review of traffic on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, including crash data and potential AI camera implementation.

Senate Bill 1883 – Prohibits obstructing vehicle-registration plates with tape or other devices.

House Bill 1120 – Eliminates the requirement for the Secretary of State to include a space on driver’s licenses for indicating blood type.

Senate Bill 2285 – Updates the definition of bicycle to also include low-speed electric bikes.

I will be interested to see the results of UIC’s traffic study on Lake Shore Drive and the effects AI cameras could add. Hopefully this leads to less congestion. Also, it’s interesting to see electric bikes be included within the definition of a “bicycle.” This would require electric bike users to obey the same rules of the road as bicyclists.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or a Chicago bicycle accident, then please call the Illinois personal injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, LLC., for a freel legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or you can go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

AAA Publishes Best Times To Travel During Thanksgiving Holiday

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Thanksgiving is next week and millions of Americans will travel by plane and by car to visit family and friends. This is one of the busiest weeks of the year for traveling on the roads and it can be helpful to plan ahead. AAA recently published on their website their recommendations on when to travel to avoid the heavy traffic jams:

Tuesday, Nov. 25

  • Best Times: Before 12:00 p.m.
  • Worst Times: 12:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

Wednesday, Nov. 26

  • Best Times: Before 11:00 a.m.
  • Worst Times: 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Thursday, Nov. 27

  • Minimal traffic impact expected

Friday, Nov. 28

  • Best Times: Before 11:00 a.m.
  • Worst Times: 1:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 29

  • Best Times: Before 10:00 a.m.
  • Worst Times: 1:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

Sunday, Nov. 30

  • Best Times: Before 11:00 a.m.
  • Worst Times: 11:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.

Be sure to plan ahead and find the best time that fits you and your family’s schedule and hopefully avoid the rush on the roads.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then please call the Chicago accident attorneys at The Bryant Law Group at 312-614-1076 or go directly to firm’s website www.blgchicago.com. We offer free legal consultations on your Chicago car accident or Illinois workers compensation cases.

Winter Driving TIPS From IDOT

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Commuters to work and school had the unfortunate task of driving in a slippery and snowy mess this morning as Chicago received its’ first snow fall of the year. Most of the Chicagoland area received between 4-8 inches of snow. Luckily the snow is supposed to melt in the next few days, but we know that this could be the first of many snowy weathers to come in Chicago. It is important to plan ahead in case you need to drive in winter weather.

The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) provided the following winter weather driving tips to help us deal with days like today:

  • always wear a seat belt. It’s the law in Illinois.
  • Slow down. Slower speeds, slower acceleration, slower steering and slower braking all are required in winter driving conditions.
  • Drop it and drive. Put down the handheld devices – it, too, is the law in Illinois.
  • Don’t crowd the plow. A snowplow operator’s field of vision is restricted. You may see them, but they may not see you.
  • Avoid using cruise control in snow and ice.
  • Watch out for black ice on roads that appear clear but can be treacherous.
  • Be especially careful approaching intersections, ramps, bridges and shady areas. All are prone to icing.
  • Do not travel during bad weather unless absolutely necessary. If you do have to make a trip, check the forecast and make sure someone is aware of your travel route. Consider taking public transportation if it is an option.
  • Prepare an emergency kit that contains jumper cables, flares or reflectors, windshield washer fluid, a small ice scraper, traction material, blankets, non-perishable food and a first-aid kit.
  • Carry a cell phone and a car charger in case of emergency.
  • Follow Scott’s Law. Slow down and move over for stopped emergency, construction and maintenance vehicles.

Plan ahead and prepare yourself and your vehicle for what could be a very snowy 2025-26 Chicago winter.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck crash, then call the Illinois injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076. Or you can go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Beware Of New “Traffic Ticket” Scam Aimed At Illinois Drivers

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I wrote earlier this year about a texting scam sent to Illinois drivers regarding fake unpaid tolls. The scammers would send a text threatening drivers license suspensions if the fines were not paid.

The scammers are back at again. NBC 5 Chicago reported this week that a new phishing scam has surfaced. Text messages stating there are “outstanding traffic ticket” with a “final notice” from a number purporting to be the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. The fake messages warn that if the fines are not paid within 24 hours it could lead vehicle registration suspension, prosecution, credit score impact, and a 35% fee at tolls.

We know these are fake text messages because there is no such thing as the Illinois Department of Motor Vehicles. Vehicles are registered through the Illinois Secretary of State’s office.

The Illinois Secretary of State’s office previously issued a warning back in May regarding the similar phishing scam: “These are not legitimate messages from the Illinois Department of Transportation,” a banner on IDOT’s website said. “If you receive a message report it to the Federal Trade Commission and/or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.”

If you receive one of these messages, please remember to ignore and do not click on any of the links as that could lead to stolen personal information on your phone.

