ACTIVETRANS UPDATE Trail Connect
Millennium Trail Chicagoland New campaign seeks to connect P Sk r airi ok De Gree regional trail network e ie s
T Pl Va ra n
a ll Ba il in e y y A es lgonqui T T r ra a Ri n Road il il ve Tr ai r l Tr
l ai
ai l Sa
Tr
l Nort t
Cr h ver Br anch ee Ri
x Tr k ai o T l F ra Lakefr
i l e Path ois Prairi o Illin n l ai t r Tr Tr ve IN THIS ISSUE Ri ai go l ica Ch Quick Releases 1 il ra T Public support strong for nal dedicated transit lane on LSD 5
V Ca Bu irgil G M ilma l I& A look into Chicago’s n ai r Trai Tr nh l l Cal-Sag rich bicycling history 6 ail tennia Trail a Tr m er Cen iv Ve What’s happening x R G teran' Fo r e in the region 7 en
s
w Memo New campaign seeks to ay connect regional trail network 8
r ia l ai l r T T The solution to slow buses r k l ai ee ai l Tr Trail Cr is easier than you think 10 l Old Plank Road Vi orn n
Cana Th c Expedia recognized for
M e I& n its bike culture 11 ne
s il Going car-free in Elgin 12 T ra r
T a l i Top ten active transportation a l ci a Existing Trail stories of 2017 13 Gl Funded Trail Gap e se Priority Trail Gap to Close
pon u
Wa ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE | ACTIVETRANS.ORG | WINTER 2017 – 2018 Keep up with Active Transportation Alliance news and Leave a legacy events at facebook.com/activetrans. of safer streets. Please consider including Join more than 8,000 Twitter followers: @activetrans Active Trans in your estate plan and will. For more information, Read the Active Trans blog at activetrans.org/blog for the latest contact [email protected].
GET SOCIAL about better walking, biking and transit in Chicagoland.
Bike Walk Every Town picks up momentum
People who live in the suburbs are often left and encourage elected officials to adopt out in the cold when it comes to even minimal Complete Streets policies so roads are infrastructure that allows them to walk and bike developed with all road users in mind. Others safely in their community. The often dismal are focusing on campaigns for better funding bicycling options in Chicago’s suburbs is laid for bicycle and pedestrian projects or they are out clearly in a report we issued last year called making plans to poll local politicians running for Suburban Bikeways for All. office on their transportation priorities.
This lack of good suburban cycling options is These summits and trainings are just the a situation we’re trying to change. Bike Walk beginning. We will continue to work one-on-one Every Town, our suburban advocacy skills with Bike Walk Every Town advocates to move building program, is designed to help residents their local campaigns forward and organize for Celebrate with Active Trans in suburban Chicagoland improve biking and change across the region. Active Trans is also walking in their communities. offering a mini-grant opportunity to support 2018 Awards suburban advocacy work that advances the Bike Over the past six months, dozens of advocates Reception Walk Every Town platform. Visit activetrans.org/ from nearly 50 towns and villages attended bikewalkeverytown to learn more about the one of our advocacy summits. And many more Wednesday, March 7 mini-grants and webinar series, and stay tuned as have been participating in our series of monthly we organize future regional suburban meet-ups. Register for this event at webinars to help advocates dig deeper into activetrans.org/ bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly policy ideas and Also, be sure to check out our extensive list awards-reception learn tips for outreach and campaign building. of Chicagoland bike clubs, biking/walking Webinar topics throughout the year will include advocacy groups and local active transportation election advocacy strategies, organizing pop-up advisory councils on our website. Have a look demonstration events, petition writing, engaging and get involved: activetrans.org/our-work/ decision makers, implementing biking and your-community. walking projects and more.
