Blog

Better walking & biking on Riverwalk & Wacker Dr.

May 20, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

If you’ve ever walked or biked along the Riverwalk on the Main Branch of the Chicago River — especially during summer months — then you know it’s both a dynamic public space and a challenge to navigate on foot and bike.

The Chicago River will only grow in popularity in the coming years as one of the city’s premier destinations to work, play, and live. For this reason, it’s time to improve walking and biking along the river so all Chicagoans can enjoy it.

Mayor Lightfoot can reduce Chicago’s car dependency

May 20, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

To tackle traffic congestion and make transportation more affordable, healthy, and equitable, Chicago must make it easier to get around without a car.

During the campaign, Mayor Lightfoot and many council members supported strategies to move Chicago in this direction, including increasing transportation options in the city’s transit deserts and reducing serious traffic crashes that are concentrated on the city’s South and West Sides. They recognized that urban transportation is changing,

Lathrop Homes path adds to growing Chicago River Trail

May 13, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Biking, walking and access to the local bus route is about to get easier at Lathrop Homes with the expected completion of a riverfront path this summer.

Lathrop Homes, a housing development north and south of Diversey Avenue along the Chicago River’s North Branch, includes a new half-mile long trail that runs alongside the housing development on the east side of the Chicago River.

The path ducks under the Diversey bridge and features a decked trail in the river south of Diversey (see below).

Chicago needs more bikeways

May 10, 2019 | by Jim Merrell

As a new mayor and city council prepare to take office, we need to ensure that Chicago builds upon its success by creating more bikeways for all ages and abilities and ensure that they are accessible to all Chicagoans.

The transition to a new administration provides a natural opportunity to reflect on recent progress and future opportunities to improve our network of bikeways.

That’s why we’ve called on the city to build 100 miles of new bikeways by 2023.

Will you join Mayor Rockingham?

May 8, 2019 | by Ted Villaire

Mayor Leon Rockingham wants to see his city of North Chicago become a better place for walking and biking.

He knows the residents of this Lake County community want safer streets and they want a healthier, cleaner place to live.

And like any community that wants to see these changes, he relies on the state to help.

The problem is that state lawmakers often seem to only care about people driving cars.

Connecting the 312 RiverRun to Lathrop Homes trail

May 6, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

As exciting as it is to see new trails emerging along the Chicago River, it’s important to keep in mind that trails return the greatest public benefits when they are connected, linking people to jobs, shopping districts and recreational opportunities.

One area that offers a prime opportunity to connect trails is from the end of the 312 RiverRun Trail at Belmont Avenue south to the path at Lathrop Homes (pictured),

E-scooter pilot can help win street space back from cars

May 2, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Chicago needs better alternatives to driving and more of them. Thanks to a new pilot program, electric scooters may become part of a growing list of more efficient transportation options.

On Wednesday Chicago launched an e-scooter sharing pilot program that will begin on June 15 in much of the western side of the city (see graphic, courtesy of CDOT). The program is designed around recommendations from Mayor Emanuel’s New transportation and Mobility Task Force.

Manor Greenway adds to emerging Chicago River Trail

Apr 23, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

In another big step toward a continuous Chicago River Trail, the city has completed the Manor Neighborhood Greenway on the Northwest Side.

The greenway adds a comfortable on-street connection for people walking and biking on Manor Avenue between Lawrence and Montrose Avenues (Pictured: raised crosswalk at Lawrence and Manor Avenues).

By adding these facilities, the neighborhood greenway makes it safer to travel between Horner Park to the south and Ronan Park to the north,

Elgin legislators support funding trails and safe streets

Apr 22, 2019 | by Barb Cornew

On a recent beautiful Friday afternoon along the Fox River Trail in Elgin, State Senator Cristina Castro and State Representative Anna Moeller said they will advocate for funding projects in a capital bill that will make the city safer and more friendly to people walking and biking.

This is good news for Active Trans and partners across the state who are calling for state legislators to dedicate $50 million annually to safe streets and trails projects in a capital bill.

Rush hour bus lanes coming to Chicago Avenue

Apr 19, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced a new Bus Priority Zones program featuring upgrades to several of the busiest routes in the city, including Chicago Avenue, 79th Street and Western Avenue.

The upgrades include rush hour bus lanes on Chicago from Larrabee to Michigan Avenue — through the heart of the River North area where congestion routinely slows down packed buses traveling to the West Side. Other investments include a new cul-de-sac at the Chicago/Milwaukee/Ogden intersection and traffic signal optimization on several routes.