Blog

Advocates urge Lightfoot to explore congestion pricing

Jul 2, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Active Trans joined a coalition of advocates in calling on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to make the city’s ride-hailing fee more equitable and analyze possible congestion pricing options.

In a letter sent to Mayor Lightfoot and relevant committee chairs, the group argues that changes to the fee structure would encourage more people using sustainable transportation options, such as shared rides, walking, bicycling, and public transit.

Transportation is the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the country.

Lincoln Park resident works for a safer Dickens Ave.

Jun 26, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Stephanie Sims, a Lincoln Park resident and Active Trans Ambassador, is using her training to rally her neighbors to support the proposed Dickens Neighborhood Greenway.

Sims is circulating a petition urging 43rd Ward Alderman Michele Smith to make the project a top priority.

When Sims was recently trained to be an Active Trans Ambassador, she learned the ins and outs of organizing support for walking, bicycling, and public transit improvements in her neighborhood.

Advocacy needed for the Skokie Valley Trail extension

Jun 26, 2019 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

The Skokie Valley Trail extension project needs your support!

If completed, the trail would fill a 4.5-mile gap through the Villages of Skokie, Northfield, Glenview, and Wilmette to create a continuous trail from Lake Bluff to Chicago (see map, gap shown in red).

This regional trail opportunity is a top priority for the Active Transportation Alliance. The connection could provide many north suburban families and residents with a low-stress,

Enhancing Lake Calumet area connections

Jun 25, 2019 | by Matt Gomez

Getting around in the communities surrounding Lake Calumet on Chicago’s Far South Side is an enormous challenge without a car.

A lack of public transit options, few bicycle trails, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure make traveling without a car between communities like Riverdale, Roseland, and Pullman frustrating and often risky. Obstacles like heavy industry, highways, rail tracks, and waterways cut off most of these neighborhoods from neighboring communities.

The good news is that solid ideas have been developed for improving the walking,

Clif Bar helps Active Trans get more people biking

Jun 25, 2019 | by Active Trans

Getting around Chicago on a bike is not as daunting as it seems.

That’s what Linor Vaknin learned when she became involved in Active Trans’ annual Bike to Work competition (going on now and continuing until the end of the week).

Prior to the event, biking on Chicago streets was out of the question for her. Too hectic, too scary.

Then, during the Bike to Work competition in 2010,

Cultivating the next generation of advocates

Jun 20, 2019 | by Maya Norris

Marco De La Rosa is making sure the voices of some of the youngest stakeholders in Active Transportation Alliance’s Chicago River Trail campaign are heard loud and clear.

As club director of the Linda & Bill Gantz Boys & Girls Club of Chicago in Lathrop Homes on the North Side, De La Rosa is nurturing the advocacy and leadership skills of his students by having them take part in Active Trans’ efforts to push for a Chicago River Trail.

Ron Burke to step down as head of Active Trans

Jun 17, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

After nearly nine years with the Active Transportation Alliance, Ron Burke will step down from his role as the organization’s executive director next month.

During Burke’s tenure, Active Trans contributed to many victories, from the growth of Chicago’s advanced bike lane network and launch of Divvy bikeshare, to the creation of separate biking and walking trails on the lakefront, introduction of dedicated bus lanes,

Fair Fares Chicagoland

Jun 17, 2019 | by Lynda Lopez

What is Fair Fares Chicagoland?

Fair Fares is a campaign led by the Active Transportation Alliance seeking a discounted transit fare for low-income transit riders in the Chicago region. It would include all public transportation options that are part of the Regional Transportation Authority: Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Pace, and Metra.

Approximately 20 percent of transit riders of working age made under $20,000 a year in Chicago. As of 2019,

State bike/walk fund advances transportation equity

Jun 10, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

The new state money for walking and bicycling comes with reforms that make it easier for low-income communities to secure funding. Needless to say, we were thrilled to see our efforts pay off in creating better transportation equity in the state.

For the first time ever, Illinois’ long-term capital program includes dedicated funding for walking and biking projects — $50 million annually. It also includes sustainable funding for public transit for the first time ever.

Transport Chicago to feature bus & river trail campaigns

Jun 7, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

If you’d like to see better walking, biking, and public transit options in Chicago and its suburbs, you might be interested in joining the Transport Chicago conference on June 14 at the Merchandise Mart.

This one-day event is a great opportunity to speak with transportation professionals, learn more about a variety of initiatives, and speak up for healthy and sustainable transportation.

Toward that end, we’re excited to be leading two sessions on the agenda featuring our Back on the Bus and Chicago River Trail campaigns.