Tag Archives: Walking

Chinatown organization works to improve walkability

Jul 12, 2018 | by Active Trans

Chicago's Chinatown has been touted as one of the only Chinatowns in the U.S. that is growing. Indeed, over the past several years, Chinese Americans have moved beyond Chinatown's core within Armour Square and into "Greater Chinatown." While Chicago's Chinatown is a vibrant neighborhood and great place to live, it’s also long overdue for active transportation investments. The Coalition for a Better Chinese American Community (CBCAC), Alderman Solis and Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) began work on a long-term vision plan in 2013 as part of Chinatown's centennial celebration. The Chinatown Community Vision Plan was a culmination of two years of research in which more than 2,000 individuals provided input on the future of Chinatown. Transportation was highlighted in...

Tags: Advocacy, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Walking

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Tell governor to sign Bike Walk Education in Schools Act

Jul 10, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

Another important bike safety bill has arrived on Governor Rauner's desk and we need your help to make sure it's signed into law. The Bike Walk Education in Schools Act (HB 4799) passed the Illinois House and Senate with strong bipartisan majorities and awaits the governor's signature. The legislation requires school boards statewide to adopt policies for educating K-8 students about biking and walking safety. Schools boards determine how best to implement the requirement in their schools. Tell Governor Rauner to sign HB 4799 to make Illinois streets safer for everybody, especially the most vulnerable users on foot and on bike. Illinois crash data shows that nearly five children are hit by people driving every day in Illinois while walking or...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Walking

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July events on the Lakefront Trail

Jul 9, 2018 | by Julia Gerasimenko

The Active Transportation Alliance compiles a list of events happening each month along the Lakefront Trail. See what's going on in the month of July so you can better plan your walking, biking or running route. This month will be busy! For regular updates about the Lakefront Trail, follow our Lakefront Trail Twitter page and the #chiLFT hashtag. NOTE: For updates on the Lakefront Trail separation construction, visit the Chicago Park District’s page. A small section of the lakefront trail between Chicago Ave. and Ontario St. has been affected by recent storm damage. The pedestrian portion of the trail in this area is open for both foot and bike traffic. Repairs will be made when weather allows in the spring....

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Lakefront Trail, Walking

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Become an Active Trans Ambassador on Aug. 2

Jul 9, 2018 | by Active Trans

Do you share our vision for a region with safe opportunities to bike, walk and take public transit? Are you excited about the work that Active Trans does and have an interest in advancing our mission by educating others? If you answered yes, we need you to help us fight for this vision by becoming an Active Trans Ambassador. Click here to sign up for an evening training in our office, 6-7:30 p.m. on August 2. The Active Trans Ambassador program is a new initiative for volunteer leaders focused on promoting Active Trans' city and suburban advocacy initiatives. Ambassadors represent us at events, highlighting our advocacy campaigns, building grassroots support for legislative priorities, and building our membership base. The Active...

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

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Extending the I&M Canal Trail

Jun 27, 2018 | by Matt Gomez

A few southwest suburban communities, including Summit, are exploring an extension to the popular Illinois and Michigan (I&M) Canal Trail for biking and walking.Earlier this month, Active Trans joined Summit Mayor Sergio Rodriguez, local advocates and trail development experts for a tour of a potential site for the trail along the Sanitary and Ship Canal in the Village of Summit (The Sanitary and Ship Canal is a 28-mile-long canal system that connects the Chicago River to the Des Plaines River). Active Trans has been working on the I&M Trail for the past few months as part of our larger Trail Connect Chicagoland campaign, which is our effort to build both community and government support across the region for closing gaps...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Walking

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Celebrate Lakefront Trail improvements with us

Jun 8, 2018 | by Active Trans

For more than 30 years, Active Trans has been working to make the Lakefront Trail safer and easier to use. In the past year or so, parts of the trail have taken a quantum leap forward in terms of safety and comfort. But as you probably know, work still needs to be done. Join us on June 28 at Theater on the Lake as we celebrate the newly separated trails for people on foot and on bikes. Hear from advocates and city leaders about how the project is going and what’s needed to push it across the finish line. The happy hour event is at the newly renovated Theater on the Lake and will feature drinks from Revolution Brewing, light...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Lakefront Trail, Walking

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UIC public health students advance Weber Spur Trail

Jun 6, 2018 | by Steve Simmons

Because urban trails encourage more people to bike, walk and run, they happen to be one of the best tools we have to improve public health. This desire to help people improve their health is in part what fuels our work to advance a continuous Chicago River Trail. For the past year, we've been working closely with one of our partners, public health students at the University of Illinois-Chicago (pictured), to identify the public health benefits the proposed Weber Spur Trail would bring to the Northwest Side. With help from Active Trans supporters (Alderman Laurino, North River Commission and North Branch Trail Alliance), the students surveyed more than 240 residents, finding that nearly all of them expect public health to improve...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago North Side, Walking

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Biking & walking safety education bill on home stretch

May 31, 2018 | by Active Trans

Every day in Illinois, an average of 5 kids are hit by drivers of motor vehicles within one block of a school, and more are hit beyond the school zones. A bill that would help address this tragic daily occurrence while encouraging more walking and biking has passed the Illinois Senate and now heads to Governor Bruce Rauner for approval. The Bike Walk Education in Schools Act (HB4799) requires K-8 schools to provide biking and walking safety education. Illinois’ School Code requires automobile safety education, but currently there isn’t a requirement for providing instruction on how to bike and walk safely. State lawmakers have heard from hundreds of people who support this bill. Kudos to Rep. Sonya Harper and Sen....

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Education, Walking

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June events on the Lakefront Trail

May 31, 2018 | by Active Trans

The Active Transportation Alliance compiles a list of events happening each month along the Lakefront Trail. See what's going on in the month of June so you can better plan your walking, biking or running route. This month will be busy! For regular updates about the Lakefront Trail, follow our Lakefront Trail Twitter page and the #chiLFT hashtag. NOTE: For updates on the Lakefront Trail separation construction, visit the Chicago Park District’s page. Construction is beginning on the current Lakefront Trail between Foster and Montrose. Durring this project, people biking and walking both will be diverted to the newly constructed path, which will eventually become the bike path. Click here for the detour map of the North side. A small section of...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Lakefront Trail, Walking

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Take our survey to improve walking & biking on Logan Blvd.

May 29, 2018 | by Steve Simmons

Did you know that 17 of the Chicago River's 27 miles will have trails by the end of 2018? With trails taking shape as quickly as they are, it's urgent we push for improvements that create safe walking and biking options for accessing the river. One area where we're working on better access to the Chicago River Trail is on Logan Blvd. from Rockwell Ave. to Lathrop Homes. If you've ever biked or walked along this stretch, you know how perilous it can be for people walking and biking. This is where we'd love your input. Are you familiar with this part of Logan? Do you live, commute through or shop in this area? What changes would you like to see?...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago North Side, Walking, West Suburbs

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