Wellington Greenway: Crash Analysis
Corridor Study by Lakeview Urbanists
Project Context
The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is proposing a Neighborhood Greenway on Wellington Avenue, connecting the Leavitt Greenway to the Lakefront Trail. This proposed infrastructure is intended to be a family-friendly route, providing access to Hamlin Park, Alphonsus Academy, Wellington CTA station, and the lakefront.
Key proposed features include:
- Advisory Bike Lanes to encourage safer passing
- Contraflow Lanes to allow legal two-way cycling on one-way streets
- Lowered Speed Limits (20 mph) to improve safety for all road users
This analysis examines crash history specifically within the project boundaries: Clybourn Avenue (West) to N Lake Shore Drive (East).
Data for this analysis is sourced from the Traffic Crashes and Traffic Crashes - People datasets from the Chicago City Data Portal. This report was made by the Lakeview Urbanists. Signup for our newsletter to stay informed about advocacy opportunities for cycling infrastructure like this!
Study Area Map
The map below highlights the specific corridor analyzed (purple line) and the 150ft buffer zone used to capture crashes impacting the street:
Demographics: Who is Involved?
Understanding the age of people involved in crashes helps assess the need for “family-friendly” infrastructure.
Age Distribution of People Involved in Crashes
The chart below shows the age groups of all individuals involved in crashes on this corridor (drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians).
Focus on Children (Ages 0-18)
## There have been **39 children** (under 18) involved in crashes on this corridor (2019-2024). Of those, **3 were walking or biking**.Temporal Analysis: When Do Crashes Happen?
Analyzing crash times helps us understand if students are at risk during school commute hours.
All Crashes by Hour of Day
Crashes generally peak during the evening rush hour, but a consistent baseline exists throughout the day.
Children Involved in Crashes by Hour
The chart below isolates crashes involving children (ages 0-18). Note the spikes that align with school commute times.
Seasonal Analysis
Understanding how crashes vary by season helps identify whether weather conditions, seasonal travel patterns, or other factors influence road safety along the corridor.
Total Crashes by Season
This chart shows the overall distribution of crashes across the four seasons (Data: 2019-2024).
Injuries by Season
This breakdown shows how injury severity varies across seasons.
Vulnerable Road Users by Season
Cyclist and pedestrian crashes show distinct seasonal patterns, often influenced by weather and travel mode choices.
Seasonal Summary Statistics
The table below provides a comprehensive overview of crashes, injuries, and vulnerable user involvement across all four seasons (Data: 2019-2024).
| Season | Total Crashes | Avg/Month | Total Injuries | Injury Rate | Cyclist Crashes | Pedestrian Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winter | 174 | 58.0 | 28 | 16.1% | 4 | 9 |
| Spring | 133 | 44.3 | 22 | 16.5% | 6 | 7 |
| Summer | 189 | 63.0 | 33 | 17.5% | 11 | 9 |
| Fall | 146 | 48.7 | 22 | 15.1% | 8 | 6 |
General Safety Summary
In the corridor from Clybourn to Lake Shore Drive (2019-2024):
- 642 Total reported crashes
- 105 Total injuries reported
- 29 crashes involved a cyclist
- 31 crashes involved a pedestrian
Detailed Crash Statistics
The following tables provide a comprehensive breakdown of crash severity, vulnerable road users, and impacts on children in the corridor.
Overall Crash Summary
This table summarizes the total impact of crashes along the Wellington Avenue corridor (Data: 2019-2024).
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Total Crashes | 642 |
| Total Injuries (All Severities) | 105 |
| Incapacitating Injuries | 6 |
| Fatal Injuries | 0 |
| Hit-and-Run Crashes | 153 |
| Dooring Incidents | 5 |
Vulnerable Road Users
Cyclists and pedestrians are particularly at risk in traffic crashes. This table shows the involvement and injury rates for these vulnerable road users (Data: 2019-2024).
| Metric | Count |
|---|---|
| Crashes Involving Cyclists | 29 |
| Cyclists Involved (People) | 29 |
| Cyclists Injured | 19 |
| Crashes Involving Pedestrians | 31 |
| Pedestrians Involved (People) | 31 |
| Pedestrians Injured | 26 |
Children in Crashes
Given the proposed Neighborhood Greenway’s focus on “family-friendly” infrastructure, understanding how children are affected by crashes is critical (Data: 2019-2024).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Crashes Involving Children (0-18) | 33 |
| Children Involved in Crashes | 39 |
| Children Injured | 4 |
| % of All People in Crashes Who Are Children | 3% |
High Injury Locations
This map shows where injuries (of any type) are most concentrated along the Wellington Avenue corridor (Data: 2019-2024).
Cyclist Crash Locations
This map shows all crashes involving cyclists along the Wellington Avenue corridor (Data: 2019-2024).
Pedestrian Crash Locations
This map shows all crashes involving pedestrians along the Wellington Avenue corridor (Data: 2019-2024).
Crash Clusters
This heat map visualization shows where crashes are concentrated along the Wellington Avenue corridor (Data: 2019-2024).