Author Archives: Ted Villaire

New legislation now being considered by the Illinois Senate would give local communities the ability to build intersections that are safer for people walking and biking.

Now is your opportunity to let state lawmakers know that we have too many dangerous oversized intersections that often act as a barrier — and a danger — for people getting around without a car.

Currently, local communities are required to build intersections that will accommodate the turning of a 65-foot truck,

This week state lawmakers considered several important bills that would make streets safer for people walking and biking.

Thanks to quick responses from supporters like you, we made progress with moving some of the bills forward.

A special thanks to Metropolitan Planning Council, Ride Illinois, and Chicago, Bike Grid Now!

Here are the bills and where they currently stand.

LOWERING DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT IN ILLINOIS URBAN AREAS

The committee asked for amendments to be made to HB 3530,

Want to see speedier buses in Chicago and streets that are safer for people walking and biking?

Now is your chance to get involved!

A couple of ordinances up for a vote in Chicago City Council on Wednesday, March 15 would expand the infrastructure for people walking and biking and would help address the long-standing problem of drivers blocking bus lanes and bike lanes.

These are the ordinances up for city council vote:

• Complete Streets Ordinance: When the department of transportation is resurfacing arterial streets,

One fact weighs heavily on the mind while recounting the past year of walking, biking, and transit in Chicagoland.

The lack of safe infrastructure for all road users resulted in the tragic loss of life in 2022. This summer alone, motorists struck and killed at least seven Chicagoland children on foot, scooters, and bikes.

After two young children were killed by drivers on Chicago’s North Side over the summer, more than 300 people took to the streets.

Inspired by the ghost bikes that honor those who were killed while biking on our streets, local artist Norma Rio-Sierra created a Day of the Dead altar dedicated to people who were killed while walking or biking.

“It’s about creating a healing space and creating awareness of what happens when it’s not safe to walk and bike,” said Rio-Sierra. “It’s about celebrating those lives and remembering the people…I want to make it safer for our families to walk.

On Wednesday, May 18, you’re invited to join others around the world on an annual bicycle ride to honor the people killed while biking in the past year.

In addition to honoring those people killed by drivers, the ride highlights the urgent need for infrastructure that will make biking in Chicago safer and more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.

“We need to remember that this tragic loss of life is unnecessary and completely avoidable,” said Chicago Ride of Silence organizer Elizabeth Adamczyk.