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Sen. Duckworth to be honored at Active Trans event on April 28

Mar 29, 2022 | by Ted Villaire

For her efforts to make public transit stations accessible to people with disabilities, Active Trans will be honoring US Senator Tammy Duckworth with a Public Leadership Award at our Awards Reception on April 28. Thanks to Sen. Duckworth, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes funding that will jump-start the process for bringing bus, train, and subway stations around the nation into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The All Stations Accessibility Program (ASAP), as it’s called, earmarks $1.75 billion for retrofitting historic transit stations like CTA ‘L’ stops to make them wheelchair accessible. The funding will also cover digital improvements like creating new apps and wayfinding services for people with cognitive challenges. Credit goes to Sen. Duckworth for getting...

Tags: Events, Transit Equity

Active Trans honors extraordinary advocates

Dec 8, 2021 | by Maya Norris

The rock star advocates that the Active Transportation Alliance works with took center stage at the organization’s recent 2021 Annual Meeting. Active Trans celebrated their dedication and outstanding work, and the role they play in helping the nonprofit carry out its mission to improve walking, bicycling, and public transportation in the Chicago region. ROCHELLE JACKSON Rochelle Jackson was honored with an Advocate of the Year award for her efforts to improve walkability and bus service in North Lawndale, the West Side neighborhood where she was born and raised. She serves as co-chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee of the North Lawndale Community Coordinating Council. Jackson helped organize a walkability assessment through North Lawndale. As part of the assessment, the...

Tags: Advocacy, Events

Longtime volunteer clocks in 18 years of service and counting

Dec 7, 2021 | by Maya Norris

To say Kevin Crowley is dedicated to the Active Transportation Alliance is an understatement. Crowley, 33, has been volunteering for Active Trans for 18 years — more than half of his life. In that time, he has gradually taken on more responsibilities, playing an active and influential role in Active Trans’ events. In recognition of his longtime commitment and support to the nonprofit, Crowley is the recipient of Active Trans’ 2021 Volunteer of the Year Award. Crowley’s journey with Active Trans began in 2005 when he was a 15-year-old high school student. Born and raised in Chicago, Crowley preferred to walk and use public transit in the city. But in high school, he added bicycling to his sustainable transportation repertoire....

Tags: Events

Recognizing the people working for healthier, more equitable transportation

Mar 29, 2021 | by Ted Villaire

This year, Active Trans is celebrating 35 years of advocating for better transportation options in the region. To commemorate this milestone, we recently gathered virtually with fellow supporters to socialize, have some fun, and look back at the important work accomplished over the years. The main focus of the event, however, was recognizing local individuals who are dedicated to making our region and our world better places for walking, biking, and public transportation. Our four 2021 honorees have done a great deal to shape a more livable world with better transportation options, whether it be through elected office, advocacy and policy changes, or business and philanthropy. The videos below offer the brief remarks from each awardee (you can also watch...

Tags: Bicycling, Events, Transit Equity, Walking

Winter Bike Challenge, presented by Keating Law Offices, wraps up

Mar 5, 2021 | by Clare McDermott

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic and brutal February weather, nearly 350 people suited up and participated in the 2021 Winter Bike Challenge, presented by Keating Law Offices. Overall, riders logged nearly 2,000 miles over the course of 300 trips. During the two-week challenge, riders saw all types of cold weather thrown at them, including one day with over ten inches of snow in the Chicago-area. Despite the snow that day, eight winter riders still got out and logged miles. Impressive! Active Trans is hopeful that we’ll return to hosting a live Winter Bike Rally in Daley Plaza in 2022 and may even bring back the Challenge component again for next year. In the meantime, we are hopeful that our largest fundraising...

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago, Events

Veteran advocate brings equity, affordability to the region’s transportation system

Feb 8, 2021 | by Maya Norris

Jacky Grimshaw has made an indelible mark on the transportation scene in metropolitan Chicago. The longtime sustainable transportation advocate has spent the last 30 years working to improve walking, bicycling, and public transit conditions in Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. She’s been a prominent, influential force that has helped to shape and advance an equitable, affordable, and sustainable transportation system in the region. Her impressive achievements in the sector have earned her Active Transportation Alliance’s Visionary Leadership Award, which Active Trans will present to her at its 35th Anniversary E-Bash in March (please consider joining Active Trans for this free event on March 24). Grimshaw began her career as a sustainable transportation advocate when she joined the Center for Neighborhood...

Tags: Advocacy, Chicago, Events, transit

“Community activator” uses bicycling to bring people together

Dec 22, 2020 | by Maya Norris

Pha’tal Perkins has seen for himself the transformative power of bicycling. The bicycling advocate and community activist created the Roll N Peace bike rides to get more residents in Englewood to hop on two wheels as a way to promote public safety and unify this neighborhood on the southwest side of Chicago. His extraordinary advocacy work with the Roll N Peace bike rides as well as other community safety initiatives earned him a 2020 Advocate of the Year award from Active Transportation Alliance. Dubbing himself as a community activator, Perkins developed the Roll N Peace bike rides to cast Englewood in a new light — an area that is often stigmatized as one of the most dangerous neighborhoods in Chicago....

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago South Side, Events

Three inspiring local advocates receive awards from Active Trans

Dec 5, 2020 | by Ted Villaire

The recent Active Trans Annual Meeting provided an opportunity for supporters of the organization to give a round of applause for our talented local advocates. Below you can see brief recorded remarks from our advocacy award recipients: Romina Castillo, Pha'Tal Perkins, and Wharton Sinkler. People who attended the event also got an overview of the key advocacy efforts Active Trans has been pursuing in the region in response to the challenges of the past year. Below you can see Active Trans Executive Director Amy Rynell offering a heart-felt thank-you to supporters and highlighting some sustainable transportation successes during this past year. ADVOCACY AWARDS City Advocate of the Year Award Romina Castillo Muse Community + Design Romina has been a...

Tags: Advocacy, Events

Ride the BLT—a socially distanced bike ride!

Sep 21, 2020 | by Active Trans

Looking for some socially distanced physical activity this fall? From the organization that brings you Fifth Third Bike the Drive, Trans now brings you the Boulevard Lakefront Tour, the self-led bike ride edition! You choose a route and we'll send the map for you to ride on any date you choose. We have crafted (and tested!) FIVE unique bike routes to explore Chicago on two wheels. Whether it's a 30-mile ride through the North, West or South Sides, a 75-mile adventure through the entire city, or a short 8-mile family friendly bike ride, there is a route for everyone! Since biking is an activity that easily allows for social distancing, you can feel safe keeping six feet away from others!...

Tags: Bicycling, biking, Boulevard Lakefront Tour, covid-19, Events, Social Distance

Illinois Bike Summit to focus on infrastructure, education, and inclusion

Jul 29, 2020 | by Active Trans

Local advocates, transportation planners, engineers, and anyone interested in making biking for recreation and transportation better on their block or in their community are invited to attend the Illinois Bike Summit on Tuesday, September 15. This online event is organized by Ride Illinois — the statewide, nonprofit, bike advocacy organization. The summit’s keynote speaker will be Bill Nesper, executive director of the League of American Bicyclists. The themes for the summit — infrastructure, education, and inclusion — will be woven into many of the presentations and breakout sessions. Several Active Transportation Alliance staff will moderate informal Coffee Talks at the start of the day and share their knowledge during breakout sessions. At the end of the day, there will be Q&A...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, Events, Illinois

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