Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Brendan Reilly

A man bikes (slowly) on the Chicago Riverwalk earlier this week. Photo: John Greenfield

Friday FOIA Fun: More Interesting Info on Ald. Reilly’s Riverwalk Bike Ban

By John Greenfield | Aug 2, 2019 | 5 Comments

City emails reveal that riverwalk planners made conflicting claims about whether the promenade was designed to be bike friendly or not, and an official referred to John as a "militant biker."

Deconstructing Ald. Reilly’s Radio Interview About His Riverwalk Bike Ban Ordinance

By John Greenfield | Jul 26, 2019 | 7 Comments

Although Reilly's claim that the riverwalk was intended as a pedestrian-only space is revisionist history, his comments about the need for a road diet on Upper Wacker are spot-on.

Emails Show CDOT Pushed Back on Reilly’s Riverwalk Bike Ban as “Too Extreme”

By John Greenfield | Jul 11, 2019 | 6 Comments

The transportation department rightly argued that the ban would violate the spirit of Chicago's promise to the feds that the riverwalk would be available for bike commuting.

Pencil It in: Reilly’s Riverwalk Bike Ban May Get a Committee Hearing Next Thursday

By John Greenfield | Jul 5, 2019 | 2 Comments

Although the bike ban isn't on the agenda for the next meeting yet, two aldermen recently said it will get a hearing, and Ald. Reilly could add it to the docket next week. We'll keep you posted.

Here’s the Director’s Cut of the “Secret History of the Riverwalk Bike Ban” Article

By John Greenfield | Jun 28, 2019 | 7 Comments

Emails reveal how the threat of a cyclist revolt convinced the city to end the de-facto prohibition. Here's a longer version of John's Reader column with additional quotes from the email trove.

According to Sasaki Associates, which helped design the riverwalk, the slightly obtuse angles of the path were intended to help accommodate cycling. Photo: John Greenfield

Here Are Seven Times the City Said the Chicago Riverwalk Would Accommodate Biking

By John Greenfield | May 30, 2019 | 14 Comments

Here's clear evidence that banning cycling on the riverwalk would be an unfair bait-and-switch.

Michelle Duster, great-granddaughter of Ida B. Wells; South Loop alderman Sophia King;
downtown alderman Brendan Reilly; Illinois lieutenant governor Juliana Stratton; Cook county board president; mayoral candidate Toni Preckwinkle; and west side alderman Walter Burnett. Photo: John Greenfield

All’s Well That Ends Wells? Trailblazer Gets a Street Name, Fascist Tribute Remains

By John Greenfield | Feb 11, 2019 | 8 Comments

Today Congress Drive was renamed for civil rights icon Ida B. Wells, but aldermen King and Reilly originally called for renaming Balbo Drive, which honors Mussolini's air commander.

Signs and markings on the offramp from the Lakefront Trail to the riverwalk encourage people to bike to the promenade, but other signs threaten prosecution if they ride there. Photo: John Greenfield

Eyes on the Street: Mixed Messages on the Riverwalk

By John Greenfield | Oct 15, 2018 | 14 Comments

While signs and markings on the Lakefront Trail lead cyclists to the riverwalk, signs at the promenade warn that they'll be prosecuted if they ride there, even though it's still legal to do so.

The City Has Posted Signs Threatening Prosecution for Biking on Riverwalk

By John Greenfield | Oct 10, 2018 | 19 Comments

Unless Alderman Reilly's proposed ordinance passes, which hasn't happened yet, you have every right to ride your bike (courteously, of course) on the riverwalk.

Between 2013 and 2016, only 1.2 percent of Illinois car/pedestrian crashes involved a person on foot using a cell phone. Image: Active Trans

Active Trans Study Vindicates Reilly’s Opposition to “Distracted Walking” Ordinance

By John Greenfield | Oct 4, 2018 | 20 Comments

The downtown alderman was right: Dangerous drivers, not distracted pedestrians are largely to blame for traffic crashes.

Drivers Struck 296 People in Reilly’s Ward in the Last Year, No Reported Riverwalk Crashes

By John Greenfield and Steven Vance | Oct 3, 2018 | 6 Comments

The car-pedestrian crashes included 48 cases with incapacitating injuries, but there have been no media reports of serious bike/ped crashes in the ward. So why is Alderman Reilly focused on banning bikes on the riverwalk?

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