Post image:  It’s the iconic bicycling event in Chicago that 20,000 riders look forward to every year. Sponsored by MB Financial Bank and hosted by the Active Transportation Alliance, MB Bike the Drive is the one day a year when Lake Shore Drive is closed to all motor traffic, allowing cyclists to reign supreme along the scenic Chicago roadway. Cyclists […]

Post image:  We often talk about the challenge of connecting Chicago’s many suburban communities via public transit. The vast geography of the region and the hub-and-spoke nature of our transit system makes it difficult to reach many major suburban destinations without a car. I confronted this challenge this week when deciding how to get to a meeting in Schaumburg with […]

Post image:  For Slow Roll Chicago, bicycling can help to transform communities. The nonprofit organization believes bicycling can improve the quality of life in low-income communities, particularly neighborhoods on the South and West Sides of Chicago. Since it was founded in 2014, Slow Roll Chicago has been dedicated to developing bicycling infrastructure and culture in these communities, while also advocating […]

Post image:  Christopher B. Burke Engineering, Ltd. (CBBEL) is on a mission to get as many of its employees on bikes as possible. The engineering and surveying firm known for its work in communities throughout Illinois uses a variety approaches for encouraging its employees to commute by bicycle to its offices in Rosemont.  The amenities and perks of the robust bike […]

Post image:  Last week, an outrageously weak sentence was handed down in the prosecution of Ryne San Hamel, who struck and killed cyclist Bobby Cann in 2013 while driving drunk. In exchange for a guilty plea, San Hamel was sentenced to only ten days in jail and four years of probation. Unfortunately, this lack of accountability among drunk reckless drivers […]

Post image:  Early voting is already underway for the special municipal election for alderman of the 4th Ward, and transportation issues are front and center. Residents of the 4th Ward can vote early through Feb. 27 or on election day, Feb. 28. Active Trans contacted all five candidates to get their views on biking, walking and public transit issues in […]

Post image:  Our regional commuter rail network is getting a major expansion in Northwest Indiana thanks to the West Lake Corridor Project, also known as the South Shore Line extension. Led by the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District (NICTD), the project is expected to be transformative for the region’s transportation accessibility and economic development. The proposed route runs along the […]

Learn about the people who serve on the board of the Active Transportation Alliance.   Dionne Baux Active Trans Member since: 2017Active Trans Board Member: since 2017 Dionne is the director of urban programs with the National Main Street Center, where she leads an initiative to broaden the center’s offerings and engagement in urban neighborhood commercial districts. Dionne has more […]

Post image:  Despite all the progress of recent years, the belief that streets are only for cars is still far too common among people in Illinois and across the country. Unfortunately, this includes people with the power to shape, enforce and judge state law. As of January 1, 2017, people biking in Illinois are given the same rights to the […]