John Greenfield
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes the transportation column for the Chicago Reader weekly paper. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Recent Posts
Another reason why CTA should get real about its schedule: looming funding shortfalls
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Reallocating service now to address staffing shortages in the best way possible, while being truthful about that, is a good dress rehearsal for what to do if and when federal relief money runs out.
Here are 16 alders who voted to allow deadly speeds, and crash cases in their wards.
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Let's look at the 16 alders who supported the ordinance – and recent traffic violence cases in their wards that should have inspired them to vote differently.
Dear CTA: Stop gaslighting us. Change “scheduled service” to better reflect actual service.
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The CTA needs to do the honest and responsible thing. It must change its published timetables so that "scheduled service" and actual service begin to at least remotely resemble each other.
Ordinance introduced to allow towing bikeway blockers, speed cam vote gets deferred
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A lot of transportation-related stuff happened at today's City Council council meeting.
Alderpersons turn up the heat on CTA to explain how the agency will fix service gaps
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Service gaps were understandable during the depths of the pandemic, but that's no longer an acceptable excuse, so it's good to see alders lighting a fire under the agency to address the problem.
These 16 alderpersons narrowly won the committee vote to let people drive at deadly speeds
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Tomorrow the legislation will go before the full City Council, including the 19 alders who didn't weigh in today, and hopefully it will be defeated.
If alders vote to allow drivers to speed by 9 mph, more Chicagoans will die
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It's clear that the arguments for letting drivers speed by up to 9 mph over the limit are bogus. And if aldermen vote to do that, they'll have blood on their hands.
Senior in pickup kills Ride Illinois board member Ramon Escapa on bike in downstate Frederick
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"Our organization is devastated by his death," said Ride Illinois executive director David Simmons We will miss Ramon and the amazing work he did for those who ride bikes in Illinois."
Concrete-protected lanes are coming to Clark St. from Irving to Montrose, maybe further
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47th Ward alderman hopes to also get bikeways installed north of Montrose as part of the Clark Street Crossroads planning process.
CPD has leads on the Ja’lon James case, GoFundMe launched to support family
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"He was an energetic and warm-hearted child. His love for his family was obvious to everyone who knew him."
Ja’lon James, 11, struck in N. Lawndale is 3rd Chicago child killed in 2 weeks
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An 11-year-old boy was struck and killed by a hit-and-run driver this morning near North Lawndale College Prep school.
Wilberto Rivera, 67, died 2 weeks after being struck on North Ave. in Humboldt Park
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While the driver told police Rivera appeared to be intoxicated, according to the Chicago municipal code, it was still the motorist's responsibility to avoid striking him.