Author Archives: Ted Villaire

The Active Transportation Alliance’s recent annual member party was abuzz with excitement as participants celebrated the organization’s successes of the past year and shared plans for the coming months.

The highlight of the evening was a panel discussion focusing on the work of local partners involved in sustainable transportation advocacy.

Panelists shared information about how they became involved in the work and their current efforts underway.

Most importantly, they shared advice for other grassroots advocates on how to build and execute successful advocacy campaigns.

Illinois voters have expressed a clear preference for unifying the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, and Pace into a single agency.

A recent poll reveals that this initiative is favored by a 2-to-1 margin statewide, with even stronger backing in the Chicago area.

The proposed legislation, known as the Metropolitan Mobility Authority Act (MMA), aims to streamline these four agencies into one cohesive entity.

This transformation promises to save up to $250 million annually by eliminating redundant efforts and could lead to increased state investment.

When it comes to keeping people biking safe, some bike infrastructure works much better than others.

To understand peoples’ preferences, we asked some participants at our recent Bike the Drive event to let us know what bike infrastructure made them feel most safe.

We asked participants to examine a list of bike safety infrastructure improvements and vote for their favorite options (see photo below).

As you might expect, people overwhelmingly wanted protected bike lanes — physical separation from fast-moving vehicle traffic.

*Editorial Note (October 4, 2024):  After being introduced earlier this summer, the ordinance to lower the speed limit was delayed in advancing due to parliamentary procedures. However, thanks to your advocacy, it has now moved to the voting stage at the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. 

The committee must first approve the ordinance before it passes to the full city council for a final vote. We anticipate both votes will take place in the coming week. 

Community spirit and collective determination took center stage as many dozens of people gathered recently to demand that city officials take their foot off the gas with the plan to rebuild DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

The event brought together residents, advocates, and elected officials, all united in the belief that the current plans by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) for rebuilding NDLSD fall short of addressing the needs and desires of the community.

On Wednesday, May 15, all are invited to join a worldwide annual bicycle ride to honor the people killed while biking on public roadways.

Rides will be held in Chicago, Downers Grove, Elgin, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Evanston/Skokie, and Villa Park. See the full list of Illinois rides and details about how to participate.

The event calls attention to the right of people to bike on the road and the urgent need for infrastructure that will make biking in Chicago safer and more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.

Over the past five years, the number of serious injuries and fatalities on our roadways has soared.

Speed is typically a major culprit.

If you want to see motorists traveling at safer speeds, please consider taking action by contacting your alderperson.

Chicago City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety will hold a hearing on lowering the Chicago default speed limit on May 1.

Please take a moment to urge your alderperson to support lower speed limits by sending them this action alert.

The Active Transportation Alliance recently hosted an unforgettable evening that not only celebrated the strides we’ve made towards a more sustainable and accessible city but also set the stage for the transformative work ahead.

The Movers and Shakers Ball — a gala event that brought together the city’s most passionate advocates for walking, biking, and public transit — was a resounding success, thanks to the incredible support of our attendees and donors.