Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Active Transportation Alliance

The Lakefront Trail Really Is Open All Day, All Night

By Steven Vance | May 30, 2014 | 20 Comments

Have you ever been hassled by Chicago police officers while bicycling on the Lakefront Trail after parks officially close at 11 PM? You’re not alone. Sebastian Huydts, who bicycles for most of his transportation needs, has been stopped twice this year — most recently on May 13, at about 11:15 p.m. “They actually told me […]

Could IDOT Bike Plan Represent a Turning Point for the Car-Centric Agency?

By John Greenfield | Apr 15, 2014 | 5 Comments

The Illinois Department of Transportation has a long history of promoting driving before all other modes. However, its new Illinois Bike Transportation Plan, released this morning at the Illinois Bike Summit in Champaign, may represent a new direction for the department. In recent years, IDOT has pushed wasteful, destructive highway projects like the Circle Interchange […]

CNT and Active Trans Launch “Transit Future” Funding Campaign

By John Greenfield | Apr 4, 2014 | 47 Comments

On Monday, Governor Quinn’s Northeast Illinois Public Transit Taskforce released its final report, underscoring the need for better funding for regional transit. Yesterday, the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the Active Transportation Alliance launched a new campaign, dubbed “Transit Future,” to raise that money via a new Cook County-based revenue stream that would help the […]

If a Car-Free Bryn Mawr Doesn’t Make Sense, How About a Car-Lite One?

By John Greenfield | Mar 4, 2014 | 29 Comments

View Larger Map Looking east at the Red Line tracks on Bryn Mawr. The Active Transportation Alliance’s recently released list of 20 proposed streets for partial or total pedestrianization continues to spark conversation about whether Chicago streets should be as car-dominated as they are. One of the roadways mentioned was Bryn Mawr between Sheridan and […]

A Hard Decision: Should the Viagra Triangle Be Pedestrianized?

By John Greenfield | Feb 25, 2014 | 24 Comments

The Active Transportation Alliance’s recent call for 20 Chicago streets to be considered for partial or total pedestrianization has definitely got people talking. One idea that already has a bit of traction is pedestrianizing the upscale Gold Coast nightlife area centered around three-sided Mariano Park. This district, bounded by State, Rush, and Bellvue, is nicknamed […]

Mayor’s Office Nixes Car-Free Mag Mile, But May Embrace Other Ideas

By John Greenfield | Feb 14, 2014 | 29 Comments

Senior mayoral advisor David Spielfogel had some disappointing quotes in yesterday’s Sun-Times, arguing that “it doesn’t make sense” to make large streets like the Mag Mile car-free. However, that doesn’t mean innovative changes to major roadways are off the table. The car-free Boul Mich proposal by Transitized’s Shaun Jacobsen that inspired Active Trans to include […]

Would NYC’s Midtown Biz Leaders Write Off the Idea of a Car-Free Mag Mile?

By John Greenfield | Feb 13, 2014 | 34 Comments

Yesterday’s Active Transportation Alliance announcement submitting 20 streets for consideration as partial or total car-free spaces has already sparked a lively dialogue. Stories in the Tribune, Sun-Times, ABC, and DNAinfo have all examined whether or not the automobile-dominated status quo represents an appropriate allocation of public space. The boldest proposal on the Active Trans list […]

Citing Lack of Funds, Active Trans Discontinues Open Streets

By John Greenfield | Feb 6, 2014 | 16 Comments

It pains me to report there probably won’t be an Open Streets event in Chicago this year. Since 2005, the Active Transportation Alliance has been lobbying the city of Chicago to stage a ciclovía, a Latin American-style car-free event, in which the streets are opened for walking, biking, and other forms of healthy recreation. Various […]

Emanuel Touts His Transportation Accomplishments at Active Trans Gala

By John Greenfield | Nov 21, 2013 | 8 Comments

On Tuesday, the Active Transportation Alliance honored several movers and shakers in the local sustainable transportation scene at an awards reception in the Revolution Brewing taproom. Mayor Rahm Emanuel was given the Extra Mile Award in recognition of his role in implementing bike-share, bus rapid transit, the Red Line South rehab, and protected bike lanes. […]

Will Transit Reps Repeat Their Misguided Support for the Illiana Tomorrow?

By Steven Vance | Oct 16, 2013 | 9 Comments

Funding for major Chicagoland transit projects will be at stake tomorrow, when regional representatives convened by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning vote on whether to move forward with the Illiana Tollway. Even though approving the Illiana will jeopardize CTA and Metra improvements by adding competition for the same pot of funds, all four Chicagoland […]

Join Us for the Ashland BRT Advocate Social and Pub Stroll on October 15

By John Greenfield | Oct 3, 2013 | 40 Comments

You’ve got to hand it to them, Roger Romanelli and his Ashland-Western Coalition anti-bus rapid transit group have done an effective job of organizing residents who oppose the CTA’s plan for fast, reliable transit on Ashland Avenue, garnering plenty of media attention. Now it’s time for some of Chicago’s 1,800-plus registered BRT supporters to become […]

Commuter Challenge Sees Drop in Members But Increase in Trips

By Steven Vance | Jul 24, 2013 | 11 Comments

The “Commuter Challenge” is an annual competition held in many cities, in which companies compete to get the most employees to bike commute during Bike to Work Week in June. It’s a good opportunity to start converting people who are “interested but concerned” about biking for transportation into regular bike commuters: Workplaces host events on how to […]

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