10-10-11 6:05 pm VIDEO

Harrison & Wells 
I love the enthusiasm, the gum chewing, the foot scraping...

10-10-11 8:05 am VIDEO

Harrison & Wells

She's not doing nothing, her technique is great.
(Forgive the noise, there's serious construction going on across the street.)

10-5-11 5:55pm

Harrison & Wells

Coming out of the East Coast Pantry.  But apparently it's okay, her supervisor was watching the corner.  (Yes, she got out of the van, in 80 degree weather!)

10-5-11 5:48pm

Franklin & Van Buren

Facing away from traffic is always a good tactic.

10-4-11 8:20am

Congress & Wells

Supervisor. Supervisin'

9-30-11 5:10pm

Wacker & Van Buren

It takes two to guard the newspaper boxes.

9-22-11 5:48 pm

Harrison & Wells

Again, it's the slacker traffic officer's favorite spot.  Hm, it's before 6:00, no one in sight, where could he/she be?

Oh, here she comes!

Oh, good she got a snack.  Her colleague should tell her that East Coast Market is much closer, 7-11 is about four blocks away.

9-22-11 5:43pm

Congress & Wells

Apparently today it takes two people to operate the control box.

 

 Nope, no one in the intersection.

9-20-11 5:58 pm

Franklin & Van Bureau
No where in sight and the control box is wide open, where could he/she be?

9-20-11 5:55pm

Van Buren & Wacker
Crossword? Homework? Job application?

9-20-11 8:00 am

Harrison & Wells

La, le, la, la...

9-19-11 5:31

Harrison & Wells
I don't know what it is about this corner, is it a kind of Siberia that none of the supervisors check?
I give this officer credit, she's the only one who went back to work when she saw me taking pictures.

9-16-11 8:07 am

Harrison & Wells
This one is borderline, but I'm always suspicious when they aren't even standing in the street.

9-13-11 5:58 pm

Harrison & Wells
It's possible she's getting off shift, but the day before there was someone at this corner until at least 6:30.

9-12-11 5:59 to 6:09 pm

Harrison & Wells 5:59pm
In the East Coast Pantry, a half a block from the corner.

6:00 pm
Back to work?

6:04 pm
Nope, back in the Pantry, apparently she forgot something.

6:09 pm
Back at her post, hard at work.

9-9-11 5:37 pm

Congress & Wells
An officer working in the rain, was I lied to? Is it not policy that rain makes things too dangerous so they have to stay out of the street?

9-1-11 5:41

Harrison & Wells
The safest place to direct traffic from is the sidewalk. Looking at the traffic is optional.

Better move further from the street, it's safer that way!

8-26-11 6:26pm

Congress & Wells
Texting, two seconds before I took the picture he was reading the book that's in his right hand.
And what's strange is this day he was alone on the corner, the next day there were three officers here. How is this determined?

8-23-11 6:30 pm

Franklin & Wells
Having a smoke, oops, left the control box open.

8-19-11 5:44pm

Congress & Wells
Flirtin' with the guys!

















Yep, no one in the street, watching the traffic.

Lay-offs

We got news in August that there would be massive lay-offs of traffic officers in Chicago. I was hoping that would scare some straight. Did it work? See for yourself.

They're of course fighting it, you'd think they'd be a little more conscientious about their work.

8-8-11 5:50pm

Congress & Wells
When it rains they're not allowed near traffic, it's too dangerous (or so I was told by a traffic officer).

8-8-11 5:48pm

Van Buren & Wells
Trying to stay dry.

8-4-11 6:10pm

Van Buren & Wells

Having a smoke.

6-27-11 5:52pm

Congress & Wells
I would consider this one of the worst intersections in the city during rush hour. Good thing there's someone directing traffic.

6-17-11 5:53pm

Congress & Wells
Rush hour traffic can take care of itself, let's go for a walk!

6-15-11 5:15pm

Harrison & Wells
A little sight seeing road trip mid-shift breaks up the monotony.

6-2-11 6:16pm

Harrison & Wells
Snacktime!

3-28-11 5:26pm

Wacker & Wells
This is a new technique they developed this year. Huddling behind the control box means none of that tiresome arm waving.

3-8-11 5:30pm

Harrison & Wells
Pacing up and down the sidewalk keeps the blood circulating.