Courtney Cobbs

Recent Posts

People sit on the Millennium Park lawn inside distancing circles

Chicagoans need more outdoor entertainment options that don’t require a car

By Courtney Cobbs | Jul 2, 2020 | No Comments

Golf courses are open, but beaches aren't. Since summer street festivals and concerns are canceled, Chicagoans need more outdoor entertainment alternatives.

Ideally every residential street would have traffic calming. Photo: John Greenfield

Designing self-policing streets, and other mobility justice strategies

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 25, 2020 | No Comments

We should be redesigning our transportation system to reduce the chances of Black and Brown residents interacting with law enforcement, and to promote transportation equity.

The Leland Avenue Slow Street. Photo: John Greenfield

Talking about Slow Streets and equitable community input

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 22, 2020 | No Comments

47th Ward alderman Matt Martin hosted a panel on these topics with reps from the Active Transportation Alliance, the Metropolitan Planning Council, and Streetsblog Chicago.

Customers wait for the #79 79th bus at the Red Line station. The line has experienced crowding problems. Photo: James Porter

Which CTA bus lines are still seeing crowding during the pandemic?

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 16, 2020 | No Comments

Yesterday the CTA launched a Ridership Information Dashboard to give riders a heads-up about crowding issues, so they can make an informed decision when planning their commutes.

an illustration of hands grabbing a city

What’s needed to address anti-Black racism in urban planning?

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 14, 2020 | No Comments

The Canadian Urban Institute recently held an online panel centered around the question of “How do we respond to anti-Black racism in urbanist practices and conversations?”

Josie Conley and her son Shawn, who helps lead the Major Taylor Cycling Club of Chicago. Photo: Shawn Conley

Community leaders and transportation advocates of color discuss Slow Streets

By Courtney Cobbs and John Greenfield | Jun 10, 2020 | No Comments

To get feedback on whether an Oakland-style program might be beneficial in neighborhoods of color during the pandemic, in April we reached out to community organizations, aldermen, and transportation leaders.

A frame shop in Chicago's Andersonville business strip as it appeared on Thursday. Photo: John Greenfield

Transportation planners and advocates: What legacy will you leave for racial justice?

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 5, 2020 | No Comments

I hope that you make choices today that you will be proud to stand by later in the quest for a more just society.

Opened drawbridges are limiting entrance and egress to and from the Loop. Photo: John Greenfield

Transit shutdowns, which hurt vulnerable people the most, are not a public safety solution

By Courtney Cobbs | Jun 1, 2020 | No Comments

The nationwide protests that started this weekend were born out of anger regarding systemic racism. Unfortunately in response to these protests, Mayor Lightfoot has that transit austerity is the best response.

Oakland’s Warren Logan on pursuing racial equity within a mobility framework

By Courtney Cobbs | May 28, 2020 | No Comments

Warren Logan, policy director of mobility and interagency relations for the mayor’s office of Oakland, which in April became the first city to launch “Slow Streets,” has been at the forefront of the movement to create more space for safe, socially-distanced transportation and recreation during COVID-19. I first heard about Warren in an August 2019 […]