Already, our efforts are paying off. Several attendees are now at work developing Ted Villaire, editor | [email protected] campaigns to fill in trail gaps in their communities
The map on the cover shows how Millennium Trail extensive our local P Sk r airi ok trail network is. It De Gree e ie s
T Pl Va ra n
a ll Ba il e also shows the great in y y A es lgonqui T T r ra a Ri lack of connections n Road il il ve Tr ai r l Tr
between the trails. l ai
ai l Sa
Tr
l Nort t
Learn about our Cr h ver Br anch ee Ri
x Tr k ai campaign to remedy o T l F ra Lakefr
i this on page 8. l Winter 2017-2018 | Volume 5, Issue 4 e Path ois Prairi o Illin n l ai t r Tr Tr ve Ri ai go l ica Ch il ra T The Active Transportation Alliance | 35 E. Wacker Drive., Suite 1782 nal
V Ca Bu irgil G M Chicago, IL 60601 | 312.427.3325 | www.activetrans.org ilma l I& n ai r Trai Tr nh l l Cal-Sag ail tennia Trail a Tr m er Cen iv Ve x R G teran' Fo r
e
en
s
w Editor: Ted Villaire | Designer: Anne Evans
Memo
ay
r ia l ai l r T T Contributors: Julia Gerasimenko, Matt Gomez, Maggie Melin, r k l ai ee ai l Tr Trail Cr l Old Plank Road Vi orn n
Cana Th c
M e Maya Norris, Kyle Whitehead I& n
ne
s il
T ra r
T a l i a l ci a Existing Trail Gl e Funded Trail Gap se Priority Trail Gap to Close pon u
Wa Quick Releases
Illinois now has official exercise
Joining the ranks of the cardinal as the state bird and the white oak tree as the state tree, bicycling is now the state of Illinois’ official exercise. While the designation is largely symbolic, it could help make the case for good cycling legislation. We hope it will provide support for our cause as we make a concerted push for more biking and walking money in the next state budget, perhaps aided by passage of a new capital infrastructure bill.
City bicycling meetings open to public
Want to stay informed about bicycling projects in Chicago and learn about new initiatives and improvements to infrastructure around the city? The Chicago Department of Transportation organizes and chairs the Mayor’s Bicycle Advisory Council (MBAC), which meets quarterly at city hall, and is open to the public. Stay in the loop by reading MBAC meeting recaps on our blog, or you could attend in person. The next MBAC meeting will be on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 7. Email lauren@ completestreetschicago.org to get notifications for upcoming MBAC meetings.
O’Hare express takes attention from more pressing transit needs
The City of Chicago recently took the first steps toward inviting a private enterprise to design, build, finance, operate and maintain express rail service from the Loop to O’Hare Airport. The idea of an O’Hare express has been around for decades and Active Trans has consistently said no public transportation dollars should be spent on the project. Public funds should be spent on higher priority projects that benefit the many Chicagoans who lack access to jobs and other critical destinations. According to the proposal, no taxpayer funding would go toward the project and the service would be paid for with project-specific revenues. Still, it’s
Photo: Greenfield-Streetsblog clear time and attention are being commanded by this project and these resources could be directed to more efficient and equitable transit solutions.
1 Blame state legislators for transit fare hikes
Metra’s 2018 budget includes a 25-cent fare increase for all zones and a reduction in service on four lines. Already in effect for 2018 is the Chicago Transit Authority’s (CTA) 25-cent fare increase for both bus and rail trips, but thankfully no service cuts. And Pace Suburban Bus also instituted a 25-cent fare hike for 2018.
The fare hikes are mainly the result of state funding cuts to transit. Active Trans maintains that the funding cuts are unacceptable given the proven economic, environmental and public health benefits of transit investment. CTA, Metra, and Pace all face enormous backlogs of repairs just to maintain current bus and rail infrastructure. Meanwhile, the state continues to pursue costly and ineffective Bicycle boulevards come road projects that only lead to more driving and sprawl. to suburbs
The Village of Brookfield is now home to one of the first bicycle boulevards in the Chicagoland suburbs! Sometimes called a “neighborhood greenway,” a bike boulevard is a low-speed street that gives priority to bicycle traffic. Bicycle boulevards use signs, paint and other traffic-calming features to create a safer, more comfortable environment for everyone who uses the street. It’s located on Arden Avenue near Kiwanis Park and the Brookfield Zoo.
After passing a referendum for street improvements in early 2016, the village applied for a Healthy Hotspots grant from Cook County Department of Public Health to develop an active transportation plan. With assistance from Active Trans and input from the community, the plan mapped out infrastructure recommendations, including the bicycle boulevard.
