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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

The Jackson Red Line platform. Photo: John Greenfield

The Jackson 5: Spending five hours at the Jackson ‘L’ stops, a CTA trouble spot

By John Greenfield | Jun 1, 2022 | No Comments
I hung out in the Jackson Street Red and Blue stations from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. in an effort to see what the security presence was like there at the time.
The 2900 block of West Columbus Avenue, looking southwest. In some locations the grassy parkway has been eliminated to make room for parking cars. An upcoming four-to-three conversion road diet on this stretch will help calm traffic. Image: Google Maps

An SUV driver killed Martha Velazquez on Columbus in Ashburn. A road diet is planned.

By John Greenfield | May 31, 2022 | No Comments
A four-to-three conversion road diet was already planned on this stretch prior to the tragic crash.
A #50 Damen Avenue bus. Photo: Kevin Monahan

Here’s the CTA’s explanation for the infuriating “ghost” bus and train problem

By John Greenfield | May 26, 2022 | No Comments
Everyone hates the now-common situation where train or bus runs appear the Train Tracker and Bus Tracker, but then disappear before they ever arrive.
The 6800 block of South Stony Island in South Shore, where a driver fatally struck  Deborah Renee Jones, 67.

Three South Side pedestrian crash fatality cases from earlier this year

By John Greenfield | May 25, 2022 | No Comments
Earlier this month SBC cofounder Steven Vance launched a new Chicago Crash Browser, which pulls data from the city's data portal, checking for new reports every hour.
The unveiling of Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments on Friday. Photo: Erin Rensink

Lucy Gonzalez Parsons Apartments affordable TOD: an experiment in re-integration

By John Greenfield | May 23, 2022 | No Comments
As I’ve said before, if housing affordability in Chicago’s swiftly gentrifying Logan Square neighborhood is like a sinking ship, the new all-affordable transit-oriented development that opened next to the eponymous Blue Line station last Friday is like a lifeboat. It provides low-income and working-class longtime with an opportunity to weather the storm. Streetsblog Chicago strongly […]
The 5300 block of West Irving Park Road. Image: Google Maps

Motorcycle rider fatally struck Timothy Kast, 46, crossing 5-lane street in Portage Park

By John Greenfield | May 20, 2022 | No Comments
Kast was the first on-street chicago pedestrian fatality this year. This was the second fatal pedestrian-motorcyclist crash in Chicago within about eight months.
The location where the BMW driver killed Lopez, with the roof of the bus shelter in the background. Photo: Maureen Murphy

Driver who killed Concepcion Lopez, 82, in West Ridge threw object over wall, was DUI tested

By John Greenfield | May 18, 2022 | No Comments
Police inventories the object, which may have been alcohol or illegal drugs, and the motorist was given a blood alcohol content test, but he still has not been charged with a DUI.
Image: Shared Use Mobility Center

Shared Mobility Action Agenda aims to make non-private-car modes handy for all by 2030

By John Greenfield | May 17, 2022 | No Comments
There are many ways to screw up shared mobility. So hopefully the action agenda will focus on shared modes that actually decrease emissions, rather than exacerbate climate change.
Paulina Street, looking south at Chicago Avenue. Arroyo Salgado was struck in the east crosswalk, at the left side of this image. Image: Google Maps

Left-turning van driver who failed to yield killed Berta Arroyo Salgado, 73, in West Town

By John Greenfield | May 14, 2022 | No Comments
Typically in such cases, if the driver stays at the scene and is sober, they merely receive minor traffic citations, even if they've taken a life.
Clockwise from upper-left: Helmut Jahn, Adé Hogue, Paresh Chhtrala, Gerardo Marciales

Seven advocacy groups discuss why this Wednesday’s Chicago Ride of Silence is important

By John Greenfield | May 13, 2022 | No Comments
The 20th annual Chicago Ride of Silence is an opportunity to mourn and reflect on lost lives, part of a global movement to honor people killed and injured on bicycles, and demand changes to keep bike riders safe
The aftermath of the West Ridge crash: The roof of the bus shelter, and the BMW next to the wall of Rosehill Cemetery. Image: ABC Chicago

BMW driver killed Concepcion Lopez, 82, at bus stop on Peterson Ave. in West Ridge

By John Greenfield | May 12, 2022 | No Comments
Peterson is a five-lane speedway, bus stop fatalities are common in Chicago, and BMW drivers are the motorists most likely to get in crashes.
Riding one of the new Divvy scooters at the Thompson Center ribbon-cutting. Note the silver triangle at the front of the scooter for securing it in a docking station. Photo: CDOT

Divvy launches scooters and new pricing, but some members aren’t happy with the latter

By John Greenfield | May 11, 2022 | No Comments
It would be much better if the city and Divvy come up with a pricing structure that encourages ridership, rather than suppressing it.
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