Force Chicago to Fix Sidewalks Failing People With Disabilities
The Issue
Across Chicago, sidewalks are crumbling into dangerous obstacle courses. Cracks wide enough to trap a wheelchair, curbs with no ramps, and intersections that flood so badly people in walkers and chairs are forced into traffic just to get across the street. For residents with disabilities, this isn’t an inconvenience. It’s daily humiliation, danger, and exclusion.
A new federal lawsuit makes clear what thousands already know: Chicago is failing people with disabilities. More than 20,000 repair requests have been open for over a year. At least 6,000 have been ignored for three years or longer. The city does not inspect sidewalks or curb ramps proactively. It waits until complaints pile up — leaving people stranded in their homes, unable to reach schools, jobs, bus stops, or doctor’s appointments.
Residents like Cherlnell Lane and Iliana Rivera Haven have spoken out, describing how they are forced to choose between safety and basic freedom of movement. A single broken curb ramp can mean missing a doctor’s visit. A flooded crosswalk can mean risking a wheelchair in the middle of traffic. These are not rare hardships — they are routine violations of rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council cannot ignore this crisis any longer. Every day of delay denies residents their dignity, their safety, and their legal right to equal access. This is not just about infrastructure. It is about whether people with disabilities are treated as full members of their own city, or pushed to the margins.
We demand an immediate accessibility plan with firm deadlines to repair sidewalks, replace broken curb ramps, and make every crosswalk passable. The city must create public accountability so residents can see when repairs will happen and ensure no neighborhood is left behind.
No one should be forced into traffic because Chicago refuses to meet the basic standards of safety and inclusion. People with disabilities deserve to move freely in their own communities. Chicago must act now.
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The Issue
Across Chicago, sidewalks are crumbling into dangerous obstacle courses. Cracks wide enough to trap a wheelchair, curbs with no ramps, and intersections that flood so badly people in walkers and chairs are forced into traffic just to get across the street. For residents with disabilities, this isn’t an inconvenience. It’s daily humiliation, danger, and exclusion.
A new federal lawsuit makes clear what thousands already know: Chicago is failing people with disabilities. More than 20,000 repair requests have been open for over a year. At least 6,000 have been ignored for three years or longer. The city does not inspect sidewalks or curb ramps proactively. It waits until complaints pile up — leaving people stranded in their homes, unable to reach schools, jobs, bus stops, or doctor’s appointments.
Residents like Cherlnell Lane and Iliana Rivera Haven have spoken out, describing how they are forced to choose between safety and basic freedom of movement. A single broken curb ramp can mean missing a doctor’s visit. A flooded crosswalk can mean risking a wheelchair in the middle of traffic. These are not rare hardships — they are routine violations of rights guaranteed under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Mayor Brandon Johnson and the Chicago City Council cannot ignore this crisis any longer. Every day of delay denies residents their dignity, their safety, and their legal right to equal access. This is not just about infrastructure. It is about whether people with disabilities are treated as full members of their own city, or pushed to the margins.
We demand an immediate accessibility plan with firm deadlines to repair sidewalks, replace broken curb ramps, and make every crosswalk passable. The city must create public accountability so residents can see when repairs will happen and ensure no neighborhood is left behind.
No one should be forced into traffic because Chicago refuses to meet the basic standards of safety and inclusion. People with disabilities deserve to move freely in their own communities. Chicago must act now.
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Petition created on September 11, 2025