Motorists Speeding in Humboldt Park from Active Trans on Vimeo.

With the Chicago City Council set to vote on the speed camera ordinance at Wednesday morning’s meeting, we bring you a few last minute stories before the vote.

In the video above, the Active Transportation Alliance, a group which strongly supports the speed cameras, took a speed gun into Humboldt Park to document the fact that some drivers break the speed limit.

We’re all shocked, SHOCKED they were able to find speeding drivers in Chicago.

WBBM Radio 780 did a news report on ATA’s video.

GRID Chicago Writer Against Speed Cam Ordinance?

Speaking of shocking.

We were a bit surprised when GRID Chicago writer Steven Vance told us he was against the speed camera ordinance during a lengthy conversation with us late last week.

Vance, an avid bike rider and prolific writer on biking and other transportation issues, has given the issue a lot of thought and devoted many posts on the subject since the bill came up in the Illinois General Assembly last fall.

But after much consideration, Vance has decided that Chicago’s speed cam ordinance, at least as currently proposed, is not good policy.

In a recent post, Vance reprints an email conversation he has with another excellent writer and biking evangelist John Greenfield who enthusiastically supports the cameras.

Remarkably, Vance comes to the conclusion that most of the things that bother drivers about the law (emphasis on revenue, one dimensional view of improving safety, big brother concerns, etc.) also bother him.

I’ve figured it out. I want city council to not pass the ordinance. I think the surveillance and revenue aspects leave too much room for abuse and I believe that we should pursue human-scale strategies to reduce speed and change our culture that accepts speeding and the injuries and fatalities it leads to.

With the debate generally breaking down along party lines, ie: bikers versus motorists, Vance’s position is certainly a brave one. He may be the only person in the tight knit bike community who’s against speed cams.

Make sure you read Vance’s very thoughtful and intellectually honest piece, “Trying to get in the last word about speed cameras, before Wednesday’s vote.”

Red Light Cameras Don’t Recognize Clout

How many sitting City Council members have received red light camera tickets?

More than you’d think.

WBEZ surveys a handful of sheepish aldermen and asks them if they’ve ever received a red light ticket before.

You’ll be surprised at how many have felt the sting of that expensive $100 RLC ticket.

Read and listen to WBEZ’s full report, “Chicago aldermen caught by red light cameras.”