Divvy improves pricing structure
Thanks to recent changes in the way Divvy charges its customers, Divvy users will now be able to take advantage of a $3 single-ride option as well as a new $15 Explorer Pass that will allow people to keep bikes for 24 hours and take rides up to three hours long. There’s also exciting news for annual members, with divvy extending the 30-minute ride period by 15 minutes, allowing members to check bikes out for 45 minutes before incurring additional fees. Finally, the overage fee structure is being simplified into a flat $3 for each additional 30 minutes once the initial time allotment has been reached (30 minutes for non-member users and 45-minutes for annual members). Active Trans expects these changes will encourage more people to try Divvy while also providing existing users with a better experience.
2 Quick Releases Recognizing our most important resource Jeff Zoline is presented the 2017 John D’Ambrose Award by Active Trans Office Manager Cherrell Jackson. Active Trans’ recent Member Meeting and Mixer provided an opportunity for us to recognize our exceptional volunteers from the past year. Please give a round of applause for the following award recipients.
Important Cog Award: BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir of Chicago, which provided more than 40 volunteers for our Kickstand Classic event in Bartlett.
Advocate of the Year: The North Branch Trail Alliance, whose grassroots organizing and public engagement efforts are a model for other communities.
Under the Radar Award: Scott Rench, graphic designer and creator of Bike Desk, for his pro bono design work for Active Trans to create our official 2017 Chicago Bike Week design.
John D’Ambrose Award: Jeff Zoline, a frequent volunteer in the Active Trans office, who regularly goes above and beyond the call of duty whether it’s assembling membership kits, making phone calls, cleaning or packing.
Scott Rench is presented the 2017 Under the Radar Award by Active Trans Marketing and Events Director Clare McDermott. In addition to the awards, the event provided the opportunity for Active Trans members and volunteers to meet and mingle.
North Branch Trail Alliance was presented the 2017 Advocate of the Year. From left to right: Justin Ochonicki, Iliana Genkova, Active Trans Trail Advocacy Manager Steve Simmons, Jac Charlier, Jim O’Reilly, and Ross Klicker.
3 Quick Releases Daily Herald looks at crosswalk dangers
The Daily Herald newspaper deserves a high five for its recent in-depth coverage of the perils of using suburban crosswalks and the awful compliance among drivers of the “must stop for pedestrians” law. As laid out in the article, journalists conducted 49 informal tests of crosswalks not connected with stop signs or traffic lights in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Lake counties this past November and December. Among their findings:
• Nearly all the time, traffic continued through crosswalks without heeding people on the curb.
• In 20 percent of tests, drivers whizzed through crosswalks despite a reporter either standing or walking within the striped area.
• The situation is particularly problematic on busy arterial roads with high- speed traffic where crosswalks are located.
The article cited some similar research that Active Trans performed several years ago, which also found compliance abysmally low for the “must stop for pedestrians” law. The state legislation, which Active Trans spearheaded, requires drivers to stop for pedestrians in crosswalks.
Learn more: http://bit.ly/dhcrosswalk
Get ready for some great Active Trans events
P RTAT ANS N A TR A V N Awards T A Reception B K 2018 T W RK
Bike to MAR MAY JUN JUN Work Rally June 21 07 27 15-30 21-29 5:30pm activetrans.org/awards-reception mbbikethedrive.org bikecommuterchallenge.org activetrans.org/bikeweek 4 Want to win a $75 gift card from Kozy’s Cyclery?
Complete a brief survey about this newsletter and you’ll be entered to win a $75 gift card — just in time for the spring biking season. Visit activetrans.org/newslettersurvey DEADLINE for completing survey: MARCH 30
Public support strong for dedicated transit lane on LSD
By Kyle Whitehead
How N. Lake Shore Drive might look with a sorely needed bus-only lane. Credit: CDOT
Advocates have a long way The Illinois Department of encouraging riders to turn organizing is paying off to go before North Lake Transportation (IDOT) is out or get involved online. and that transit riders Shore Drive returns to its four years into a lengthy recognize how important the Seventy three percent of boulevard roots and is built planning process for the project is to Chicago’s future. the survey respondents had around moving people, reconstruction of North Lake ridden transit on Lake Shore Later this year, IDOT will not cars. Nonetheless, there Shore Drive from Grand to Drive in the past year and host another public meeting are some encouraging Hollywood Avenue. The strong majorities also walked and narrow down the list of developments in that Chicago Department of or biked along the lakefront. potential designs to a set of direction. Transportation (CDOT) and More than 40 percent of preferred alternatives. Email Chicago Park District are also Survey results released respondents said they do the project team at info@ on the project team. this winter show most not own a car, while only northlakeshoredrive.org Chicagoans support An online survey (results 11 percent had two or more to push for a design upgrading public available here: bit.ly/ vehicles in their household. that prioritizes people transportation service on the NLSDsurvey) was launched over cars. These numbers are even drive by creating dedicated at the project’s third public higher than publicly available transit lanes. They also want meeting in July 2017. Active estimates from census data to see enhanced access Trans staff and volunteers in the dense, transit-oriented and easier travel along the canvassed at popular bus Kyle Whitehead is the government neighborhoods along the Lakefront for people biking stops before the meeting, relations director for Active Trans. lake. They indicate our and walking.
