Connect

Explore the links below for more information on biking, walking and transit.

Bicycling Resources

Chicagoland Bike Map 6th edition (updated 2013) MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Plan bike-friendly routes throughout Chicagoland

The City of Chicago Bicycle Program Learn about biking events, programs and resources in Chicago

Request bike racks Request a new bike rack or search for existing racks in Chicago

Register your bike Register for an account and register your bike with the Chicago Police Department 

Chicago Stolen Bike Registry Report and view documented bike thefts in Chicago

Report abandoned bikes Submit reports of abandoned bikes for pickup by the city

Register your emergency contact Link emergency contacts to your driver's license in case of a crash

Bicycle Laws Learn laws, rights and responsibilities for cyclists in Chicago

Bike Safety Tips Find out solutions for common bike safety issues

City of Chicago's Bicycling Safety Videos Links to videos concerning biking

Ask Mr. Bike Find out everything you need to know to make your bike ride as fun and safe as possible

RTA trip planner Plan your commute or trip with this handy application

Bike Education

Active Trans Education Specialist LINK TO OLD SITE-GET NEW ONE Get information on Active Trans' education program and specialist

Bike Winter The source for making it through Chicagoland winters 

Blackstone Bicycle Works Full-Service Woodlawn bike shop and education center for area youth

Chicago Bike Ambassadors The City of Chicago's team of bike safety and education specialists

Lesson Plans and Curricula LINK TO OLD SITE-GET NEW ONE Educational resources for teachers on bike safety curriculum

West Town Bikes Community bicycling workshop

Bronzeville Bikes Organization working to expand biking accessability and use in the Bronzeville neighborhood

The Recyclery Used bicycle project seeking to restore and reuse donated and discarded bikes

Project Mobility Nonprofit commited to creating adaptive bikes for those who need them

Programs to Educate All Cyclists Organization seeking to empower individuals with disabilities through cycling 

League of American Bicyclists services in Chicago Bike safety courses and information for the Chicago area

Trails Resources

Chicago Area Mountain Bikers Guides, forum and information for mountain biking in the Chicago area

DuPage County Bikeways Homepage Explore all the bikeways in DuPage County

DuPage County Bikeways Mapping App Real-time app locates you on bike trails using GIS data of DuPage County

DuPage County Go Bike Route Mapping Map a route on bike-friendly streets in DuPage County

DuPage County Bikeways Map PDF document showing trails and bikeways in DuPage County. Email Daniel.thomas@dupageco.org for a hard copy if interested.

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail Explore information on the Bloomingdale Trail and The 606

Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail Discover 30 miles of trail running along Sag Channel and The Calumet River

Friends of the Great Western Trail Volunteering and community information for the Great Western Trail

Grand Illinois Trail Information on this 500+ mile scenic trail 

Illinois Prairie Path A guide and information on the nation's oldest rail-to-trail conversion

Trails for Illinois Statewide trails and conservancy community

Old Plank Road Trail 22-mile paved trail running through Chicago's south suburbs

Salt Creek Trail Updates and information about this regional trail running through Cook and DuPage counties

Commuting

Bike commuting MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Active Trans’ resources for bicycle commuters

Chicagoland Bike Map MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Active Trans-produced resource for the entire region

Chicago Bike Map Interactive bike map for the city of Chicago

Goroo RTA's superb trip planner

Ride the City Interactive map of bike resources, routes and a blog on Chicago biking

Pace Rideshare A free carpool and ridesharing service for the Chicagoland area

Bicycle Jobs and Services

Chicago bike messenger services A list of licensed bike messenger companies

Chicago Couriers Union Support and union services for transportation workers

Bike Chicago Rentals Bicycle rental and tour information

Bobby's Bike Hike Bike rentals, group tours and community bike shop

Bike shops

Chicago Bike Shop Database Bike shops in Chicagoland; Produced by Active Trans and Break the Gridlock

Bike Shops in the Active Trans member discount program MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Shops offering a discount to Active Trans premium members. Not a premium member? Learn more and sign up here. NEED NEW LINK

Bikes on Transit

CTA Bike & Ride How to bring your bike on buses and trains

Bikes on Pace How to travel on Chicago's suburban buses with your bike

Bikes on Metra A guide to travel by Metra train with a bike

Watch a video How to put your bike on a CTA bus

Pedestrian Resources

Walk Score Discover Chicago’s most walkable communities

The Chicago Pedestrian Plan Information on making Chicago walkable

Walk to School Day – Illinois Information for celebrating National Walk to School

Illinois Safe Routes to School Creating safety, health and choice in transit to and from school

Active Trans' Safe Routes efforts MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Active Trans' work in the national movement

Illinois Dept. of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Illinois' Safe Routes efforts

Transit Resources

CTA Chicago Transit Authority, trains and buses serving Chicago

RTA Regional Transit Authority, coordinates public transit for Northeastern Illinois

Metra Commuter rail agency, Metra trains serve Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane and McHenry counties 

Pace Provides bus service primarily to Chicago’s suburbs

Amtrak Provides intercity passenger transportation and connects 500 destinations in 46 states 

NICTD Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, South Shore Train line from Chicago to Indiana

Metra Safety Contest Metra's annual poster and essay safety contest for K-12 students

Transit Benefit Fare Progam Employees can save on transit fares by paying pre-tax through an employer

Find Active Trans online

Chainlink Like Facebook for Chicagoland cyclists, connect to us and a community of more than 9,000 bicyclists 

Facebook facebook.com/activetrans

Twitter (@activetrans)

Blogs

Write of Way MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Active Trans' blog, featuring transit news, events and Active Trans updates

Streetsblog Chicago John Greenfield and Steven Vance share news on transportation issues and updates

Car-Free Chicago A community blog written by car-free Chicagoans for other car-free Chicagoans 

CTA Tattler Things seen and heard from the perspective of a blogger and CTA user

The Ride Sun-Times transportation reporter Mary Wisniewski’s blog

The Streets of Chicago A blog about bicycling and cyclist legal issues

Chicago Bus News briefs, public forums, CTA links and other resources, transit history and more

Let’s Go Ride a Bike A guide to enjoying cycling in a city

Chicago Couriers Union Updates for workers in the transportation industry

Garden Jumps Information on dirt jumps in Chicago

Information/Advocacy Resources

Moving at the Speed of Congestion (2008) A study examining the effects of traffic congestion on the area

Urban Transportation Report Card  MIGHT NEED NEW LINK (2007) Compares four cities and their respective transportation issues

Active Trans reports MIGHT NEED NEW LINK A list of Active Trans compiled reports on transportation issues

Post-crash resources MIGHT NEED NEW LINK Find resources, rights and support for what to do after a crash

Complete Streets (2009) Report on Chicago streets rating their pedestrian and bicycle safety and usability

 Are we missing anything? Contact ted@activetrans.org with your suggestions.