Author Archives: Active Trans

Take action to restore Chicago transit and Divvy service

| Jun 2, 2020

As Chicago grapples with social unrest and an unprecedented global pandemic, we need reliable transportation options more than ever.

But CTA service is suspended again Monday evening. And Metra and Divvy remain out of service.

Sign a letter to Mayor Lightfoot and your alderman urging them to restore transit service.

We appreciate the unprecedented position Chicago’s leaders are in at this moment. Balancing the need to maintain public safety while protecting the rights of residents is a complex task under normal circumstances,

Safe streets are much more than crosswalks and bike lanes

| Jun 1, 2020

The murders of George Floyd, Tony McDade, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and so many others continue to demonstrate our society’s systemic devaluing of Black lives.

Safe streets mean so much more than crosswalks and bike lanes. We cannot have mobility justice without racial justice.

As we advocate for healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities through walking, biking, and transit, we must be centered around efforts to dismantle white supremacy and structural racism.

Chicago launches Our Streets as part of COVID-19 response

| May 29, 2020

Mayor Lori Lightfoot announced a new program to create more space for people walking and biking during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT), the Our Streets initiative “invites Chicago neighborhoods to request that local roads be converted into corridors for improved, safe travel and healthy activity.”  

This includes designating some residential streets as “shared streets” by adding traffic barriers and limiting through traffic to allow for physically distanced walking and biking. 

Tips for transit riders during COVID-19

| May 20, 2020

While the coronavirus has taken an enormous toll on transit ridership across the region and country, there are of hundreds of thousands of people locally who continue to rely on public transit every day to reach jobs and make other essential trips.

CTA, Pace, and Metra together are still serving roughly 340,000 people per weekday during the stay-at-home order. This is more than or equivalent to ridership levels in the metro areas of Atlanta,

John LaPlante’s Complete Streets legacy

| Apr 8, 2020

It was a great loss to the world of sustainable transportation when John LaPlante died in March of COVID-19.

As someone who worked with John over a number of years, I wanted to provide a more detailed account of his impact locally and nationally.

You might not realize it, but you’ve likely benefited from John’s efforts to improve street design and safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users. And the effects of his work can be felt not just in Chicago.

Lessons learned engaging residents and students in Aurora

| Feb 14, 2020

When trying to spread the word about the need for better transportation options, local advocates often put their energy into public events.

Indeed, engaging community members person-to-person is an excellent way to build public visibility and grow more community support.

By building community support, elected officials are more likely to invest in infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for people walking and biking.

Unfortunately, however, things don’t always pan out the way you had hoped.

Celebrating one year of cycling success

| Jan 27, 2020

Every year, as part of our suburban advocacy program Bike Walk Every Town, the Active Transportation Alliance offers multiple mini-stipends to individuals and groups working to improve walking and biking in the Chicagoland suburbs.

This past year, grassroots leaders from Cycle Brookfield in the western suburbs were awarded a stipend to expand their efforts to build greater community support and advance the implementation of its active transportation plan.

Palatine bike club rolls out the racks

| Oct 11, 2019

Installing a new rack for bike parking may seem like a modest contribution to a community. But the reality is that it can a big difference in people’s lives — especially for people with limited transportation options who rely on bikes to get around.

Getting more bike racks in the community has been one of the recent goals of the Palatine Bike Club.

With the September installation of a bike parking rack at St.

Walking the South Branch of the Chicago River

| Sep 25, 2019

On a warm August afternoon, over 50 people joined the Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council (MPAC) for a walk (pictured) from El Paseo Community Garden in Pilsen to the Eleanor Street Boathouse in Bridgeport.

Along the way, participants from Pilsen, Bridgeport and elsewhere got to experience part of the proposed El Paseo Trail and discuss site specific challenges and opportunities.

This roughly five-mile stretch from Ping Tom Park south to Western Ave is one of five remaining areas that need to be connected for the city to achieve its goal of a continuous Chicago River Trail.

Hamilton left an indelible mark on Chicago’s transportation scene

| Sep 10, 2019

When Luann Hamilton joined Chicago’s Public Works Department — the predecessor to the Chicago Department of Transportation — in 1985, cars were the only transportation mode given consideration on our streets. Hamilton (pictured left) knew she would be in for an uphill battle pushing for projects that prioritized walking, biking, and public transit. But that didn’t stop the sustainable transportation advocate.

Over the next 34 years, she adeptly navigated the rocky and nuanced terrain of Chicago’s transportation and urban planning sectors.