Tag Archives: Advocacy

Governor signs Dutch Reach bike safety bill into law

Aug 16, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

A bill that adds the Dutch Reach method to Illinois’ Rules of the Road manual and adds bike safety questions to the state driver’s license exam has been signed into law. The Dutch Reach method encourages drivers and passengers to use their far hand and reach across their body to open car doors after parallel parking, forcing people to look back for approaching cyclists and other traffic before exiting the car. Research shows it makes drivers and passengers more aware of approaching cyclists, helping prevent crashes and save lives. The bill (House Bill 5143), led by State Rep. Theresa Mah (2nd District, Chinatown), was co-sponsored by a bipartisan group of 20 legislators and passed both houses with strong, bipartisan majorities....

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling

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Support a moratorium on expressway expansion

Aug 13, 2018 | by Ron Burke

A new analysis shows the Chicago region has grown more car dependent since 1980, and that a different approach is needed to create healthier, more sustainable and more equitable communities. The Active Transportation Alliance's 2018 Regional Mode Share Report demonstrates the region's inability to build its way out of traffic congestion. A larger percentage of Chicagoland residents are driving to work today compared to 1980, and the total amount of driving in the region has grown approximately four times faster than the population. While the region’s population grew by 18 percent since 1980, the traffic increased by 66 percent in the same period. View the full report for a breakdown of the data by tranportation mode, county and demographic information. You...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, biking, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, North Suburbs, South Suburbs, Walking, West Suburbs

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A new vision for walking and biking on Logan

Aug 9, 2018 | by Steve Simmons

Protected bike lanes, freshly painted crosswalks and longer signals for people walking -- these are just a few of the priorities Logan Square residents have championed during our project to improve walking and biking on Logan Blvd. For the past eight months, the Active Transportation Alliance has led a variety of activities to identify the most significant obstacles to walking and biking on Logan from Rockwell St. to Lathrop Homes. This is a notoriously dangerous stretch for people who walk and bike on the Northwest Side. Western Ave. and the Kennedy Expressway overpass are both major barriers for people traveling east-west between Logan Square and the retail district surrounding Elston Ave. People traveling on bike and foot through this area must contend...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago North Side, Walking

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Majority of local crashes happen on arterial streets

Aug 6, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

If leaders in the Chicago region want to reduce crashes and save lives, new data shows more resources should go towards redesigning arterial streets. According to the Active Transportation Alliance’s 2018 Chicago Regional Crash Report, 53 percent of all crashes in the region occur on arterial roads, which make up 36 percent of the lane miles in our region. These roads often divide communities and serve as barriers for people biking and walking to jobs, parks, healthcare centers and other popular destinations. Active Trans compiles and analyzes public data annually on trends on bicycle and pedestrian crashes, injuries and fatalities. Every year the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) reviews crash data reported from local municipalities to ensure accuracy before publicly...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, biking, Walking

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Cook County funds bike/walk/transit priorities

Aug 1, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

Cook County’s latest round of grant funding includes several exciting projects for people who walk, bike and ride transit in the city and suburbs. Last week the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways announced its 2018 Invest in Cook Grant program. The program is designed to advance priorities from the county’s recent long range transportation plan, which has a strong multi-modal focus while emphasizing the many health, community and economic benefits of active transportation modes. The county is contributing $7 million to fund the 34 approved projects, which leverage an additional $26.8 million in federal, state and local funds. The advocacy of Active Trans and our partners and supporters across the county are closely linked to several winners. The...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, North Suburbs, South Suburbs, West Suburbs

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Regulated e-bikes could strengthen cycling movement

Jul 30, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

A state law passed in 2017 establishes a regulatory structure for electric assist bicycles (e-bikes) in Illinois and helps riders understand the new technology. The bill amended the Illinois vehicle code to create three classes of e-bikes based upon the bike’s equipment and top speed. Class 1 – pedal-assist electric bicycles in which the motor provides support only while the rider is pedaling. Travel at speeds up to 20 MPH. Class 2 – throttle-assist electric bicycles in which the motor can provide support without the rider pedaling. Travel at speeds up to 20 MPH. Class 3 – pedal-assist electric bicycles in which the motor provides support only while the rider is pedals. Travel at speeds up to 28 MPH. Previously,...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling

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Share your ideas for the 2019 Chicago transportation platform

Jul 27, 2018 | by Julia Gerasimenko

As election season in the City of Chicago approaches, Active Trans is excited to invite our partners and supporters across the city to provide input on our 2019 transportation platform. Active Trans will host two meetings open to all to help build a collaborative and intersectional platform, which will be used to educate candidates and voters in the 2019 Chicago mayoral and city council elections. Join us on either August 8 in Logan Square or August 21 in Bronzeville for a Transportation Justice Dialogue to collectively develop our 2019 platform. Next year the city of Chicago will elect a mayor and city council. Will these elected officials be champions for transportation justice for all residents of Chicago? What does transportation...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, Walking

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Teaching safe cycling a passion for Active Trans board member

Jul 24, 2018 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

At this year’s Illinois Bike Summit hosted by Ride Illinois, Active Trans board member and Chicago Heights resident Larry Mysz was given the prestigious Illinois Educator Award. The award was well deserved. As a bicycle advocate and educator over the last two decades, Larry has touched the lives of thousands of people, inspiring many to seriously consider the bicycle as a mode of transportation for everyday use, even in the suburbs. Larry started a program that has taught hundreds of adults to ride a bicycle for the first time and has trained about 200 League of American Bicyclists Cycling Instructors (LCIs) from around the country how to conduct bicycle safety classes. Last fall, Larry attended our Bike Walk Every Town...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling

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CTA station accessibility should be a priority

Jul 23, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) finally has a plan to make all its rail stations accessible. Unfortunately, however, only a small portion of the work is funded. This week CTA released its first All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP) Plan -- following through on a commitment CTA President Dorval Carter made in 2016. The plan outlines the short- and long-term projects needed to make all stations accessible within 20 years, including cost estimates and phasing. Currently, 103 of CTA’s 145 rail stations (70 percent) are accessible, which includes several upgrades that happened in recent years. The agency says the remaining stations have an average age of 75 years and require significant structural changes or property acquisition to be made accessible. Under the...

Tags: Advocacy

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Join Big Marsh Bike Convergence on Sat., July 28

Jul 23, 2018 | by Julia Gerasimenko

The needs of people biking and walking on Chicago's Southeast Side have been ignored for too long. In an effort to change that, community advocates are now ramping up the pressure on local elected officials. Join Active Trans, the Southside Trailblazers, Friends of Big Marsh and Slow Roll Chicago on Saturday, July 28 for the Big Marsh Bike Convergence community ride. We will travel from four community areas around Lake Calumet and convene at Big Marsh Park to highlight the challenges for people biking and walking on the Far South and East sides of Chicago. Active Trans has been advocating for improved connections for people biking and walking in the Far South and East sides of Chicago for several years. Community...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago South Side, Walking

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