Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago Department of Transportation on Wednesday launched a citywide e-scooter safety campaign aimed at reducing sidewalk riding, improving parking compliance and curbing collisions at intersections as the summer riding season ramps up.
The programme combines public-service advertisements, expanded geofencing of no-ride zones in central business districts and additional in-app safety messaging from the city's permitted scooter operators. Repeat offenders may have accounts suspended.
Department officials said e-scooter trips in Chicago surpassed 6 million last year, up from about 4 million in 2023. Sidewalk-related complaints to 311 have grown roughly in step with ridership, particularly in the Loop, River North, West Loop and Wicker Park.
CDOT will install more than 200 new corral-style parking zones over the summer, primarily in retail corridors. The agency says corrals reduce sidewalk clutter and collisions with pedestrians, especially those with mobility devices.
The campaign also targets intersection behaviour, including riding the wrong way and ignoring red signals, both of which are over-represented in collision data. Police will not run dedicated enforcement actions but will issue warnings and citations during routine traffic stops.
Aldermanic offices on the North Side requested separate signage in dense residential areas where e-scooter speeds remain a frequent ward complaint. The pilot is intended to inform a broader review of the permit framework later this year.