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Recognizing the people working for healthier, more equitable transportation

Mar 29, 2021 | by Ted Villaire

This year, Active Trans is celebrating 35 years of advocating for better transportation options in the region. To commemorate this milestone, we recently gathered virtually with fellow supporters to socialize, have some fun, and look back at the important work accomplished over the years. The main focus of the event, however, was recognizing local individuals who are dedicated to making our region and our world better places for walking, biking, and public transportation. Our four 2021 honorees have done a great deal to shape a more livable world with better transportation options, whether it be through elected office, advocacy and policy changes, or business and philanthropy. The videos below offer the brief remarks from each awardee (you can also watch...

Tags: Bicycling, Events, Transit Equity, Walking

Winter Bike Challenge, presented by Keating Law Offices, wraps up

Mar 5, 2021 | by Clare McDermott

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and brutal February weather, nearly 350 people suited up and participated in the 2021 Winter Bike Challenge, presented by Keating Law Offices. Overall, riders logged nearly 2,000 miles over the course of 300 trips. During the two-week challenge, riders saw all types of cold weather thrown at them, including one day with over ten inches of snow in the Chicago-area. Despite the snow that day, eight winter riders still got out and logged miles. Impressive! Active Trans is hopeful that we’ll return to hosting a live Winter Bike Rally in Daley Plaza in 2022 and may even bring back the Challenge component again for next year. In the meantime, we are hopeful that our largest fundraising...

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago, Events

Veteran advocate brings equity, affordability to the region’s transportation system

Feb 8, 2021 | by Maya Norris

Jacky Grimshaw has made an indelible mark on the transportation scene in metropolitan Chicago. The longtime sustainable transportation advocate has spent the last 30 years working to improve walking, bicycling, and public transit conditions in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. She’s been a prominent, influential force that has helped to shape and advance an equitable, affordable, and sustainable transportation system in the region. Her impressive achievements in the sector have earned her Active Transportation Alliance’s Visionary Leadership Award, which Active Trans will present to her at its 35th Anniversary E-Bash in March (please consider joining Active Trans for this free event on March 24). Grimshaw began her career as a sustainable transportation advocate when she joined the Center for Neighborhood...

Tags: Advocacy, Chicago, Events, transit

“Community activator” uses bicycling to bring people together

Dec 22, 2020 | by Maya Norris

Pha’tal Perkins has seen for himself the transformative power of bicycling. The bicycling advocate and community activist created the Roll N Peace bike rides to get more residents in Englewood to hop on two wheels as a way to promote public safety and unify this neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago. His extraordinary advocacy work with the Roll N Peace bike rides as well as other community safety initiatives earned him a 2020 Advocate of the Year award from Active Transportation Alliance. Dubbing himself as a community activator, Perkins developed the Roll N Peace bike rides to cast Englewood in a new light — an area that is often stigmatized as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago....

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago South Side, Events

Three inspiring local advocates receive awards from Active Trans

Dec 5, 2020 | by Ted Villaire

The recent Active Trans Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for supporters of the organization to give a round of applause for our talented local advocates. Below you can see brief recorded remarks from our advocacy award recipients: Romina Castillo, Pha'Tal Perkins, and Wharton Sinkler. People who attended the event also got an overview of the key advocacy efforts Active Trans has been pursuing in the region in response to the challenges of the past year. Below you can see Active Trans Executive Director Amy Rynell offering a heart-felt thank-you to supporters and highlighting some sustainable transportation successes during this past year. ADVOCACY AWARDS City Advocate of the Year Award Romina Castillo Muse Community + Design Romina has been a...

Tags: Advocacy, Events

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, West or South Sides, a 75-mile adventure through the entire city, or a short 8-mile family friendly bike ride, there is a route for everyone! Since biking is an activity that easily allows for social distancing, you can feel safe keeping six feet away from others!...

Tags: Bicycling, biking, Boulevard Lakefront Tour, covid-19, Events, Social Distance

Illinois Bike Summit to focus on infrastructure, education, and inclusion

Jul 29, 2020 | by Active Trans

Local advocates, transportation planners, engineers, and anyone interested in making biking for recreation and transportation better on their block or in their community are invited to attend the Illinois Bike Summit on Tuesday, September 15. This online event is organized by Ride Illinois — the statewide, nonprofit, bike advocacy organization. The summit’s keynote speaker will be Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. The themes for the summit — infrastructure, education, and inclusion — will be woven into many of the presentations and breakout sessions. Several Active Transportation Alliance staff will moderate informal Coffee Talks at the start of the day and share their knowledge during breakout sessions. At the end of the day, there will be Q&A...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Events, Illinois

The future of sustainable transportation needs you today

May 20, 2020 | by Julie Strand

Today Active Trans is hosting its first-ever Giving Day. If you are able to support Active Trans during this time of great need, you can get a couple of one-of-a-kind perks, including access to our Virtual Fifth Third Bike the Drive, being held this Sunday. The unexpected cancellation of our annual bike ride on Lakeshore Drive — which accounts for roughly half of our operating revenue — is putting our advocacy work in peril at a time when it’s more vital than ever. Indeed, sustainable transportation is facing an important moment. If we don't take bold steps to make walking and biking safe and welcoming, traffic will exponentially increase as travel restrictions begin to ease. If nothing is done, inevitably...

Tags: covid-19, Events

Thanks to all who joined our 2020 Awards Reception

Mar 13, 2020 | by Ted Villaire

A big thank you to all the people who attended our 2020 Awards Reception. Your support enabled the event to be a great success! And if you participated in the event’s paddle raise or silent auction, extra kudos to you. Thanks to our friend Kye Martin of NBC Chicago, who served as the master of ceremonies as we honored John Buck, the Coalition for a Modern Metra Electric, State Rep. Theresa Mah, and Streetsblog Chicago. See more photos of the event on Flickr (photos courtesy of Steven Gross). John Buck accepts the Visionary Leadership Award, presented by Interim Active Trans Executive Director Melody Geraci. Andrea Reed (left) and Linda Thisted accept the Community Leadership Award for the Coalition...

Tags: Advocacy, Events

Lessons learned engaging residents and students in Aurora

Feb 14, 2020 | by Active Trans

When trying to spread the word about the need for better transportation options, local advocates often put their energy into public events. Indeed, engaging community members person-to-person is an excellent way to build public visibility and grow more community support. By building community support, elected officials are more likely to invest in infrastructure that is safe and comfortable for people walking and biking. Unfortunately, however, things don’t always pan out the way you had hoped. Last fall, advocates from the western suburb of Aurora organized two public awareness events designed to create conversations within the community about the role of biking and bicycle safety. One of the events proved to be a success and the other…well, it didn't go great....

Tags: Bicycling, Events, South Suburbs

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