Tag Archives: Walking

Help create vision for a safer Archer Avenue

Sep 3, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Want to be part of a working group to develop a community-driven vision for a safer Archer Avenue? Your chance to help improve Archer between Harlem Ave. and Western Ave. is coming up on Wednesday, September 4. While Archer Avenue is identified as a spoke route in the Streets for Cycling Plan 2020, little progress has been made, unfortunately, to make this major thoroughfare safe for people biking. The photo featured above is a ghost bike dedicated to Lisa Shalk, who was killed by a driver while riding her bike at the intersection of Archer Avenue and Lorel Avenue in November 2017. This is just one example of how street design failed the most vulnerable people on Archer. Overall, the...

Tell Mayor Lightfoot to fund busways and safe streets

Aug 26, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

In building the first budget of her administration, Mayor Lightfoot can chart a new course for Chicago’s transportation network. Now you need to make sure she follows through on her campaign promises to make it safer, healthier, and more affordable to get around Chicago. Leading up her budget address on October 16, Mayor Lightfoot is collecting feedback on Chicago’s budget priorities. Four budget town halls are scheduled for September: Sept. 4: 6 to 8 p.m., Copernicus Center, 5216 W. Lawrence Ave., Sept. 14: 9 to 11 a.m., Roberto Clemente High School, 1147 N. Western Ave. Sept. 19: 6 to 8 p.m. the Southeast United Methodist Youth and Community Center, 11731 S. Avenue O Sept. 25: 6 to 8 p.m., Lindblom...

Support needed for Dickens Avenue Greenway proposal

Aug 16, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Update [8/21/19]: Please note the venue for the August 22nd public meeting has been changed to Lincoln Park High School. The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) has proposed creating a neighborhood greenway on Dickens Avenue. This Thursday, August 22, is your chance to let CDOT and 43rd Ward Ald. Michele Smith know that the ward needs this project and more like it. While some residents have expressed their interest in this project, more voices are needed to ensure that this project is not derailed by local NIMBYs. Neighborhood greenways are low-stress streets that are designed to be safer and more comfortable for all users — people walking, bicycling, and driving. The streets are designed to be used by people of...

Connecting Gompers and River Parks

Aug 15, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Partnering with neighborhood organizations and residents to create better access to the Chicago River and safe connections between trails is a major focus of our Chicago River Trail campaign. Whether it's adding a trail along the river, building safe on-street connections, or even a floating a trail, there are many viable ways a continuous Chicago River Trail could be built. Recently, we joined the North River Commission and supporters on Chicago's Northwest Side on a walk to explore a potential on-street connection between trails at River Park (pictured) and the south end of the North Branch Trail extension in Gompers Park. This roughly two-mile stretch is one of five remaining areas that need to be connected via trail for the...

Paddling Chicago River between Irving Park and Diversey

Aug 1, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

An important part of our campaign for a continuous Chicago River Trail is understanding the nature of land along the river. Getting a sense of the riverbank and adjacent developments help us see how access to the river and connections to a future trail might be created. To get a better sense of the river edge from Belmont to Diversey, we recently partnered with Friends of the Chicago River on a canoe paddle to experience this area in person. It's part of our project to develop neighborhood-backed ideas for connecting two trails that'll be opening in the near future: the 312 RiverRun, which is on track to be completed in the fall of 2020, and the path at Lathrop Homes,...

Take our survey for better walking & biking on Riverwalk & Wacker Dr.

Jul 24, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Because the Chicago River has emerged as one of the city's premier destinations, it's important we improve walking and biking along the river so that all Chicagoans can safely enjoy it. That's exactly what's happening in our project to identify and push for walking and biking upgrades along the Riverwalk and Upper Wacker Dr. on the Main Branch of the Chicago River. The study area starts at the intersection of the Riverwalk and the Lakefront Trail, and runs the entire length of the Riverwalk west to Lake Street and includes existing bike routes between Randolph to the south and Illinois St. to the north. This is where we'd love your input. Are you familiar with this area? Do you live,...

River trail coalition supports connected South Branch

Jul 17, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The Chicago River Trail coalition is making sure local partners shape plans for better walking, biking and access to transit along the South Branch. Active Trans' campaign for a continuous river trail relies on the expertise of local partners to determine the location of trails and safe access points for people walking and biking. During a recent gathering at the Eleanor Street Boathouse (pictured) in Bridgeport, coalition members got behind a vision for safe walking and biking advanced by the South Branch Framework Plan, a year-long initiative led by the South Branch Park Advisory Council. We're excited the plan highlights several neighborhood-backed concepts that'll improve walking and biking between Pilsen, Bridgeport, and McKinley Park. Adding a riverfront trail that connects...

Victory for sustainable transportation in Lake County

Jul 11, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Update: July 12, 2019: The Illinois Tollway announced that it's ending the environmental impact study of a Route 53 extension, effectively dropping the project for the fourth time since it was identified in a regional transportation plan in 1962. __________________________________ In a major victory for walking, biking, and transit, the Lake County Board unanimously removed language supporting the Route 53 highway extension from its strategic plan. We're pleased the Lake County Board will now focus on developing a "modern, multimodal, and comprehensive transportation plan" and will partner with members to develop it. Active Trans has long opposed highway expansion in the Chicago region because it encourages more driving, harms the environment, and makes it harder for people to walk and...

Take our survey to connect Belmont to Diversey via trail

Jul 10, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

Because trails are emerging quickly along the Chicago River, it's urgent we push for connections between them now so they will link people to jobs, shopping districts, and recreational opportunities. One place we're working to extend the Chicago River Trail is on the North Side between Belmont and Diversey Avenues. Two riverfront paths are on the verge of being completed here: the 312 RiverRun (see photo left) and Lathrop Homes trail. However, a one-mile gap between them will exist after these trails are built. And if you've ever walked or biked along Belmont Avenue near the river, you know how treacherous it can be for people walking and biking. It's inevitable that the number of people walking and biking in...

Advocates urge Lightfoot to explore congestion pricing

Jul 2, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Active Trans joined a coalition of advocates in calling on Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to make the city’s ride-hailing fee more equitable and analyze possible congestion pricing options. In a letter sent to Mayor Lightfoot and relevant committee chairs, the group argues that changes to the fee structure would encourage more people using sustainable transportation options, such as shared rides, walking, bicycling, and public transit. Transportation is the leading contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in the country. In Illinois, more than half of all emissions come from the Chicago area. Also signing the letter was the Metropolitan Planning Council, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Shared-Use Mobility Center, Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development, and Via ride-share service. HOW TO REFORM RIDE-HAILING AND...