Blog

Take our survey on food access and transportation

Nov 2, 2020 | by Active Trans

In the era of COVID-19, social justice is more important than ever.

Yet, during the pandemic, some social justice issues that were once a priority have been sidelined or, in some cases, have gotten lost in the cracks.

The Active Transportation Alliance is picking up one of those subjects that seems to have gotten lost in the cracks: food insecurity and it’s relation to public transit. 

Active Trans will be working with local food pantries to explore this issue.

Cameras can help Chicago slow down cars but must be deployed fairly

Oct 27, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

During a difficult Chicago budget season, Mayor Lori Lightfoot is proposing changes to the city’s speed camera program that would lower the speed at which residents are ticketed. 

State law allows Chicago officials to ticket people driving when they’re captured on camera going 6 mph or more above the posted limit. However, to date the city has only ticketed residents for going 10 mph or more above limit.  

Last week Mayor Lightfoot proposed lowering the ticketing threshold to 6 mph.

Advocates call for keeping transit running during any post-election protests

Oct 13, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

UPDATE (10/14/20): In response to the petition, Mayor Lightfoot’s Office said in a statement to WTTW that they will work with city officials, community leaders, and other stakeholders to “avoid any shutdown of transit options in the future.”

A coalition of advocates is calling on Mayor Lightfoot and Chicago-area transit agencies to keep our buses, trains, paratransit, and bike sharing running during future periods of civil unrest in the city.  

It’s that time again to show support for bus-only lanes on NLSD

Oct 12, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

The multi-year North Lake Shore Drive reconstruction project is at another critical decision point and we need your input on the project. If you care about improving transportation on Lake Shore Drive and want to see fewer cars — rather than more cars — on this roadway, we need you to step up and share your support for a bus-only lane.

Take the survey to show support for a bus-only lane that does not require widening the drive.

Big threat looms for local transit riders if no action taken

Sep 29, 2020 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Without $32 billion in emergency funding needed for public transit, public transportation will be devastated both locally and across the country.

A new report released by TransitCenter and Center for Neighborhood Technology details the impact for people in Chicago and 9 other regions.

As emergency funding from the CARES Act runs out, transit cuts averaging 40 percent across major U.S. regions would result in more than 3 million people losing access to frequent transit,

Moving beyond four main barriers to building protected bike lanes in Chicago

Sep 24, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

Protected bike lanes have been proven again and again as the best approach for making streets safe and comfortable for biking. People of all ages and abilities get excited about biking when they are physically protected from car traffic.

This protected biking environment dramatically increases safety and comfort for people on two wheels while having limited negative impact on car and truck traffic.

The key ingredient for a good protected bike lane (PBL) is a street with space that can be dedicated to bikes.

Pop-up bus lanes coming to Chicago Ave and 79th St. 

Sep 21, 2020 | by Active Trans

The Chicago Department of Transportation and the Chicago Transit Authority are rolling out a new pilot that will implement “pop up essential bus lanes” on two major corridors along two of the highest ridership bus routes in Chicago. 

One will be on 79th Street between Cicero and Western, a total of three miles, and the other on Chicago Avenue between Laramie and Ashland, a total of 4.6 miles. The right hand travel lane will be converted into a bus only lane using tape and signage.

Ride the BLT—a socially distanced bike ride!

Sep 21, 2020 | by Kerry Holsinger

Looking for some socially distanced physical activity this fall? From the organization that brings you Fifth Third Bike the Drive,  Trans now brings you the Boulevard Lakefront Tour, the self-led bike ride edition!

You choose a route and we’ll send the map for you to ride on any date you choose.

We have crafted (and tested!) FIVE unique bike routes to explore Chicago on two wheels. Whether it’s a 30-mile ride through the North,

Metra must get past serving just white-collar suburban riders

Sep 18, 2020 | by Active Trans

This is a guest post by Scott Presslak, a regional transit advocate who runs the Star:Line Chicago Twitter account.

As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, the only certainty we have these days is uncertainty. 2020 has, without a shred of hyperbole, been the most challenging year that most of us have had to persevere, on multiple fronts.

That challenge has come down hard on transit agencies across the U.S.

Join our transit discussion during Cook County Racial Equity Week

Sep 9, 2020 | by Kyle Whitehead

Active Transportation Alliance is excited to co-host a discussion on public transit during Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle’s second annual Racial Equity Week. 

Register for the discussion, which will be held as a virtual event on Thursday, September 17 at 11 a.m. 

The event is a roundtable on transportation equity in the time of COVID-19, with a spotlight on Cook County’s Fair Transit project on Chicago’s South Side and South Suburbs.