Blog

Breaking the cycle of ugly public meetings

Sep 6, 2019 | by Jim Merrell

A proposed project to make a street safer for people walking and biking sparks backlash. A contentious public meeting is held. Arguments based on emotion and anecdotal experience are hurled about. People are frustrated. Rinse. Repeat.

Maybe the project moves forward, or gets watered down, or nixed entirely. Who knows? The outcome depends on a completely opaque process and constantly shifting set of criteria.

Chicago: This is why we can’t have nice things.

Tell us what you think about e-scooters

Sep 4, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

As a full-fledged e-scooter sharing program in Chicago starts to take shape, we want to hear from you about what the future of scooters in Chicagoland should look like.

Chicago’s e-scooter pilot ends October 15. In coming weeks, Active Trans is collecting feedback on the Chicago pilot from residents, community-based organizations, and elected officials as we determine how to advocate around e-scooter policy. We plan to release a policy report in mid-October.

Chicago officials say no decisions have been made about a long-term e-scooter program,

Help create vision for a safer Archer Avenue

Sep 3, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Want to be part of a working group to develop a community-driven vision for a safer Archer Avenue? Your chance to help improve Archer between Harlem Ave. and Western Ave. is coming up on Wednesday, September 4.

While Archer Avenue is identified as a spoke route in the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, little progress has been made, unfortunately, to make this major thoroughfare safe for people biking. The photo featured above is a ghost bike dedicated to Lisa Shalk,

Pace launches its much-anticipated Pulse service

Sep 3, 2019 | by Maya Norris

A new express bus line has rolled into Niles. Pace, the suburban bus service, recently debuted its Pulse transit service on Milwaukee Avenue, promising frequent, faster, and more reliable transit for one of the most heavily traveled corridors between the northwest suburb and Chicago.

Pace launched the Pulse Milwaukee Line on Aug. 11 as the first route in its new Pulse transit system. The Milwaukee Line runs along a 7.6-mile route on Milwaukee Avenue between the Golf Mill Shopping Center in Niles and the Jefferson Park Transit Center in Chicago.

Tell Mayor Lightfoot to fund busways and safe streets

Aug 26, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

In building the first budget of her administration, Mayor Lightfoot can chart a new course for Chicago’s transportation network.

Now you need to make sure she follows through on her campaign promises to make it safer, healthier, and more affordable to get around Chicago.

Leading up her budget address on October 16, Mayor Lightfoot is collecting feedback on Chicago’s budget priorities. Four budget town halls are scheduled for September:

• Sept.

Riding the Irving Park bus with Ald. Gardiner

Aug 20, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

On a warm August morning, Active Trans staff rode the Irving Park Bus with 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner west from the Six Corners intersection to the Irving Park Blue Line and back. The goal was to get a sense of the daily experience of those 17,000 bus riders on this route.

The 45th Ward received a “C” letter grade on our Bus Friendly Streets Report Card for speed and reliability.

LaSpata pledges to upgrade bus service in 1st ward

Aug 19, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

To bring attention to the sluggishness of traveling by bus on Chicago’s streets, Active Trans is inviting aldermen on bus rides in their wards. Because, what better way to show elected officials the problems with Chicago bus service than getting them on a bus?

That’s what we did with 1st Ward Ald. Daniel LaSpata.

While we were thrilled to spend some time with this newly elected alderman, he didn’t need convincing that the city is desperately in need of faster,

Support needed for Dickens Avenue Greenway proposal

Aug 16, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Update [8/21/19]: Please note the venue for the August 22nd public meeting has been changed to Lincoln Park High School.

The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has proposed creating a neighborhood greenway on Dickens Avenue.

This Thursday, August 22, is your chance to let CDOT and 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith know that the ward needs this project and more like it.

While some residents have expressed their interest in this project,

Connecting Gompers and River Parks

Aug 15, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Partnering with neighborhood organizations and residents to create better access to the Chicago River and safe connections between trails is a major focus of our Chicago River Trail campaign.

Whether it’s adding a trail along the river, building safe on-street connections, or even a floating a trail, there are many viable ways a continuous Chicago River Trail could be built.

Recently, we joined the North River Commission and supporters on Chicago’s Northwest Side on a walk to explore a potential on-street connection between trails at River Park (pictured) and the south end of the North Branch Trail extension in Gompers Park.

Stan Day invests in the power of the pedal

Aug 8, 2019 | by Maya Norris

It probably comes as no surprise that bicycling plays a huge role in Stan Day’s life. As the co-founder and chairman of SRAM, the second-largest maker of bicycle components in the world, Day is passionate about bicycling and how it can transform people’s lives and create healthy, thriving communities.

That’s why the bicycling advocate and SRAM have been a longtime supporters of Active Transportation Alliance, joining forces with the organization to help get more people on bikes and improve conditions for bicycling throughout Chicago — an investment that has reaped rewards for cyclists in the city.