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2017 traffic fatality totals at MPAC

Mar 1, 2018 | by Active Trans

At the most recent Mayor’s Pedestrian Advisory Council (MPAC) meeting, the Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) provided a sobering overview of all the traffic fatalities in Chicago from 2017. While there were no downtown pedestrian fatalities, the West, Northwest, and South Sides all saw a slight increase in pedestrian fatalities, almost all of which fell in the Vision Zero identified "high crash areas." All six cycling fatalities happened on the West side and five of those were in a designated "high crash area."CDOT representatives also provided an overview of Vision Zero West Side outreach efforts. Four Vision Zero West Side staff members attended 225 events and contacted 7,750 people to collect input and share information about traffic safety over the course...

Tags: Chicago West & Southwest Side, Education, Walking

Active Trans to award legal firm at event

Feb 28, 2018 | by Active Trans

It’s not easy for nonprofits to navigate the complex maze of local, state and federal laws that govern their organizations without the help of attorneys. And those legal services can get pricey for grassroots nonprofits with limited resources. Luckily, that’s something Active Transportation Alliance doesn’t have to worry about. Active Trans benefits from pro bono legal services provided by Kelley Drye & Warren LLP’s Chicago office. The international law firm’s generous legal advice helps Active Trans stay focused on its mission while giving Kelley Drye a fascinating inside look at how the nonprofit works to improve walking, bicycling and public transit in Chicago.As a result of the firm’s outstanding legal assistance to Active Trans for the past four years, we will...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Education, Walking

Weber Spur, a crucial connection

Feb 21, 2018 | by Active Trans

Urban trails are one of the best tools we have to encourage more people to walk and bike for everyday transportation, improve public health, strengthen local businesses and create a cleaner environment.That's why we're making the completion of the Weber Spur Trail on Chicago's Northwest Side a top priority for Active Trans' Chicago River Trail campaign.Suburban Lincolnwood recently built a one-mile stretch of the trail; now we're calling on the city of Chicago to follow through on plans to build its 1.7-mile portion.The Weber Spur is a 2.7-mile trail that starts at Touhy Avenue in Lincolnwood, takes a southwestern route through LaBagh Woods and connects to Elston Avenue's bicycle lanes (see map). This trail will create the ultimate low-stress connection...

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

Active Trans leads new push for safer Logan Boulevard

Feb 20, 2018 | by Active Trans

The idea of creating safe and easy access to and from the growing network of trails along the Chicago River gets us excited.What makes us even more excited is when improving access to the river also creates an opportunity to address long-standing concerns of our members and supporters.That's exactly what's happening in our quest to improve conditions for people walking and biking between Logan Boulevard and new river trail segments near Lathrop Homes.For the next six months, we'll be working with residents, community organizations, design experts and city officials to develop a list of recommendations for creating safe and comfortable spaces to walk and bike between local hubs. Helping us carry out this work are our two project partners, Logan...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago North Side, Walking

State platform prioritizes transit funding and IDOT reform

Feb 20, 2018 | by Active Trans

Active Trans has released its 2018 Illinois Sustainable Transportation Platform for the upcoming primary and general elections for governor and state legislature. The platform is based on input from Active Trans members, partner organizations, board, and staff.The platform features specific action items to achieve progress on three core goalsDedicate funding to sustainable transportation projectsReform state transportation policy to take a more multimodal approachChampion transformational projectsHighlights include calling on leaders to establish a new Bike-Walk Fund in the state’s annual budget; restoring and, ultimately, growing state support for public transit operations and capital projects; and reforming IDOT policies to support building more and better biking and walking facilities on state routes.The platform also calls on state leaders to advance a vision...

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

Suburban superstars: Not taking ‘no’ for an answer

Feb 7, 2018 | by Active Trans

Through our Bike Walk Every Town suburban advocacy training, we've been meeting people doing great work in suburban Chicago communities.One of these people is Eberhard Veit, a 10-year bicycle-advocacy veteran from Crystal Lake. He has an impressive resume and has helped ensure the inclusion of biking and walking facilities and the closure of trail gaps on numerous projects throughout McHenry County.We spoke to Eberhard to learn more about his passion for bicycle advocacy and what drives him to keep going, despite the car-centric lifestyle and landscape of the suburbs.For Eberhard, his dedication to bicycle advocacy started with a failure.Ten years ago, a stretch of Rakow Road in McHenry County was set to be widened. The two-lane, wide shoulder road was to be converted...

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

City picks route for Red Line Extension

Feb 6, 2018 | by Active Trans

Planning for the long-promised southern extension of the Red Line to 130th Street took a step forward last week as the city chose a preferred route.The Chicago Transit Authority is hosting an open house on Tuesday, February 13 to solicit resident input on the proposed route: Begin the extension at 95th Street and run along the west side of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from I-57 south to approximately 109th Street;Cross the Union Pacific Railroad tracks and run along the east side of the tracks until crossing the Metra Electric tracks near 119th Street; andContinue south to 130th Street.The proposed 5.3-mile extension would include four new stations near 103rd Street, 111th Street, Michigan Avenue and 130th Street.This project is decades in the...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago South Side, South Suburbs, Walking

Suburban superstars: a tale of two walking advocates (part 2)

Feb 1, 2018 | by Active Trans

This is a continuation of our two-part blog series highlighting the walking advocacy of two inspiring women in the suburbs. This fall the Active Transportation Alliance gathered more than 100 advocates from 63 villages and cities across the region, both online and in-person, to take part in our Bike Walk Every Town suburban advocacy training.At the training we were honored to meet Des Plaines resident Geraldolyn Harris, who is working to improve walkability in Chicagoland’s northwest suburbs. She has big plans and has a great deal of wisdom and inspiration to offer other advocates interested in transforming their communities.Geraldolyn’s journey into walking advocacy began in 2013 in Colorado.As a native to Denver, Colorado, Geraldolyn grew up near the city’s oldest...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, North Suburbs, Walking

New Divvy pricing offers more options for two-wheeled fun

Jan 24, 2018 | by Active Trans

Today the City of Chicago announced tweaks to the pricing structure for the Divvy bike share system. Active Trans is hopeful these changes will encourage more people to try Divvy while also providing existing users with a better experience.Ultimately, attracting more people to use Divvy will make more resources available for additional stations, expanded access through low-cost membership programs like Divvy for Everyone, and increased outreach and educational programming. “Cycling is surging in Chicago in large part because Divvy has it made it easy for experienced and new cyclists alike to travel by bike,” said Ron Burke, Active Trans Executive Director. “Giving people more time between dockings makes Divvy even more convenient. It's a change many Divvy riders have asked for and...

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

Suburban superstars: a tale of two walking advocates (part 1)

Jan 22, 2018 | by Active Trans

Last year, as part of the Bike Walk Every Town suburban advocacy program, the Active Transportation Alliance hosted several advocacy skills-building workshops.We were privileged to cross paths with several dedicated leaders who have spent years working to improve walking, biking and transit conditions in their communities. We wanted to learn what motivated them to volunteer their time and persist through the oftentimes bumpy road of transportation advocacy. Two Chicagoland women, Anne Nagle and Geraldolyn Harris, who attended the trainings stood out for their work in walking advocacy and their participation in the America Walk’s Walking College program. America Walks is a national nonprofit focused on making communities more walkable and livable. Their 12-week online Walking College offers an interactive experience that...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, North Suburbs, Walking

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