5 A look into Chicago’s rich bicycling history
By Maya Norris
Today Chicago is in the midst of Your book attributes bicycling’s popularity a bicycling renaissance. Yet this at the turn of the century isn’t the first time Chicago has to Chicago being the hub for bicycling Phyllis Harmon was a vital figure in promoting bicycling experienced a bicycling boom, manufacturing. What — not just in Chicagoland, but in the entire nation. made Chicago such Photo: Wheeling Wheelmen according to the new book fertile ground for bike manufacturing? infrastructure in the city a lot of [bicycling] Cycling in Chicago, authored to improve biking and projects in the city to by Chris McAuliffe. The book Chicago really was safety. Active Transportation the Detroit of bicycle Alliance’s advocacy. — which contains a foreword manufacturing. We You also credit bike Randy Neufeld (former were coming off of the racing as a force that executive director of contributed by Active Trans Chicago fire, and the popularized bicycling Active Trans) was a Executive Director Ron Burke — city was literally being in the late 19th and early big player for a lot of built from the ground 20th centuries. What the changes that took offers a full pictorial history of up. It drew a lot of was it about bike racing place over the last few entrepreneurial people that drew thousands of decades in Chicago and bicycling in Chicago. We recently here that wanted to start people? the surrounding suburbs. had a chat with McAuliffe to learn new companies and He was really at the had new ideas. You had [Bike racers] were forefront in promoting about Chicago’s rich and diverse companies like Schwinn equivalent to basketball cycling, infrastructure and — that’s the most famous or hockey players government funding. bicycling history. — but there were dozens nowadays. They were and dozens of start-up some of the highest paid It also helps when bicycle companies that athletes in the country. It you’ve got mayors were really getting into was an exciting sport to and aldermen that are the business. watch. There were six- pro-cyclists. The Daleys day races. It was usually and Rahm Emanuel were very pro-cycling. They What were some of about a 12-hour day, and understood that as far as the social, economic or these bike riders would quality of life in the city, political issues that also ride with partners. One cycling plays a big role. paved the way for the guy would sleep, while bicycling boom in those one guy would ride. early days? There were short races, A longer version of this too, at these velodromes article is available at Bicycling was remarkably that might only be 10- or activetrans.org/blog/ well-organized. You 15-minute races. Constant look-chicagos-rich- would purchase a bike, lead changes. Different bicycling-history. which was a major tactics going on. investment back then, and also belong to How critical a role have a bike club. [Political political leaders, civic Maya Norris is the writer/editor candidates] would leaders and community for Active Trans. speak to the different groups in Chicago’s groups and try to get cycling renaissance? their endorsements. Major Taylor broke down racial barriers while becoming an And [bicycling clubs] They play a vital role. international cycling champion around the turn of the 19th Century. would turn to them for You can directly trace
6 Engineering (northbrook.bikepedplan. Regional com). If you are a resident of Glencoe or Northbrook, visit the project news websites to share your thoughts. I&M Canal Trail news roundup The Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) is exploring the By Maggie Melin and Julia Gerasimenko feasibility of extending the 80-mile I&M Canal Trail from Willow Springs north NEWS FROM THE SUBURBS through the Villages of Justice, Bedford Park and Summit to connect to the Connecting the Bull Valley trail gap Chicago Portage National Historic Site,
Initial engineering will soon occur for a the Salt Creek Greenway Trail and the three-quarter-mile multi-use trail along City of Chicago. The study will identify Bull Valley Road just south of the City of and evaluate potential routes and McHenry. The proposed trail extension access points for the trail extension. would run between Route 31 and the Illinois Prairie Path. Greg Glover, NEWS FROM CHICAGO Outreach along the South member of the McHenry County Bicycle Branch of the Chicago River Advocates, helped move this funding Logan Square Milwaukee Avenue In order to develop a shared vision for a decision forward by collecting over reconstruction project river trail along the South Branch, Active 1,100 petition signatures and business Milwaukee Avenue between Belmont Trans is conducting outreach to community support for the trail connection. Avenue and Logan Boulevard will be stakeholders in Pilsen, Bridgeport, undergoing a once-in-a-generation Brighton Park and McKinley Park. Stay Regional bike share visioning reconstruction in the years to come. The tuned as we plan several public events in the works Chicago Department of Transportation in the coming months: activetrans.org/ Aurora, Algonquin, Elgin, McHenry, hosted the second public meeting in a our-work/bicycling/chicago-river-trail. Naperville and South Elgin are looking to series of three on Tuesday, January 30, develop a regional bike and pedestrian where they presented