Tag Archives: biking

Coalition advances river trail initiatives

Apr 11, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The emerging network of trails along the Chicago River presents a valuable opportunity to string together a 27-mile path along the length of the river. It's an ambitious goal given that the river runs through so many neighborhoods and is a source of great interest for so many businesses, nonprofit organizations and individuals — as well as a growing number of private development projects. For these reasons, we believe the Chicago River Trail coalition will serve as a key element in the development of the trail. The coalition serves as an important forum where members identify challenges and opportunities and collaborate to address them. Recently, the coalition met with developers (photo below) to ensure that their developments include separated paths...

Tags: biking, chicago north, Chicago River Trail, chicago south, Walking

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Mayor-elect Lightfoot can create safer streets for all

Apr 3, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

The election is over and Mayor-elect Lightfoot must quickly get to work building a transportation network in which everyone can get where they need to go. As mayor, Lori Lightfoot can reduce traffic crashes and ease congestion by making it easier to get around without driving or riding alone in a car. Lightfoot supports upgrading Chicago’s transportation network with more bus lanes, bike lanes and off-street trails – all of which have proven to boost the health, sustainability and equity of Chicago neighborhoods. She says progress on safe streets has slowed in recent years and she would “redouble Chicago’s efforts,” citing declines in the number of bump-outs, enhanced crosswalks and bike lanes relative to peer cities. Lightfoot says she will...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, biking, Chicago Central, Chicago North Side, chicago north west, Chicago River Trail, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Chicago West Side, Elections, Equity, transit, Walking, zero vision

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39th Ward candidates support river trail initiatives

Mar 29, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The final two candidates for alderman in the 39th Ward runoff election — Robert Murphy and Samantha Nugent — support trail projects that would move the city closer to a continuous Chicago River Trail. The 39th Ward is on Chicago's Northwest Side and includes all or parts of Albany Park, North Park, Hollywood Park, Mayfair, Sauganash, Edgebrook, Old Edgebrook, Gladstone Park, Indian Woods and Forest Glen. Recently, Active Trans and our partners joined each candidate for a walk in Gompers Park to advocate for two key priorities that would be major steps toward a continuous Chicago River Trail: The Weber Spur Trail (pictured left) would create the ultimate low-stress connection for people walking and biking between the North Branch, Sauganash...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, chicago north west, Chicago River Trail, Elections, Walking

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Walking the river with 33rd Ward candidates

Mar 29, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The development and building of a continuous Chicago River Trail is an initiative that both candidates in the 33rd Ward aldermanic runoff election support. Deb Mell and Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez are the candidates in the 33rd Ward, which is on Chicago's North Side and includes parts of Ravenswood Manor, Avondale, Albany Park and Irving Park. The seat is currently held by Ald. Deb. Mell. Recently, Active Trans and our partners joined each candidate for a walk along Belmont Avenue over the Chicago River in order to highlight two important river trail priorities: Connecting the 312 RiverRun Trail that will end at Belmont Avenue (pictured) to the trail at Lathrop Homes, which runs north and south of Diversey Avenue. Creating a safe...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago North Side, Elections, river trail, Walking

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Apply to bring Bike Week 2019 to your community!

Mar 21, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Active Trans is pleased to announce a mini-grant opportunity to support community-based events during Chicago Bike Week, which will be held June 21 – 28, 2019. This funding opportunity will award four grants of $250 each. Applicants are encouraged to be creative and there are no limitations on the types of events that may be supported. It could be a series of community bike rides, an educational workshops, a bike repair demonstration, or any number of other events. Competitive applications will focus on promoting biking and integrating local Active Trans advocacy priorities, including but not limited to Bikeways for All, Vision Zero, Chicago River Trail, and Lake Calumet Area Parks & Open Spaces. Applicants are also encouraged to identify and...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Chicago North Side, Chicago South Side, Chicago West & Southwest Side

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Chicago’s bike share system should remain public

Mar 15, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

Update [4/10/19]: Chicago City Council voted to approve the contract amendment and expand Divvy to all 50 wards! Thanks to everyone who took action and helped keep Chicago's bike share system public. Stay tuned for ways to help fight for an inclusive, equitable expansion process. Update [3/26/19]: We recently sent a letter to Chicago City Council enthusiastically supporting the proposed amendment of the City of Chicago’s existing contract for the operation of Divvy, Chicago’s highly successful bike share program. The proposed deal achieves the goal of expanding Divvy citywide, while keeping the system in public hands. ---------------- Divvy is two-wheeled public transit. All Chicagoans deserve access to an expanded, well-run bike sharing system that is integrated with other forms of public...

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

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Take action for safer biking and walking on state roads

Mar 13, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

A resolution calling for the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to better protect people biking and walking on state roads passed out of committee in Springfield. Now we need your help to make sure it passes the Illinois General Assembly and is sent to the governor's desk. Take action now for safer biking and walking on state roads. Senate Joint Resolution 24 (SJR24) calls for IDOT to update its policies and design guidelines to reflect the needs of everyone using the road. It resolves to make it easier for low-income communities to fund critical pedestrian safety improvements, and urges the state to implement outstanding action items from the Illinois 2012 bicycle plan, among other recommendations. In Illinois, serious and fatal traffic...

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

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Most mayoral candidates support a Bike Walk Fund

Feb 20, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Currently there is no money in the Chicago Department of Transportation’s (CDOT) annual capital budget set aside specifically for biking and walking projects. But change could be around the corner with most of Chicago’s mayoral candidates supporting a new, dedicated Bike Walk Fund in the city’s budget. The $20 million fund would give priority to the city’s highest-crash corridors on the South and West Sides. Take action now to a support a Chicago Bike Walk Fund.  Today, funding for street safety projects like better-lit crosswalks and curb-protected bike lanes comes from a patchwork of local, state and federal sources, including aldermanic menu money. These inconsistent and inadequate funding sources mean that many essential projects get left by the wayside. According...

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

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Mayoral candidates support 100 new miles of bikeways

Feb 19, 2019 | by Julia Gerasimenko

Chicago’s leading candidates for mayor pledge to build at least 100 miles of new on-street bikeways over the next four years, including at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes. All eight candidates who responded to the Active Transportation NOW candidate questionnaire (Daley, Enyia, Fioretti, Ford, Kozlar, Lightfoot, Preckwinkle and Vallas) support building at least 100 miles of new on-street bikeways over the next four years, including at least 50 miles of protected bike lanes. More access to bikeways needed Currently, outside of downtown, only about one-third of Chicagoans live within one-quarter mile of a high-quality, low-stress bikeway. Low-stress bikeways could be a protected bike lane, neighborhood greenway or an urban trail. These types of facilities are proven to encourage more people to...

Tags: Advocacy, biking

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Bike Walk Fund needed in Illinois

Nov 9, 2018 | by Kyle Whitehead

The results of the state elections are in and now it’s time for Illinois’ new leaders to get to work building a healthier, more sustainable and equitable transportation network. Illinois hasn’t passed a long-term plan to fund the state’s transportation infrastructure since 2009, and that has contributed to an $19.4 billion maintenance backlog for the region’s transit agencies. Making matters worse, the state cut transit funding in the 2017 and 2018 budgets. We also know that the state spends virtually none of its own funds on dedicated biking and walking infrastructure, relying instead on a relatively small amount of federal bike/walk dollars that comes nowhere close to meeting the needs. During the primary election season in February, Active Trans published...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, Walking

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