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Did You Know?

While the Chicago region’s population grew by 18 percent since 1980, the traffic increased by 66 percent in the same period.

Continuing to push for safe, just, and livable streets

We hope you and your loved ones are staying healthy during these deeply unsettling times.

Like countless other organizations, the coronavirus pandemic will undoubtedly have a major effect on the work we do over the coming weeks and months. For starters, we have postponed all of our in-person meetings, our trainings, and other events planned for coming weeks. Our staff is working from home and we’re encouraging them to take the steps necessary to protect themselves and their loved ones for the foreseeable future.

While Fifth Third Bike the Drive remains set for Sunday, May 24, we’re looking at contingency plans if it needs to be rescheduled.

Like every nonprofit organization right now, we’re reflecting on the value of our work and doing our best to anticipate the coronavirus’ impact on our yearly goals. Given the transportation inequities that exist in our region and traffic fatalities trending in the wrong direction, we strongly believe our work is more important than ever.

Our staff will remain hard at work pushing for safe, just, and livable streets, growing our membership, and determining virtual ways to support our partners while advocating for transportation options that are safe and affordable.

We won’t stop fighting to make the streets safe for the most vulnerable users — older adults, people with disabilities, and poor people — especially those in historically marginalized communities.

As public transportation loses riders at levels unseen before, the transit agencies soon will be teetering on the edge of a financial abyss. Major cuts in service and shutting down transit lines would be devastating for people who continue to rely on transit in their everyday lives during the pandemic.

We’re currently working with a coalition that is asking the federal and state governments to provide emergency assistance to transit agencies so they can continue to operate during and after this crisis.

We’re also helping organize local bike shops so they can retain the ability to stay open as an “essential service” during a potential business shutdown.

If you have questions about our work, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We remain available to answer any questions you have at info@activetrans.org.

We recognize our options to socialize and engage with one another are more limited than ever due to the social distancing we have been asked to practice at this critical moment. Let’s support one another, in whatever ways we can, through this public health emergency.

Let’s also keep up with the latest news and recommendations by listening to public health professionals in agencies like the Chicago Department of Public Health, the Illinois Department of Public Health, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

We rely heavily on members and supporters like you to make our work possible, and it would be a mistake to say that we aren’t worried about what COVID-19 might mean for Active Trans down the line.

If you’re able, I hope you can donate to Active Trans or become a member of the organization to help ensure our financial stability during this uncertain time.

Thank you for keeping up with our work at the Active Transportation Alliance.