Blog

A Q&A with Jeff Speck

Feb 27, 2019 | by Ted Villaire

Jeff Speck is one of the leading voices in the nation for creating cities that are better places to walk, bike and use transit. He’s a city planner and author of several books, including, most recently, “Walkable City Rules: 101 Steps to Making Better Places.” This book was a followup to his very popular, “Walkable City: How Downtown Can Save America, One Step at a Time.”

We recently had an opportunity to ask Jeff his take on what’s needed to make Chicagoland a better place for biking and walking.

REI to be honored for its longtime support

Feb 25, 2019 | by Maya Norris

We will be honoring REI by giving the company a Business Leadership Award at our 2019 Active Transportation Alliance Awards Reception on March 7. Please join us as we recognize REI as well Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Logan Square Neighborhood Association. 

Specialty outdoor retailer REI does more than just sell clothing and gear for the outdoor enthusiast. The nation’s largest consumer co-op is committed to connecting people with nature and outdoor recreation,

Mayoral candidates support upgrading Metra Electric

Feb 21, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Chicago’s leading candidates for mayor recognize the untapped potential of the Metra Electric Line and understand why the next administration must upgrade it.

For years Active Trans has worked with community-based partners in the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric to fight for more service, better coordination and safer stations along the line.

Now mayoral candidates are getting on board in response to a candidate questionnaire from Active Transportation NOW,

Most mayoral candidates support a Bike Walk Fund

Feb 20, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Currently there is no money in the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) annual capital budget set aside specifically for biking and walking projects.

But change could be around the corner with most of Chicago’s mayoral candidates supporting a new, dedicated Bike Walk Fund in the city’s budget.

The $20 million fund would give priority to the city’s highest-crash corridors on the South and West Sides.

Take action now to a support a Chicago Bike Walk Fund. 

Mayoral candidates support 100 new miles of bikeways

Feb 19, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Chicago’s leading candidates for mayor pledge to build at least 100 miles of new on-street bikeways over the next four years, including at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes.

All eight candidates who responded to the Active Transportation NOW candidate questionnaire (Daley, Enyia, Fioretti, Ford, Kozlar, Lightfoot, Preckwinkle and Vallas) support building at least 100 miles of new on-street bikeways over the next four years, including at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes.

Lincoln Village Bridge, big victory for Chicago River Trail

Feb 18, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

In a big victory for walking, biking and running, the city broke ground on the much-anticipated Lincoln Village Bridge on Chicago’s Northwest Side. The bridge will connect existing multi-use trails on the east and west sides of the North Shore Channel Trail just north of Lincoln Avenue and south of Devon Avenue.

It’s another exciting step towards a continuous Chicago River Trail. A 27-mile trail would transform areas around the river into vibrant open spaces and connect people to jobs,

South Branch vision advances Chicago River Trail

Feb 15, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Although trails have grown rapidly along the Chicago River, the largest remaining gap in a continuous river trail network is the five-mile stretch from Ping Tom Park in Chinatown southwest to Western Avenue.

Adding a trail along the South Branch (pictured) would be a major step toward a 27-mile Chicago River Trail. A complete trail would promote biking and walking and support healthy communities, cleaner environments and a vibrant local economy.

Report shows Chicago riders leaving transit for Uber, Lyft

Feb 14, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

A new study released this week by TransitCenter shows that Chicago is one of two cities, along with New York, where transit riders say they are shifting a significant share of their transit trips to Uber and Lyft.

The report shows that Chicago needs to do more to improve bus service to win back riders given that bus ridership accounts for nearly all the recent transit ridership loss in our city.

Lime endorses Active Transportation Agenda

Feb 14, 2019 | by Ron Burke

The following post is a guest blog by Nico Probst of Lime, a new mobility company that operates e-scooter and dockless bike programs in the U.S. Active Trans is still analyzing the pros and cons of e-scooter sharing, in consultation with our members, board and staff. Active Trans doesn’t agree with Lime or other new mobility companies on everything, but we welcome their support for our shared bike/walk/transit goals in Chicago and the suburbs.

The 78 can do more to promote walking, biking & transit

Feb 5, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The planned mega-development along the South Branch of the Chicago River, known as the 78, moved a step closer to reality as Chicago’s Community Development Commission recommended tax increment financing to pay for streets and public works upgrades for the project.

This 62-acre project will add 10,000 housing units and create a big opportunity to prioritize healthy and sustainable transportation.

While the 78’s master plan has some promising ideas for transportation,