In many Illinois communities, walking to school, the bus stop, or the corner store comes with real risk. PowerPed, Vega Impact Group’s statewide pedestrian safety initiative, was launched to confront that reality head-on, starting with the neighborhoods where the numbers are hardest to ignore.

 

What We Heard on Chicago’s West Side

Between June and September 2025, we surveyed 210 residents across West Side neighborhoods — communities with some of the highest pedestrian fatality rates in the state.

 

Here’s what they told us:

• Speeding, distraction, and failure to yield were the top safety concerns —and part of their daily experiences.
• While more than half of respondents (52%) walk or bike as their primary way of getting around; 80% said they would do so more often if they felt safer.
• Drivers parking and driving in bike lanes and crosswalks was the single most-cited unsafe behavior.
• Residents called for protected bike lanes, reliable sidewalks, safer crossings, and a shift toward people-first street design.

 

They spoke up — and what they said matters.

 

Now: Taking PowerPed to Rockford and Peoria

Chicago’s West Side was our starting point, but the problem doesn’t stop there. In 2026, PowerPed is expanding to Rockford and Peoria, two other Illinois communities with disproportionately high pedestrian fatality rates.

 

• Rockford: We’ve already made an initial trip to meet with city representatives and community organizations — listening, learning, and building relationships. We’ll be heading back in June for a formal listening tour.
• Peoria: Two listening tours are planned this summer, giving residents the opportunity to share what they see, what they need, and what solutions they want to be part of.

 

Stay Tuned: Listening Tours Coming This Summer

If you’re in Rockford or Peoria, please watch out for listening tour dates in your area this summer. These sessions are open to anyone who cares about safer streets.

 

Your Voice Belongs in the Room

PowerPed is community-driven by design. The data — from the Illinois Department of Transportation — tells us where the problems are. The people in these neighborhoods tell us how to solve them.