Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
We’re thrilled that the proposed ordinance to lower Chicago’s default speed limit has passed out of the Chicago City Council’s Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety and soon will go in front of a full city council for a vote. Before the vote, we presented a statement (see below) to the committee on behalf of a coalition of 13 Chicago-based […]
Read More
When it comes to keeping people biking safe, some bike infrastructure works much better than others. To understand peoples’ preferences, we asked some participants at our recent Bike the Drive event to let us know what bike infrastructure made them feel most safe. We asked participants to examine a list of bike safety infrastructure improvements and vote for their favorite […]
Read More
*Editorial Note (October 4, 2024): After being introduced earlier this summer, the ordinance to lower the speed limit was delayed in advancing due to parliamentary procedures. However, thanks to your advocacy, it has now moved to the voting stage at the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety. The committee must first approve the ordinance before it passes to the full […]
Read More
Having previously lived in Chicago for five years and now in Evanston for 13, I’ve ridden plenty in the city while commuting, running errands, or cruising down the lakefront. But something special began brewing in early 2021 when I headed to the Back-of-the-Yards neighborhood to visit Sputnik, a coffee roaster whose beans I had recently bought in an Evanston store. […]
Read More
When was the last time you attempted to cross a busy road on foot? Picture heavy trucks rushing by, cars running red lights, and numerous vehicles speeding. Imagine trying to gauge how quickly you can run from one side to the other, crossing not just two or three, but perhaps four or even eight lanes. Crossing a busy road in […]
Read More
Community spirit and collective determination took center stage as many dozens of people gathered recently to demand that city officials take their foot off the gas with the plan to rebuild DuSable Lake Shore Drive. The event brought together residents, advocates, and elected officials, all united in the belief that the current plans by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) […]
Read More
A coalition of organizations issued a strong statement today opposing the current plans for rebuilding North DuSable Lake Shore Drive (NDLSD) as proposed by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) and its project team. The coalition — comprised of organizations dedicated to sustainable transportation, regional planning, and environmental justice — emphasizes that the project represents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reimagine […]
Read More
The Chicago Tribune recently reached out to readers, including the Active Transportation Alliance, to share their thoughts on the state of cycling in Chicago. As an organization that has been working to improve conditions for cyclists, pedestrians, and transit users in the Chicagoland area for nearly 40 years, we had valuable insights to contribute to this important discussion. Our advocacy […]
Read More
What would inspire you, your family, or friends to walk or bike more within your suburban or rural community? Could the addition of protected bike lanes, multi-use paths, or improved sidewalk connections make a difference? Next month, one of our state’s largest sources of funding for walking and biking infrastructure projects will become available. Starting August 1, this key funding […]
Read More
The reconstruction of North DuSable Lake Shore Drive (NDLSD) presents a once-in-a-generation opportunity to have an impact on Chicago’s transportation landscape for better or worse. As the NDLSD project team prepares to announce their preferred design, the Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) Board has a critical role to play in supporting high-quality transit solutions for this project. For years, advocacy groups […]
Read More