alternatives for the Obama Library will impact program that will expand Aurora’s bike corridor, including options for rerouting mobility in Hyde Park share system regionally and create traffic around the Centennial Monument There has been a lot of debate in a wayfinding system. The Chicago and options for improvements for people Hyde Park with the Obama Library and Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP) biking, walking and taking transit along the Foundation making plans to settle in awarded a technical assistance grant to corridor. Stay tuned for a petition to show the neighborhood. In a recent win for these cities to develop a plan for this your support of these improvements! community activists, the foundation vision, which will get started this year. announced it will abandon its plan to build Sign our petition in support of an above-ground parking garage on the Glencoe & Northbrook are the Weber Spur Trail! historic Midway Plaisance and will instead collecting feedback It’s time for Union Pacific to sell or transfer put the parking facility underground at The Villages of Glencoe and Northbrook its right-of-way of the Weber Spur so the center’s Jackson Park site. Stay tuned are both collecting feedback to that it can become a fully connected to see how the foundation will shape the improve biking and walking in their trail on Chicago’s Northwest Side. future of mobility in Hyde Park. communities. Active Trans is currently Please sign and share the petition: working with the Village of Glencoe to activetrans.org/weberspurpetition. develop an active transportation plan (tinyurl.com/glencoeATP). The Village of Northbrook is working on a master Maggie Melin and Julia Gerasimenko are both advocacy bicycle and pedestrian plan with Alta managers at Active Trans. Planning + Design and Christopher Burke
7 New campaign seeks to connect regional trail network
By Jim Merrell and Matt Gomez
The Chicago area provides opportunities to enjoy more than 1,100 miles of trails that crisscross the region. As you know, there’s almost nothing better than hopping on a local trail and enjoying the scenery…that is, until the trail stops because of barriers and gaps in the Riding on the Cook County section of the Des Plaines River Trail.
trail network. Photo: Spinlister.com
These gaps can be a few blocks long or even a few miles. DES PLAINES RIVER TRAIL Sometimes the trail dead ends at a highway or another barrier, One of these priority areas is the southern end of the Des Plaines and in other places the trail temporarily diverts to roads. River Trail in Cook County, where substantial connectivity gaps Another common challenge is how the trail network is often prevent people from enjoying undisrupted walking, running difficult to access without getting in a car. and biking. Active Trans is already working closely with local In 2018, Active Transportation Alliance will be launching a new municipalities and other key public stakeholders to form a Des campaign, Trail Connect Chicagoland, which will be fueled Plaines River Trail Coalition, which will help drive forward the by the goal of creating a seamless and connected regional planning, design and construction phases for this segment of trail network. Teaming up with grassroots supporters, partner the trail. organizations, government agencies, and elected officials And this work is already getting underway now that local at the local and state levels, this campaign will serve as a governments and the Forest Preserve District of Cook County catalyst for addressing gaps in the trail network throughout have kicked off a preliminary engineering project to evaluate Northeastern Illinois. improvements to the segment between Touhy Avenue and In the first year of the campaign we will focus on building a North Avenue. We hope to connect members and supporters to solid foundation from which we can mobilize. Key activities opportunities to weigh in on this project in the coming months. include forming a regional trail coalition of advocates and In addition to working hand-in-hand with key public allies, creating a report that captures our vision for change, stakeholders, Active Trans will also be teaming up with and identifying four priority trail gaps for focused engagement grassroots supporters to launch a new grassroots Friends of the and organizing. Des Plaines River Trail group to support ongoing advocacy and While the coalition will work together to determine what these stewardship opportunities. priority areas are, Active Trans has already been working diligently with regional and local stakeholders on a couple areas LAKE CALUMET REGION that will likely be target areas for some of the subcommittees. Another initial priority area that this regional campaign will focus on is connecting new trails and parkland to existing trails in the Lake Calumet area. Most recently, Active Trans’ advocacy work here started with the release of our Big Marsh Access Action Plan in 2015 and continued through our advocacy around the Matt Gomez is the trail advocacy manager and Jim Merrell is advocacy director Chicago Park District’s Southeast Area Wide Plan completed for Active Trans. in 2017. Active Trans has been working with grassroots leaders and community partners to push decision makers and public agencies to address the access and transportation challenges in the area.
