Lansing, MI – Street racing continues to be a recurring issue in Lansing, with both residents and city officials voicing concerns about the dangers posed by reckless driving. Lansing City Council President Ryan Kost says the problem has been ongoing for years, and it’s time for the city to take more effective action.
“It has been a problem even before I was on City Council,” Kost told 6 News. “These long, straight, big roads like MLK, S Cedar Street, and Saginaw—people are speeding on them all night long.”
Kost’s frustration is shared by many Lansing residents, who regularly hear the sounds of vehicles and motorcycles racing through the streets, particularly during the late hours. The city’s wide, straight roads, often with speeds set at 45 miles per hour, are seen as conducive to speeding, contributing to the reckless driving that has become a part of everyday life in the area.
“There’s a fault in how we have our city designed,” Kost explained. “These big, straight roads just encourage speeding. I was getting blown by on my way here from City Hall, it’s something we’re hearing about regularly.”
Despite the ongoing nature of the issue, Kost and city leaders acknowledge that simply raising speed limits or enforcing stricter penalties for speeders is not enough to curb the problem. Instead, officials are considering several innovative approaches to address the issue and improve safety for residents.
Among the ideas being discussed is the use of a helicopter, similar to tactics employed in Detroit, to track high-speed chases from the air. This would allow law enforcement to follow fleeing drivers from above, reducing the risk of dangerous high-speed pursuits through the city streets. Kost also mentioned “road diets” as another potential solution, which would involve narrowing roads to limit the space available for drivers to speed.
“Road diets can help reduce open road space, making it harder for people to speed,” Kost said, adding that more stoplights and traffic circles are also on the table as measures to slow down traffic and make streets safer for everyone.
Local residents, such as Stan Shuck, have also voiced their concerns, particularly regarding the sound of motorcycles zooming through the city at night. “It’s like they’ve got a track around the town,” Shuck said. “You hear them go down to the highway, then they get back on 496, and make the loop again. It’s constant.”
With these new strategies in mind, city leaders are hoping to find a more effective way to curtail street racing and reckless driving. However, as the issue persists, it remains clear that finding a solution will require creative and long-term efforts from both local government and the Lansing community.
As Lansing grapples with the ongoing problem of street racing, the city’s leadership is committed to exploring every possible option to ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. The challenge is significant, but city officials, alongside concerned locals, are determined to find a way forward.
