MILWAUKEE — A local group in Milwaukee is working to raise awareness to ensure roads in the city are safe for pedestrians.
MilWALKee Walks is a pedestrian advocacy group under the Wisconsin Bike Fed. It aims to make walking and rolling safe, accessible and fun for all people in Milwaukee.
Volunteers at crosswalk actions help to educate drivers about the pedestrian right of way at marked and unmarked crosswalks. They also help pedestrians feel more comfortable in crossing the street.
Marybeth McGinnis is the program manager with MKE Walks. She said their speed tracking data found that more than 92% of drivers in the area are going over the speed limit.
“We collected some speeding data and some of the speeds were really egregious up into the 50s and 60s in some cases,” said McGinnis. “The speed limit here is 25 miles an hour, as it is in most of the city.”
Volunteers with the program help voice concerns and work with the city to create different traffic calming measures, like a new traffic circle recently placed on 25th and Locust.
“We had a case about a year ago where someone was actually hit at this intersection,” she said.
Volunteer Barbara Smith has also joined in on the crosswalk actions. She’s lived in the Amani neighborhood on and off for almost 20 years.
“I am a grandmother, so I do understand the importance of babies having to cross the street because there are schools in the neighborhood,” said Smith.
She said she volunteers because it’s a great way to stay engaged in her neighborhood. There are some changes she said she would like to see.
“It would be helpful and much clearer if there was signage to say specifically what the speed limit is. That way we’re able to hold people accountable,” she said. “If we have more eyes and more help to advocate for what we need in our neighborhoods, we know we have the support to do what needs to be done.”
MKE Walks works with area organizations like the Dominican Center and Amani United. Elizabeth Brown is the president of Amani United and said they help mobilize community members to take action.
“We work with them by bringing awareness to our community and letting the residents know that they do have a voice and allowing them to express that voice,” said Brown.
McGinnis said they’ll continue to raise awareness, ensuring people can walk safely and comfortably through their neighborhoods without fear of reckless drivers.
“We would love for more folks to come on board,” she said. “If you are interested in making a crosswalk near you more visible, please feel free to reach out.”
The City of Milwaukee’s Neighborhood Traffic Management Program offers help to residents who are dealing with traffic safety problems on residential side streets.
If you are interested in participating in this program or have questions or complaints about speeding, cut-through traffic, pedestrian safety, speed humps or other traffic calming, click here.