Tag Archives: Walking

Manor Greenway adds to emerging Chicago River Trail

Apr 23, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

In another big step toward a continuous Chicago River Trail, the city has completed the Manor Neighborhood Greenway on the Northwest Side. The greenway adds a comfortable on-street connection for people walking and biking on Manor Avenue between Lawrence and Montrose Avenues (Pictured: raised crosswalk at Lawrence and Manor Avenues). By adding these facilities, the neighborhood greenway makes it safer to travel between Horner Park to the south and Ronan Park to the north, where you can pick up the North Channel Trail. The greenway also makes it easier to walk and bike to the CTA's Francisco Brown Line Station. With the greenway under consideration since 2014, we're thrilled to see another project finished that adds to a Chicago River...

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

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Elgin legislators support funding trails and safe streets

Apr 22, 2019 | by Barb Cornew

On a recent beautiful Friday afternoon along the Fox River Trail in Elgin, State Senator Cristina Castro and State Representative Anna Moeller said they will advocate for funding projects in a capital bill that will make the city safer and more friendly to people walking and biking. This is good news for Active Trans and partners across the state who are calling for state legislators to dedicate $50 million annually to safe streets and trails projects in a capital bill. The Elgin event brought together various supporters in the area, including Elgin Bike Hub, Downtown Neighborhood Association of Elgin, members of Elgin City Council and longtime bicycling advocate Tom Armstrong. See coverage of the event in the Daily Herald. The...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, North Suburbs, Walking

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Support Emmett St. affordable housing project

Apr 18, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The high cost of housing near sustainable transportation options — CTA train stations in particular — is a major barrier to our vision for Chicago in which all residents can easily walk, bike and take public transportation. That's why we hope to see the proposed affordable housing project on Emmett Street (pictured) in Logan Square get built. Many of our partners, including Logan Square Neighborhood Association and Metropolitan Planning Council, have worked for years to advance this proposal. It's great to see it moving forward with strong community support at the same time there's tremendous demand for affordable housing. Our mission is to promote walking, biking and public transportation so that we can create healthy, sustainable and equitable communities. We...

Tags: Advocacy, biking, chicago north, logan square, transit, Walking

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Helping shape Chicago for better transportation

Apr 18, 2019 | by Maya Norris

February 2020 update: John Buck will be receiving the Active Trans Visionary Leadership Award at our 2020 Awards Reception on March 5. Please join us.   ______________________ More people live and work in the Loop than ever before. And many credit John Buck in part for helping to contribute to that soaring growth and vibrancy of the city’s central business district. Considered one of the patriarchs of commercial real estate development in Chicago, Buck (pictured left) has spent the last 40 years shaping the Chicago skyline with his iconic buildings in the Loop, helping to create a dense, compact downtown that lends itself to walking, biking and public transit. Now as a donor to Active Trans, Buck is partnering with his...

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago Central, Walking

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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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Take action for safer streets and trails in Illinois

Apr 1, 2019 | by Kyle Whitehead

A bill that could boost funding for Illinois communities looking to be more bike- and walk-friendly 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 streets and trails in Illinois. Senate Bill 2016 (SB2016) establishes a Complete Streets and Trails Local Grant Program in Illinois. Local governments could apply for grants to build and extend trails or make street improvements for vulnerable users on foot and on bikes. Eligible projects would include pedestrian refuge islands, crosswalk countdown timers, pedestrian crossing signs, upgraded trail crossings and bike lanes that create orderly street space for all. Tell your state legislators...

Tags: Advocacy, Bicycling, legislation, 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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25th Ward candidates share views on El Paseo

Mar 29, 2019 | by Steve Simmons

The final two candidates in the 25th Ward aldermanic runoff election — Alex Acevedo and Byron Sigcho-Lopez — both pledge to support a continuous Chicago River Trail. While they both support the trail, they also say their support is contingent on policies being in place that prevent displacement and ensure that transportation improvements are shared equitably. The 25th Ward, located on Chicago's Lower West Side, includes parts of Pilsen, Chinatown, the West Loop and the South Loop. The seat is currently held by Ald. Danny Solis. Recently, Active Trans and our partners walked a stretch of El Paseo (pictured left) with each candidate in order to discuss more details about how we can make the trail a reality in the...

Tags: Bicycling, Chicago River Trail, Chicago West & Southwest Side, Elections, Walking

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