Author Archives: Ted Villaire

LVEJO, Active Transportation Alliance, and Sierra Club Statement on HJR23

| May 19, 2023

Expanding I-55 would worsen climate change, increase pollution, and put already overburdened environmental justice communities at risk. It’s only logical that if you increase the capacity of a roadway, you will have a lot more driving and more greenhouse gas emissions.

The decision to move ahead with this project is based on inaccurate models for future VMT (vehicle miles travelled). A major failure of the transportation sector is that travel demand models are almost never checked for accuracy to compare historical forecasts and what actually happened when a project was built.

Riding in unity to honor our walking and biking fatalities

| May 18, 2023

On Wednesday, May 17, people gathered for an annual bicycle ride to honor those who were injured or killed while biking or walking in the past year.

About 100 people participated in the Ride of Silence in Chicago, and throughout Illinois, there were about 40 different Ride of Silence events.

The event calls attention to the right of people to bike and walk on public roadways and the urgent need for infrastructure that will make these transportation options safer and more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities.

Chicago Ride of Silence will mourn the lives lost while biking and walking during the past year 

| May 17, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 

Elizabeth Adamczyk
Chicago Organizer
elizabeth@rideofsilence.org
rideofsilence.org/Chicago
(773) 370-2038

Ted Villaire
Active Transportation Alliance
(312) 563-1118
ted@activetrans.org

 

On Wednesday, May 17, the Chicago Ride of Silence will mourn the lives lost while biking and walking during the past year
The annual ride will offer a moment of silent reflection at the sites where drivers killed people biking or walking

Chicago,

Bill for safer intersections clears the IL Senate and House

| May 11, 2023

A bill that would give local communities the ability to build intersections that are safer for people walking and biking passed out of the Illinois Senate and House and now heads to the governor’s desk. The bill was approved by the Illinois House by a vote of 87-25 on May 11.

Thank you to everyone who responded to our action alerts to advance SB 2278!

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

Awardees take the spotlight at the Movers & Shakers Ball

| May 4, 2023

Our recent Movers and Shakers Ball was a wonderful evening filled with good food, great company, lively music, and most importantly, a shared passion for active transportation.

We were delighted to see so many of our members, supporters, and partners come together to celebrate the progress we have made over the past year and renew our commitment to promoting walking, biking, and public transportation in the Chicago area.

The highlight of the evening was hearing from the awardees about all the exciting work they are doing.

Interactive map allows people to flag dangerous walking and biking spots

| Apr 21, 2023

Kudos to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) for recent initiatives that take a step toward making our streets safer for people walking and biking.

In an effort to identify locations that may be unsafe for people walking and biking, the agency has created an interactive map that allows people to flag dangerous spots and add notes.

We’re hoping that this interactive map, called the Vulnerable Road User Safety Assessment,

Bold solutions needed from state to address serious transit problems

| Mar 15, 2023

At a recent hearing held by the Illinois Senate, the Active Transportation Alliance and other advocates urged lawmakers to step up with needed support for a host of transit problems, including a looming funding cliff and the need for better governance for the transit agencies.

“The impending transit funding cliff forces us to ask hard questions about the structure of our future transit system,” said Audrey Wennink, senior director of transportation at Metropolitan Planning Council,

Advocates urge the state of Illinois to enhance support for public transportation

| Mar 13, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:

Ted Villaire
Active Transportation Alliance
(312) 563-1118
ted@activetrans.org

 

Press conference alert

State legislators are holding a Joint Transportation and Public Safety/Infrastructure Appropriations Subject Matter Committee Hearing on Tues., March 14 at 11 a.m. at the Bilandic building, 160 N. La Salle St., Chicago. Hearing will focus on the successes and challenges of public transit in the RTA service area as it relates to funding,

Let Springfield know you want safer streets

| Mar 7, 2023

Want to see motorists traveling at safer speeds? How about allowing people biking to treat stop signs as yield signs?

The clock is ticking — to have an impact, we need you to take action right away.

Please consider showing your support for a couple of important bills by filing “witness slips,” which allows you to simply go on the record in support of these bills.

You must file the witness slips before 10 a.m.

Take action for safer streets and faster buses

| Mar 2, 2023

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,