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Leaders should get on board Metra Electric pilot

Sep 19, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

The Chicago region is on the cusp of a big victory for transportation equity. Now our elected officials must carry it across the finish line. Cook County is working with the City of Chicago and regional transit agencies to reduce fares and increase service on the Metra Electric District line along the South Lakefront. The details are still being worked out, but the County agreed to fund a three-year pilot. The County's proposal also includes reduced fares on the Rock Island line through Southwest Cook County and free transfers from both Metra Electric and Rock Island trains to CTA and Pace bus service. Mayor Lori Lightfoot and Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle both supported upgrading Metra Electric service and...

Tags: Advocacy, Bus, Chicago, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, South Suburbs, transit

Show your support for the Leland Greenway extension

Sep 13, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Want a chance to let the Chicago Department of Transportation and 47th Ward Alderman Matt Martin know you support the extension of the Leland Greenway? On Tuesday, September 24, you'll have an opportunity to let them know that the greenway will fulfill a major need for a low stress connection for people biking between the Chicago River and the Lakefront Trail. Neighborhood greenways are low-stress residential streets that use traffic-calming designs to make a great route for people walking and biking. Some traffic calming elements being considered for the Leland Greenway extension include a contraflow bike lane, lower speed limit, bike-friendly speed humps, raised crosswalks, concrete curb extensions and bump outs, and pedestrian refuge islands. More details will be shared...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago North Side, Chicago River Trail, Lakefront Trail, Walking

Taking the safe streets fight to D.C.

Sep 10, 2019 | by Barb Cornew

While transportation may not be the biggest issue in national politics this year, members of Congress do understand how important it is for their constituents to be able to get where they need to go. Active Trans worked with advocates from across the Chicago region to meet with their members of Congress during the summer recess. We discussed how to work together on a national agenda for safer streets and more reliable public transit. Personal connections and local stories go a long way with elected officials in D.C. Citizens from Park Ridge, Evanston, Des Plaines, Chicago, Elk Grove, Schaumburg, Elgin, Downers Grove and Wheaton met with U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky, Chuy Garcia, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Mike Quigley, Sean Casten, and Brad...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, biking, legislation, transit, Walking

Breaking the cycle of ugly public meetings

Sep 6, 2019 | by Jim Merrell

A proposed project to make a street safer for people walking and biking sparks backlash. A contentious public meeting is held. Arguments based on emotion and anecdotal experience are hurled about. People are frustrated. Rinse. Repeat. Maybe the project moves forward, or gets watered down, or nixed entirely. Who knows? The outcome depends on a completely opaque process and constantly shifting set of criteria. Chicago: This is why we can’t have nice things. The dust up over proposed pedestrian and bicycle improvements to Dickens Avenue in Lincoln Park is just the most recent in a long line of public processes that leave everyone frustrated. To advocates who understand the urgent need to cure our city of its addiction to car...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, transit, Walking

Tell us what you think about e-scooters

Sep 4, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

As a full-fledged e-scooter sharing program in Chicago starts to take shape, we want to hear from you about what the future of scooters in Chicagoland should look like. Chicago’s e-scooter pilot ends October 15. In coming weeks, Active Trans is collecting feedback on the Chicago pilot from residents, community-based organizations, and elected officials as we determine how to advocate around e-scooter policy. We plan to release a policy report in mid-October. Chicago officials say no decisions have been made about a long-term e-scooter program, and some suburbs are considering e-scooter policy questions. You can help by joining Active Trans and our community partners in any of the following activities. POLICY SURVEY Share your views about e-scooter policy in a...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago, chicago north west, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, E-scooters, 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...

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

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...

Tags: Advocacy, Bus, Chicago, Chicago Central, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, transit, Walking

Riding the Irving Park bus with Ald. Gardiner

Aug 20, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

On a warm August morning, Active Trans staff rode the Irving Park Bus with 45th Ward Alderman James Gardiner west from the Six Corners intersection to the Irving Park Blue Line and back. The goal was to get a sense of the daily experience of those 17,000 bus riders on this route. The 45th Ward received a "C" letter grade on our Bus Friendly Streets Report Card for speed and reliability. And the Irving Park #80 Route received a "D" letter grade on our report cards. The stretch of the #80 bus in the ward is the third-slowest segment of the entire #80 bus route. During the ride, Gardiner said he sees the need to improve the speed and reliability...

Tags: Advocacy, Chicago North Side, transit

LaSpata pledges to upgrade bus service in 1st ward

Aug 19, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

To bring attention to the sluggishness of traveling by bus on Chicago’s streets, Active Trans is inviting aldermen on bus rides in their wards. Because, what better way to show elected officials the problems with Chicago bus service than getting them on a bus? That's what we did with 1st Ward Ald. Daniel LaSpata. While we were thrilled to spend some time with this newly elected alderman, he didn't need convincing that the city is desperately in need of faster, more reliable bus service. Indeed, bus ridership in Chicago fell a staggering 21 percent since 2012 and much of this drop happened on the city’s busiest routes, like #49 Western, which cuts through LaSpata's ward. Needless to say, slow and...

Tags: Advocacy, Chicago North Side, transit

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...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Chicago North Side, Walking

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