Loud chants echoed through the streets as more than a hundred passionate advocates gathered at Chicago’s Union Station in recent weeks, their voices rising in unison: “Public transit. Public good. Fix it, fund it, as you should!” Their unified call: for the Illinois General Assembly to reconvene for a special summer session in Springfield to fix and fund public transit […]

This year marks 40 years of Active Transportation Alliance advancing walking, biking and transit in our  region. To celebrate, we’re looking for an artist to design a poster that will be sold exclusively at Bike the Drive in our Active Transportation Alliance Village, which will take place on Sunday, August 31, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Butler Field  (350 […]

Imagine a week where your friends and neighbors experience your community from a completely new perspective. That’s the challenge posed by the Week Without Driving initiative, and now you can bring this eye-opening experience to your community with help from Active Transportation Alliance. We’re excited to introduce our brand-new Week Without Driving stipend program for 2025. From September 29 to […]

For years, we have championed not only increased funding, but also meaningful transformation of our public transportation system. Riders continue to face a fragmented transit network—schedules and fares are inconsistent, full accessibility remains out of reach, and service often falls short of meeting the community’s needs and expectations. That’s why we’re excited to share a major milestone: On the final […]

On Sunday, August 31, thousands of cyclists will be reclaiming Chicago’s iconic lakefront for a morning of pure, pedal-powered joy. Bike the Drive is back! And now, as we’re stepping into summer, we want to see your favorite Bike the Drive moments!   SHARE THE JOY AND WIN Here’s an opportunity to win some free passes to Chicago’s favorite biking […]

On Sunday in the wee hours, the Illinois General Assembly adjourned without finalizing a solution to the transit fiscal cliff – the Northeast Illinois transit agencies’ $770 million budget deficit. While the Senate passed a funding and reform package, it was at 11:45 p.m., and there wasn’t time for the House to debate and vote on it before midnight. As […]

With the clock winding down on Saturday, lawmakers couldn’t find a way to put the $770 million transit shortfall at the top of the list of a packed agenda. Now, Northeast Illinois’ transit agencies are left hanging over the edge of the fiscal cliff. This inaction is more than just a missed opportunity — it’s a direct threat to the […]

What can nearly $140 million do to improve walking, biking, and trails in Illinois? The answer is a lot! Indeed, one of the many great features of walking and biking infrastructure is that a relatively small amount of funding goes a long way when compared to typical infrastructure projects for driving. The Governor’s Office and Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) […]

With a May 31 deadline looming, leaders in Springfield are working down to the wire to address the region’s transit funding and operations crisis. If new funding is not approved by the end of the legislative session, transit agencies will be forced to begin to plan for devastating cuts in bus and train service. After years of degrading service and […]

The Active Transportation Alliance’s recent Movers and Shakers Ball brought together a vibrant community of advocates, planners, and partners to celebrate a remarkable milestone: forty years of championing people-centered mobility in Chicagoland. The energy in the room was palpable as attendees explored a series of inspiring exhibits — each one a testament to the bold ideas and creative vision that […]