In the news: 2019

Preckwinkle at Active Trans meeting: The South Side Metra plan would promote racial equity  (Streetsblog Chicago; December 9, 2019)
At Active Trans’ annual member meeting, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle discussed increasing service and lowering fares on two South Side Metra routes as well as other county transportation projects designed to promote racial equity.

Advocacy group recommends CTA, Pace, Metra reduce fares for low-income riders (Chicago Sun-Times; November 18, 2019)
Active Trans’ Fair Fares Chicagoland report lays out policy recommendations to CTA, Pace, Metra, and the Regional Transportation Authority on how they can make public transportation more equitable for those living at or below the federal poverty line.

Traffic Fatalities Galvanize Biking And Pedestrian Advocates As City Reports Declining Traffic Deaths (WBEZ; November 11, 2019)
Active Trans Deputy Executive Director Melody Geraci talks to Reset about how to engineer a paradigm shift in infrastructure, culture, and economics to create safer conditions for pedestrians and cyclists.

Congestion Plan or Regressive Tax? A Debate Over Ride-Hailing Fee Hikes (WTTW; November 4, 2019)
Active Trans Deputy Executive Director Melody Geraci discusses on Chicago Tonight how the new fees on ride-hailing services will help decrease traffic congestion and fund public transit improvements.

Scooter Season Is Over For Now—But Will They Return? Group Says They Should (But With Docks This Time) (Block Club Chicago; October 15, 2019)
While Active Trans contends that Chicago’s scooter-sharing program is not as safe and sustainable as walking, biking, and public transit, it suggests that the city should keep the scooters around with some changes made to the program.

How congestion pricing can help Chicago’s infrastructure  (Crain’s Chicago Business; July 9, 2019)
Active Trans has joined forces with the Center for Neighborhood Technology, Chicago Council on Global Affairs, Metropolitan Planning Council and other transportation experts in urging Mayor Lori Lightfoot to study congestion pricing as a viable way to reduce traffic in Chicago.

Moving it down the road  (OakPark.com; July 2, 2019)
After nearly a decade with Active Trans, Executive Director Ron Burke is leaving the nonprofit to become head of micromobility policy and advocacy for the central United States for Lyft, one of the biggest rideshare car companies in the country.

Today’s Rally Lauded The $50M a Year Earmark for Bike/Walk in the State Budget  (Streetsblog Chicago; June 21, 2019)
Active Trans’ Bike to Work Rally celebrates the Illinois Legislature passing a $33 billion, six-year transportation capital program. The bill includes $50 million annually for walking and bicycling projects — a first for the state.

‘Transportation desert’: It’s tough to be without a car on the Far South and Southeast sides. Residents are looking for answers.  (Chicago Tribune; June 17, 2019)
It’s difficult to navigate the Far South and Southeast sides without a car. Active Trans Trail Advocacy Manager Matt Gomez and Advocacy Manager Julia Gerasimenko weigh in on how to create bike- and pedestrian-friendly infrastructure in those areas.

Chicago Bike Week events celebrate the city’s strong bike culture  (Curbed Chicago; June 12, 2019)
Active Trans’ 28th annual Chicago Bike Week features a series of rallies, rides, and meet-ups to encourage people to traverse the city on two wheels. It includes the Bike to Work Challenge, a two-week competition that pits companies against one another in a friendly rivalry to see who can get the most employees to ride to and from work on bicycles.

Fifth Third Bike The Drive: A great way to see the city in a different way  (WGN Radio; May 19, 2019)
Active Trans Director of Marketing and Special Events Clare McDermott stops by WGN Radio to talk about Fifth Third Bike the Drive, our annual bike ride that closes down Lake Shore Drive to cars to let cyclists enjoy five hours of car-free riding while enjoying breathtaking views of Chicago.

Chicago rolls out dockless electric scooter test program on the city’s West Side  (Curbed Chicago; May 2, 2019)
Active Trans Executive Director Ron Burke supports the deployment of a fleet of dockless electric scooters on the city’s West Side, citing scooters as an efficient transportation alternative to driving.

Emanuel: Chicago Is Now the First U.S. City to Publish Detailed Ride-Hailing Data (Streetsblog Chicago; April 2019)
Chicago has become the first city in the nation to publish anonymized data from ride-hailing apps for providers like Uber, Lyft and Via — something Active Trans has advocated for in order to get a better understanding of how ride-hailing services impact the local transportation network and legislate accordingly.

Kane County official’s close call illustrates hazards for cyclists (Daily Herald; March 2019)
Active Trans Managing Director of Public Affairs Kyle Whitehead reflects on the increasing number of fatal cyclist crashes nationwide in the aftermath of Kane County Transportation Director Carl Schoedel’s own crash. As Schoedel was biking to work, a passing car hit him from behind, throwing him off his bike and into a ditch, where he lost consciousness. Doctors are still evaluating the extent of his injuries, but the avid cyclist plans to continue cycling.

Letter: We must make our streets safer for people biking and walking (Niles Herald-Spectator; March 2019)
After three people were killed by motorists in Niles, Niles resident and Active Trans board member Peggy Reins calls on the Illinois Department of Transportation and the Village of Niles to redesign the streets to encourage safe speeds and safe turning actions for cars, while providing extra protection for people biking and walking.

Where do Lori and Toni part ways on transportation issues? (Chicago Reader; March 2019)
At first glance, it may seem like mayoral hopefuls Toni Preckwinkle and Lori Lightfoot have nearly identical transportation platforms — many policy ideas that Active Trans supports — but the two candidates do have some differing points of view when it comes to sustainable transportation.

CDOT Chief Touts Rahm Emanuel’s Transportation Wins at Active Trans Gala (Streetsblog Chicago; March 2019)
Active Trans awarded Mayor Rahm Emanuel its Public Leadership Award, which Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld accepted on his behalf at the nonprofit’s annual awards ceremony. She checked off the mayor’s transportation accomplishments during his two terms in office, including the creation of The 606 and the Lakefront Trail separation project.

Active Transportation Alliance Hosts 18th Annual Winter Bike To Work Day Despite Low Temperatures (WBBM Newsradio; February 2019)
The hardiest of Chicagoans braved the frigid temperatures to commute to work on two wheels in support of Active Trans’ Annual Winter Bike to Work Day.

Illinois Promotes “Dutch Reach” To Avoid Bicycle-Auto Collisions (willradio.tv.online; January 2019)
Illinois State Rep. Theresa Mah worked with Active Trans to campaign for the passage of House Bill 5143, which requires that the Dutch Reach technique be added to the state’s drivers’ manual and drivers’ license exam in order to prevent dooring collisions.

Mayoral candidates detail how they would steer public transportation (Chicago Sun-Times; January 2019)
Active Trans and the Pilsen Alliance co-host a forum where nine of the 15 Chicago mayoral candidates tossed around ideas for an improved public transit system.