Blog
Keep up with the latest news
on Active Trans and topics that
we care about in the region.
Chicago’s biggest cycling event is back and better than ever for its seventeenth year! This year, MB Bike the Drive will be held on Sunday, May 27. Enjoy nearly 5 hours of car-free riding on the city’s scenic Lake Shore Drive, which will be closed to all auto traffic for the event. A post-ride festival including live music, giveaways and breakfast (pancakes, […]
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Do you love scenic bike rides but wish you could stop to learn more about the hidden gems Chicagoland has to offer? New for summer 2018, Active Trans brings you Pedal Chicagoland, our small group ride series! We will take you through some of Chicagoland’s most treasured spots via bike at a casual, no-drop pace. These one-of-a-kind experiences are open […]
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The Chicago Tribune editorial board recently took issue with a letter that Active Trans, civic partners and local chambers of commerce wrote in support of including dedicated bus lanes or light rail – we call it the “Silver Line” – into the redesign of North Lake Shore Drive. The Silver Line would run on the north and south sides of the […]
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Illinois crash data shows nearly five children are hit by people driving every day in Illinois while walking or biking within one block of a school. Yet Illinois’ School Code requires automobile safety education, but there isn’t a requirement that education includes instruction on how to bike and walk safely. Active Trans is working with our allies across the state to […]
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Advancing a continuous Chicago River Trail that improves the quality of life for all city residents is not an easy task. The river spans nine aldermanic districts; usage varies from recreational to heavily industrial in stretches; and the quality of access points varies greatly. As trail segments begin to emerge, there’s an urgency to develop goals for important related issues like […]
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If you follow urban cycling, you’ve probably heard the stories by now of dockless bikeshare (DoBi) chaos in parts of Asia, with bikes piling up on sidewalks and thrown in to rivers, and with companies going bankrupt almost overnight. Even in the U.S., the rollout has not gone well in some cities like Dallas where bikes are cluttering streets and sidewalks, […]
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Turning the Chicago River into an attractive destination with healthy transportation options is an important goal of Active Trans’ Chicago River Trail campaign. To achieve the vision of a continuous 27-mile trail that all Chicagoans can enjoy, it’s essential that we clean up the environment, ensure housing is affordable, and create safe and easy access to the river. One area […]
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Seven years ago, Dave Simmons from Elk Grove Village decided to turn his passion for riding bikes into a non-profit with a mission to get more people on their bikes. Through Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove (FCEG), Dave is determined to see more people riding not only for recreation, but also for transportation – to school, to work, to the […]
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Two bills that would strengthen education and awareness of the growing number of people bicycling in Illinois passed out of committee in Springfield on Tuesday. One bill would add the Dutch Reach method to Illinois’ Rules of the Road manual and add bike safety questions to the state driver’s license exam. The Dutch Reach method encourages drivers and passengers to […]
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Post image: Active Transportation Alliance is undertaking a new, broad-reaching advocacy campaign called Trail Connect Chicagoland to mobilize our members and supporters around our vision for a seamlessly connected regional trail network. As one of the first steps in this new campaign, Active Trans recently convened grassroots advocates, allied organizations, local bike clubs, as well as federal, state and local […]
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