The following is a guest blog post by Michael Podgers, an organizer with the local advocacy organization, Better Streets Chicago.
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Chicago is experiencing the first balmy days of spring. But as always, winter will return, and it will bring back the many annoyances of falling temperatures, like ice and snow.
For many, these are inconveniences. People may gripe, but they won’t stop daily life.
Braving the Chicago winter on a bicycle may seem like a daunting prospect. But there’s no need to hang up your bike when the cold weather arrives.
With proper preparation, some extra gear, and the right attitude, you can navigate the city’s streets on two wheels like a seasoned winter rider.
Here are some tips and tricks for a safe, enjoyable winter biking experience.
WHAT TO WEAR
Many cyclists often wonder what clothing to wear when biking in the winter.
Relief funding from the federal government has enabled the Chicago Transit Authority to take some steps that make transit service more accessible and welcoming to people with low incomes.
The biggest change is making its recently piloted discounted passes program permanent.
While we commend CTA for moving forward with the discounted passes and free transfers in its 2022 budget proposal, we would have liked to see other new initiatives moving forward that would improve service and accessibility.
In September, Active Trans and several partners hosted a virtual open house to share details about the recently-completed feasibility study exploring a proposed walking and biking trail over Lake Calumet, connecting Pullman to Big Marsh Park.
The area is rich with historic assets and beautiful open space, but today heavy industry cuts off many residents from these destinations.
VISION FOR THE NEW TRAIL
The preferred trail route is represented by the yellow line on the map below.
Chicago’s Far South Side is an area rich in historical, cultural, and open space destinations.
From Pullman National Monument to Big Marsh Park and the Ford Calumet Environmental Center, the area has no shortage of popular spots for Chicagoans to visit and enjoy.
Unfortunately, a lack of safe walking and biking connections to these spots makes accessing them difficult for many residents who can’t or don’t drive.
The geography,
Teamwork is a key ingredient when it comes to encouraging more people to take up biking.
The Bike Palatine Club discovered that firsthand when it collaborated with a variety of community groups to celebrate National Bike Month in May.
Together they organized activities and public displays that promoted the benefits of cycling.
Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz kicked off the celebration with a proclamation declaring May as National Bike Month in the community at the May 3 Village Council meeting.
The following post is excerpted from George Fero’s recent testimony before the Illinois Senate Transportation Committee about House Bill 270, which eliminates the 20 percent local cost share for walking and biking infrastructure.
Fero serves as an alderman on the city council in Lebanon, a Southern Illinois town with about 4,500 residents. He also serves on the board of the statewide bike advocacy organization Ride Illinois and is vice-president of Gateway East Trails,
Last summer, Chicago’s shared streets program provided opportunities for residents to safely spend time outside during the peak of the pandemic. While people appreciated the extra space for recreation and safely being outdoors, the program did little to address connectivity issues with the city’s walking and biking networks, according to feedback from Active Trans members and supporters.
Recently, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) announced that the Shared Streets program will continue in 2021 with $500,000 allocated towards 12 to 13 miles of shared streets.
As part of the 16th Annual Chicago Food Justice Summit, Active Transportation Alliance is excited to help lead a discussion about how food access is linked to transportation issues.
The virtual event, which is focusing on the theme of “radical re-imagination,” is sponsored by the Chicago Food Policy Action Council (CFPAC). The CFPAC is an organization that works to improve food access for Chicago residents and ensure that the food is culturally appropriate,
Active Transportation Alliance is excited to participate in a virtual summit about the impacts of growth in warehousing and trucking on Chicago’s South Side.
This 3-day event is being cosponsored by the Chicago Environmental Justice Network (CEJN) and the Transportation Equity Network (TEN). Registration is free and open to the public.
Organizers plan to discuss the central role of freight in our region’s economy and how it contributes to many negative outcomes that primarily impact Chicago’s Black and Latinx populations.