If you or a loved one has been injured in Chicago car accident or Chicago truck accident, then reach out to the Chicago personal injury attorneys at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Cook County Sheriff Department Gets Creative In Traffic Safety Initiative

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Fox 32 Chicago reported recently about the Cook County Sheriff Department’s initiative to stop drivers from going onto the shoulders of highways. According to the report, the department is using helicopters to spot drivers who illegally use the shoulder to bypass traffic.

In a late September social media post, the department reported that in a three hours span, deputies issued 120 tickets to motorists caught driving on the shoulder. Of those, 49 were flagged by helicopter surveillance. The Department announced that they had issued over 1000 tickets. Fines for these violations can run from $250 to $1000. Shoulder driving is a moving violation and will affect driver license status if the tickets are not amended.

The Sheriff’s Department insists that this initiative is about safety and not about meeting ticket quotas. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”), there were 585 fatal car crashes on road shoulders nationwide in 2023.

Think twice if you are considering taking the shoulder the next you are sitting in a traffic jam in or around Chicago. The Cook County Sheriff’s Department could be watching from above and issue you a very expensive ticket.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago traffic accident or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, LLC for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Chicago’s Kennedy Express Lanes Fully Open

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Chicago commuters recieved great news as they were heading to work monday morning. As reported by NBC Chicago and announced by the Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”), the inbound and outbound express lanes on 1-90/94 were fully operational as Monday morning.

Construction on the Kennedy is scheduled to resume through the rest of the fall as construction continues on several outbound ramps. The Wilson Avenue exit ramp is set to close Monday night for an estimated two weeks. The currently closed outbound Kennedy ramp to Division Street should reopen in mid-October. And the Ontario Street feeder ramp to the outbound Kennedy will be shut down in the next week or two. IDOT insists that the entire project will be completed by Thanksgiving.

The inbound express lanes opening is a huge relief for many Chicago commuters. Since this summer it can take over an hour to commute from O’Hare airport to the downtown loop. Hopefully these openings will ease commute times.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or suffered a personal injury, please reach out to the Chicago accident lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

Kennedy Expressway Contruction Project Nearing End

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There is a light at the end of the tunnel for Chicagoans who travel on I-90/94 Kennedy expressway. The Illinois Department of Transportation (“IDOT”) announced this week that they are nearing the end of the years long project.

According to ABC 7 On Wednesday, IDOT reopened three major outbound Kennedy exit ramps: Kimball Avenue, Addison Street and Pulaski Road/Irving Park Road (Illinois 19). The Kimball Avenue ramp to outbound Kennedy was closed on Tuesday night, IDOT said. It is expected to reopen in approximately three weeks. The outbound Kennedy ramp to Addison Street was also closed, it is anticipated to reopen in approximately three weeks. All northbound lanes north of Addison street are now oben.

These recent lane and exit openings are a huge relief for commuters in and out of the city and especially those who are driving to O’Hare airport. If a driver gets on 90/94 north of Ontario, they miss the only onramp to the express lane which has caused terrible gridlock for northbound drivers all summer.

IDOT states that the project will be completely finished on time by Thanksgiving. That cannot come soon enough.

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured in a Chicago car crash or Chicago truck accident, then call the Illinois personal injury attorneys at the Bryant Law Group, LLC at 312-614-1076 or go directly to the firm’s website at www.blgchicago.com.

New Bike Path Connecting Lakefront Trails Coming to North Side of Chicago

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The Chicago Department of Transportation (“CDOT”) commitment to making the city more bicycle friendly and make bike transportation more accessible, is coming to fruition with a new northside bike path. According to Blockclub Chicago, the city is compleing a 2.5-mile bike route connecting the North Shore Channel Trail and Chicago’s lakefront trail. The path will lead to Winnemac Park, Andersonville’s Clark Street and the Asia on Argyle corridor.

CDOT told Blockclub that the only remaining stretch of the path that needs to be completed is of a 1 mile stretch between Damen Broadway through Ravenswood and Uptown. An exact timeline has not been announced, but it is expected to be finished before the end of the year.

The project is called “Winnemac Avenue Neighborhood Greenway.” Neighborhood greenways are bike routes on residential streets that include larger bike lanes (typically on oneway streets) and provide safer and calmer routes than biking on busy streets. You can view a map of the Winnemake greenway by clicking here.

A similar neighborhood greenway was constructed on Dickens street, that stretches from the 606 trail on the west side all the way to the Lincoln Park Zoo and the lake front. Dickens is a a west direction oneway street, but now contains a large bike lane that allows bicyclists to ride in both directions.

I continue to applaud these efforts by the city to improve bicycle accessiblity, especially allowing for paths throughout the city that are calmer and more kid friendly. This is not only safer for bicyclists, but will hopefully lead to less congested roads.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a Chicago bicycle accident or a Chicago traffic accident, then call the Chicago injury lawyers at The Bryant Law Group, LLC. for a free legal consultation at 312-614-1076 or go to the firm’s website directly at www.blgchicago.com.