Home / Blog

Blog

Keep up with the latest news on Active Trans and topics that we care about in the region.

Brother of crash victim advocates for safer streets

Nov 20, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Andrew DeMott is channeling his family’s tragedy into a catalyst for change.

Since his brother was killed in a car crash while bicycling home early this year, DeMott has been advocating to improve the walking and bicycling infrastructure in Tinley Park, where his brother was killed.

On Oct. 27, his family held a ghost bike ceremony as a memorial to his brother, Douglas DeMott, 52, near the crash site where his brother was struck by a car on Jan.

Tags: Bicycling, crash, South Suburbs

Why Chicago needs a Safe Streets Fund

Nov 20, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Every life lost is a tragedy. We can’t help but be overwhelmed when we think about the 78 lives lost in Chicago so far this year as a result of traumatic traffic crashes.

But we mustn’t become numb to these terrible events.

For the 2019 World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims event, which took place earlier this week, organizers lined up 78 pairs of white shoes in the Thompson Center.

Tags: Advocacy, biking, vision zero, Walking

I&M Canal Trail completion gains momentum

Nov 18, 2019 | by Matt Gomez

Would you like the opportunity to bike on a seamless trail from Chicago to Starved Rock and Matthiessen State Parks?

The I&M Canal Trail and the Centennial Trail run from the southwest suburbs of Chicago to the downstate parks.

However, as riders of those trails know, major gaps exist in the trails that restrict users from staying on the same trail to make that journey. Instead, during those gaps, riders need to find their own alternative routes to safely make the trip.

Tags: IandMTrail, Trails

A proposal for a more equitable transit system

Nov 18, 2019 | by Lynda Lopez

Yolanda Cruz lives in the Jeffrey Manor neighborhood on the Far South Side. She works part-time as a health aide in Hyde Park and buys a 7-day pass every week to get to work.

Yolanda knows the 7-day pass is more expensive in the long run than the monthly pass, but the upfront cost of the monthly pass is just too much for her.

“You can’t buy a monthly pass when you have to think about paying your bills,” said Yolanda,

Tags: Advocacy, Back on the Bus, Fair Fares Chi, Fair Fares Chicagoland, transit, Transit Equity

What Uber and Lyft aren’t saying about new Chicago fees

Nov 12, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

There’s so much misinformation flying around about Mayor Lightfoot’s changes to the Uber and Lyft fee structure that it’s easy to lose sight of what’s proposed.

HIGHER FEES ON DOWNTOWN TRIPS

The Mayor’s proposal targets downtown trips by adding a fee of $1.75 for solo trips and 65 cents for shared trips that start or end in and around the Loop.

Data shows nearly half of all Uber and Lyft trips start or end downtown.

Tags: Advocacy, Back on the Bus, Chicago, Chicago Central, Downtown, Equity, new mobility, public transit, transit

CTA Celebrates its 72nd Anniversary

Oct 21, 2019 | by Crispina Ojeda Simmons

A recent ride on the CTA’s 6000-series rail car provided an opportunity to travel back to 1959 when these cars were brand-new.

The feel of these cars is different from the CTA cars currently in use. For starters, the window seat in the front offers a wide view of the buildings, platforms, rail tracks, and signaling system. The plush seats gave the car a touch of old luxury.

Advertising and the CTA map in the rail cars dated back to the 1990’s,

Tags: Downtown, transit

Lightfoot increases ride-hailing fees, expands Bus Priority Zones

Oct 18, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Mayor Lightfoot announced Friday she’ll use a portion of the revenue from new downtown ride-hailing fees to help expand Chicago’s network of bus priority streets. This is good news for anyone who wants better bus service and less congestion on Chicago streets.

Chicago residents: tell Mayor Lightfoot and your alderman you support fair fees and better bus service.

Active Trans Interim Executive Director Melody Geraci’s delivered some remarks at the announcement press conference with the Mayor (see photo left and video).

Tags: Advocacy, Back on the Bus, Back ont he Bus, Bus, Bus report cards, Chicago, Chicago Central, chicago north, Chicago North Side, chicago north west, chicago south, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, Downtown, Equity, public transit, transit

New section of river trail at Lathrop Homes opens

Oct 17, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Earlier this week, developers, city leaders, advocates, and residents celebrated the official opening of the riverfront path at Lathrop Homes, one of the first local trails built by a public-private partnership.

The trail runs for roughly a half mile north and south of Diversey Avenue on the east side of the Chicago River and features new landscaping, benches, trees, and a boat and kayak launch.

Because the City of Chicago’s design guidelines require developers to build trails,

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago North Side, Chicago River Trail, Walking

How Carol Maher became a cycling advocate

Oct 15, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Carol Maher came to bicycling relatively late in life. But the 58-year-old retired IT project manager has certainly made up for lost time.

Since she took up cycling four years ago, Maher has ditched her car in favor of cruising around Chicago on two wheels full-time and has become a sustainable transportation advocate.

Maher credits a program called Go Albany Park for sparking her love of cycling in 2015.

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago North Side

Chicago should keep e-scooter sharing program

Oct 14, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

During the past four months while the City of Chicago’s e-scooter sharing pilot program has been underway, Active Trans has been busy gathering information — online and in-person — from hundreds of Active Trans members, supporters, and residents. Many of the people who provided feedback live or work in the West Side pilot area.

We wanted to hear what people thought about the pilot program and their general thoughts about e-scooters.

As the pilot program wraps up this week,

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, biking, Chicago, Chicago Central, chicago north, Chicago North Side, chicago north west, chicago south, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, Downtown, E-scooters, Equity, public transit, transit, Walking

1 of 275next ›