Here are a few updates on our Lake Calumet access advocacy:
8 CONNECTING PULLMAN TO RIVERDALE 2 AND BEAUBIEN WOODS Recently, Active Trans convened a meeting of local advocates at Carver High School to talk about local trail priorities. Local advocates and our allies at Openlands have been talking about the potential to connect the Pullman neighborhood south to the Riverdale community area for a long time.
This connection, sometimes called the Kensington Trail, would create a great regional connection between a forest preserve destination and the historic Pullman neighborhood and national monument. Active Trans is working with a network of local advocates to set up meetings to explore ways to push this Opening Day dedication at Big Marsh Bike Park in 2016. project forward.
1 CREATING A SAFER 130TH STREET TRAIL CONNECTION ACROSS LAKE CALUMET For years, residents of the Chicago’s Riverdale 3 community area have been pushing for a safe place to Creating a connection from the Pullman neighborhood across Lake Calumet walk on 130th Street. Not only is this an important local to the Park at Big Marsh and other destinations is an idea that has been connection to the only nearby grocery store, but it is also around for a while. We captured it in our Big Marsh Access Action Plan and it a key connection for the regional trail network, providing was included in the Chicago Park District’s Southeast Area Wide Plan. access from the Major Taylor Trail east towards the Lake Calumet Area. Earlier this year, Active Trans partnered with the Illinois International Port District to apply for funding for preliminary planning and engineering to make In 2013, Deloris Lucas of the local Safety and this project a reality. While we didn’t get this round of funding, we are actively Transportation Advisory Council worked with Active working with the port district and other partners, including Metropolitan Trans to conduct a walkability assessment of the area Planning Council and National Parks Conservation Association, to line up the to draw attention to the lack of safe conditions for resources needed to move this project forward. walking and biking on 130th Street. This advocacy helped lead the City of Chicago to successfully apply Stay tuned to Active Trans for more updates on the Trail Connect Chicagoland for a grant to develop a multi-modal transportation planE 95thcampaign St. and opportunities on how you can get involved in supporting our for the community. Lucas and Active Trans are currently vision for a seamless trail network in Northeastern Illinois. participating on the project’s steering committee. Chic I-90 ago Skyway Getting this plan included in the final RiverdaleI-57 I-94 Multi-Model Plan will set the stage for projects to move forward. E 103rd St. T
Stony Island orr E 106th Street State St. enc e Av e. Av Av
e. PULLMAN enue O E 111th St.
ove Ave.
3 BIG MARSH
l
Cottage Gr ai Lake Calumet
Major Tayl
eenway Tr 2
or Tr E 122nd St. Burnham Gr ail Bishop Ford Fr
eewa 1 RIVERDALE y
E 130th St. Riverdale-Pullman Connection
Beaubien Woods Little Calumet River
9 The solution to slow buses is easier than you think
By Julia Gerasimenko
With just four miles of bus-only lanes, Chicago is way behind other cities across the nation when it comes to prioritizing space for transit. Bus ridership in Chicago has been declining, and one of the main reasons for this is that buses are so often stuck in traffic. Creating bus-only lanes is perhaps the most obvious and affordable way to speed up bus service. That’s because, often, just paint and pavement markings can create bus-only lanes, which frees up buses from traffic congestion, reduces travel time and increases reliability.
