Blog

Transportation issues on the city’s West Side during COVID-19

Jul 23, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of what we perceive and know about mobility and transportation.

In recent months, Active Trans met with more than 100 stakeholders who are invested in our work. We spoke with community partners, elected officials, department of transportation and transit agency officials, and residents across the city and suburbs.

As part of this process, we held a series of small-group conversations and solo conversations with stakeholders and an elected official on the city’s West Side.

Take action for 30 miles of bus lanes and masks for riders

Jul 20, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

As the Mayor and City Council develop the 2021 Chicago city budget, we urge them to work with the Chicago Transit Authority and Chicago Department of Transportation to:

– Roll out 10 miles of bus lanes before the end of 2020 as part of the city’s COVID-19 response

– Fund and build out 20 additional miles by the end of 2021

– Provide masks for all transit riders

Additional walking and biking guidance during COVID-19

Jul 17, 2020 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

Earlier this spring when the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Active Transportation Alliance worked with Cook County Department of Public Health (CCDPH) to develop a shareable infographic offering advice on how to stay safe while walking and biking.

Now that our state has reached Phase 4 of the Restore Illinois Plan, which allows for physically-distanced and masked gatherings of up to 100 people in outdoor spaces, many have asked if walking and biking in small groups is considered safe.

Tell Congress to keep Chicago transit moving

Jul 17, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

As the U.S. House and Senate return to work on the nation’s COVID-19 response next week, providing emergency support for transit agencies must be a top priority. 

Sign a letter to your members of Congress calling for $32 billion in COVID relief for U.S. transit agencies.

Transit continues to play an essential role in keeping the region’s economy afloat during the pandemic. Our buses and trains connect people to work, 

Further impacts of the transit shutdown in Chicago

Jul 11, 2020 | by Active Trans

The recent CTA shutdown stirred a lot of emotions among residents throughout the city. It also caused lot of discomfort and inconvenience.

The shutdown came at a time when widespread social unrest over police-involved killings was happening in Chicago and the nation. Following the abrupt transit shutdown were the calls for accountability for the city officials and mayor.

The bus fellows at Active Trans saw an opportunity to capture these concerns and launched a rapid survey response.

Illinois lags other states in walking and biking policy

Jul 10, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

Illinois is becoming a more walk- and bike-friendly state, but it still has a long way to go to catch up with national leaders, according to a new report from the Safe Routes Partnership. 

The partnership, a national nonprofit working to advance safe walking and biking to schools and other everyday destinations, recently released its 2020 State Report Cards. Illinois scored a 92 out of 200 points,

Join us on July 20 for Transit Justice Talk: COVID-19 and Beyond

Jul 10, 2020 | by Active Trans

COVID-19 has had a major impact on transit in the short term, and the impact will likely continue in the long term.

In a virtual conversation on Monday, July 20th, Active Transportation Alliance’s Bus Organizing Fellows Rylen Clark and Jamaine Alberto Gooding will sit down with State Senator Robert Peters of the 13th District and Alderman Matt Martin of the 47th Ward to discuss their thoughts on transit, socioeconomic equity, and how they intersect. 

Impacts of the transit shutdown

Jul 7, 2020 | by Active Trans

At the end of May and in early June, in an unprecedented move, the City of Chicago and transit agencies decided to halt all its bus and train service with little to no warning for people around the city.

To get a better understanding of what happens when a transit system suddenly stops providing its crucial service, Active Transportation Alliance collected stories from residents on how the shutdown affected their lives.

Responses came from a wide range of people—from nurses to gas station workers, 

Biking during the pandemic

Jul 7, 2020 | by Lynda Lopez

Biking has never been a neutral act. There are a lot of associations with riding a bike on the street and the power that comes with occupying that space.

During the past few months, biking has taken on another role because of the pandemic. It is now increasingly being seen as a safe alternative to public transit and other forms of mobility.

It has been a conflicting time for me as I process the world unfolding and how movement and our perception of movement shifts.

Mobility challenges in the time of COVID-19 on Chicago’s South Side

Jul 6, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

COVID-19 has impacted transportation and mobility in profound ways. To better understand the transportation needs of the people and communities most impacted by the pandemic, Active Trans embarked on a listening tour of over 100 community leaders and public officials. This is part of a series of blog posts sharing what we learned.

To learn more about the specific transportation and mobility challenges that people in Chicago face — particularly in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic — we held 11 conversations with community partners and elected officials on Chicago’s South Side.