These Are Rockford’s Biggest Trouble Spots for Walking and Biking

I never thought of Rockford as a great city for walking or biking, and it seems some of the folks in charge felt the same.

The city of Rockford has found several different crash hot spots for pedestrians and bicyclists after looking at ten years of data.

READ MORE: LOOK! 5 Most Hated Intersections in Rockford, Do You Agree?

Rockford Identifies Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Hot Spots

Rockford's Pedestrian Safety Task Force analyzed nearly 1,000 bike and pedestrian crashes between 2015 and 2025, including 53 fatalities.

The goal is to make Rockford easier and safer to navigate on foot or by bike. To identify the biggest problem areas, the team used crash records, mapping data, community feedback, and professional analysis.

grayscale photography of person riding bike

These Are Rockford's Biggest Trouble Spots

Here are the biggest trouble spots in the city according to just-released data:

• 11th St. corridor
• Harrison Avenue and South Alpine intersection
• North Central Avenue and Auburn Street corridors
• East State Street and Alpine Road

That's not all for East State Street either. Anyone who's driven that stretch knows how busy it can get, and I couldn't imagine biking, much less walking along East State.

East State Street Has Several Problem Intersections

The report also identifies problem intersections along East State Street at North Perryville Road and North Bell School Road, along with concerns on East State in Downtown Rockford.

To fix these issues, the task force has proposed better street lighting, upgraded crosswalks and pedestrian signals, and, at a few intersections, no right turns on red.

READ MORE: Why Parking In Bike Lanes In Illinois Is A Risky Move

a group of cars driving down a street next to each other

How Rockford Could Make Streets Safer for Pedestrians

These are recommendations for now, so there's no guarantee we'll see every proposed change. Still, it would be pretty amazing to see Rockford take some of these steps toward becoming a city that's easier and safer to navigate without a car.