Blog

Duo moves DuPage trail forward

Mar 25, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Sometimes if you want something done, you have to do it yourself. That’s the lesson Ginger Wheeler learned firsthand. The marketing consultant spent five years trying to interest various private and public agencies to take the lead in advocating for building a connector trail along the East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail to no avail.

But when Wheeler (pictured left) met Libby A’Hearn (pictured right) at an Active Transportation Alliance event, they discovered that they had the same idea and decided to team up to get the funding needed to build the 31-mile East Branch DuPage River Greenway Trail.

Apply to bring Bike Week 2019 to your community!

Mar 21, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Active Trans is pleased to announce a mini-grant opportunity to support community-based events during Chicago Bike Week, which will be held June 21 – 28, 2019.

This funding opportunity will award four grants of $250 each.

Applicants are encouraged to be creative and there are no limitations on the types of events that may be supported. It could be a series of community bike rides, an educational workshops, a bike repair demonstration,

Honoring local transportation champions

Mar 20, 2019 | by Ted Villaire

Please give yourself a round of applause if you were one of the many people who provided support for our 2019 Awards Reception. Thanks to you, it was a great success!

And if you participated in the event’s paddle raise or silent auction, please take a bow.

A sincere thanks to our friend Jerome McDonnell of WBEZ, who served as the master of ceremonies as we honored REI,

Transportation and climate change: It’s not just about electrifying cars

Mar 19, 2019 | by Ron Burke

The transportation sector is the nation’s leading source of greenhouse gas (GHG) pollution that causes climate change. This is just another reason why your support for our efforts to reduce car-dependency is so important.

Before joining Active Trans, I worked at the Illinois EPA (IEPA) and the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to pass federal legislation to cap GHGs. At IEPA, I helped create and staff a multi-state strategy to cap GHGs in lieu of federal legislation.

Chicago’s bike share system should remain public

Mar 15, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Update [3/26/19]: We recently sent a letter to Chicago City Council enthusiastically supporting the proposed amendment of the City of Chicago’s existing contract for the operation of Divvy, Chicago’s highly successful bike share program. The proposed deal achieves the goal of expanding Divvy citywide, while keeping the system in public hands.

Please join us in voicing support for Divvy expansion by contacting your alderman!

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Divvy is two-wheeled public transit.

Take action for safer biking and walking on state roads

Mar 13, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

A resolution calling for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to better protect people biking and walking on state roads passed out of committee in Springfield.

Now we need your help to make sure it passes the Illinois General Assembly and is sent to the governor’s desk.

Take action now for safer biking and walking on state roads.

Senate Joint Resolution 24 (SJR24) calls for IDOT to update its policies and design guidelines to reflect the needs of everyone using the road.

Divvy expansion to boost transportation options

Mar 12, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Active Trans has long advocated for making Divvy available in every Chicago neighborhood as part of a broader strategy to give all Chicagoans convenient and affordable access to bikes and safe places to ride.

Therefore, we’re excited about the city’s proposed agreement with Lyft to expand Divvy citywide and nearly triple the number of bikes. Lyft purchased Motivate – the private company that Chicago contracted to operate the Divvy system – last year.

Villa Park advocates build support for safer biking

Mar 12, 2019 | by Maggie Melin

Advocate and Village Trustee Bob Wagner is working with a core group of volunteers in the Village of Villa Park to promote bicycle safety and increase public awareness of the village’s recently-developed Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

Active Trans partnered with the village to lead the effort in developing the master plan, which has three main goals:

⇒ Create better connections between the Illinois Prairie Path, Great Western Trail,

Rep. Mah takes on sustainable transportation issues

Mar 6, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Since being elected to the Illinois House of Representatives for the 2nd District in January 2017, Rep. Theresa Mah (D-Chicago) has actively pushed for legislation that improves walking, biking and public transit. The freshman lawmaker’s most recent win occurred when then Gov. Bruce Rauner signed the Bike Safety and Dutch Reach Act.

The law adds bike safety to the state’s Rules of the Road manual and the driver’s license exam.

Advocates fight for bike/walk education in schools

Mar 4, 2019 | by Maggie Melin

Would you like to see your local schools teach walking and biking safety to kids? With your help, we can make that happen.

Last year, thanks to the efforts of Active Trans and our partners, a law was passed requiring that K-8 public schools teach walking and biking safety to students.

Now we’re working with advocates in communities across the Chicago region to help implement the Illinois Bike Walk Education in Schools Act and encourage districts to comply with the new requirement.