The longer the bus lanes, the greater the compared to streets filled with general- more political will and a relatively benefit. They are most needed on busy, purpose lanes that are constantly modest level of funding, our goal is congested corridors that serve popular clogged with cars. Public buses carry to have CTA and CDOT develop a plan destinations like job centers, schools, exponentially more people (46 people for transit priority streets within two retail districts and healthcare services. per trip on average) than private vehicles years that includes at least 50 miles and therefore deserve priority on our of dedicated bus lanes. So why aren’t there more dedicated streets. And dedicated lanes have the bus lanes in Chicago? Creating a plan for transit priority potential to attract new and frequent streets that includes 50 miles of riders to busy routes. Parking is often a major barrier. Beyond dedicated bus lanes is one of five policy getting buy-in from businesses to remove Outside of Chicago’s Loop Link and recommendations in our recently- parking in front of their locations, under Jeffrey Jump corridors — the brief released Back on the Bus report. Learn the city’s parking meter lease agreement, stretches of existing dedicated bus lanes more at activetrans.org/our-work/transit/ any removal of metered parking requires — the city has yet to establish “transit bus-rapid-transit the city to pay the vendor to make up priority streets,” which are outlined in for lost revenue or place new meters at the city’s complete streets policy. The another location. Chicago Department of Transportation Julia Gerasimenko is an Active Trans and the Chicago Transit Agency should Critics typically predict huge increases in advocacy manager. congestion for people driving because dedicate more resources toward of bus-only lanes, but when analyzing creating a plan for transit priority streets before-and-after times, the data shows and exploring other opportunities that’s generally not the case. On a to boost bus speed and reliability — street grid like Chicago’s, usually many especially on high ridership routes. alternative routes exist. Active Trans is already working with its At its most basic, bus lanes use public coalition partners to fight for dedicated space far more efficiently when bus lanes across Chicago. By harnessing
10 Expedia recognized for its bike culture
By Maya Norris
Chicago is still entrenched in the grip of winter. But Todd Scales is already thinking about the summer. The director of technology of the Android team at Egencia, which is an Expedia company, is hard at work planning bicycling activities and events that he hopes will not only strengthen the bicycling culture at Expedia, but also get employees pumped about the Bike Commuter Challenge, Active Expedia volunteers featured at the Ogilvie Pit Stop: left to right, Transportation Alliance’s annual biking Venkata Yadiki, Leela Leinartas, Jeevan Joseph and Todd Scales. competition in June.
To honor the hard work of world have local Bike Expedia team will hold a lunchtime front of their office at Ogilvie Scales and his colleagues, groups as well as bike presentation to promote the Transportation Center — a Expedia will be receiving rooms, where employees competition. In addition, they prime location where they Active Trans’ Business can store their bikes. In host a bike safety seminar, can target bicyclists using Leadership Award at our 2018 addition, Expedia reimburses where they feature helmet the bike lanes and Divvy Awards Reception on March 7 employees up to $600 for cam video footage of their near the building. In addition (Learn more at activetrans.org/ anything they purchase fellow employees cycling and to handing out swag, the awards-reception). that improves their health, dealing with safety issues, like volunteers work with Active including bicycles. repairing a tire while en route Trans staff in signing up dozens As coordinator of the Bike and riding in traffic safely. of new Active Trans members. Expedia affiliate group in To build a strong bike culture Expedia’s Chicago office, at their office, Scales and the To maintain participation Congratulations to Expedia Scales volunteers his time other members of the Chicago during the Bike Commuter for receiving the Active to manage the company’s Bike Expedia team plan events Challenge, the Chicago Bike Trans award and serving as a bicycling programs, including and offer cycling services. For Expedia team offers incentives model for other businesses participation in the Bike example, veteran bicyclists on during the competition and participating the bike Commuter Challenge, in which the team use the bike room to afterwards, hosts a pizza party, commuter challenge. Chicago workplaces compete perform tune-ups and repairs where they award prizes against each other to see who for employees’ bikes at no and raffles gifts to those charge. The Chicago Bike who participated. can get the most employees Maya Norris is Active Trans’ writer/editor. Expedia team also has a team biking to work. Thanks to These tactics not only messaging platform, where the efforts of Scales and encourage employees to take employees can share their the rest of the Chicago Bike part in the Bike Commuter The two-week-long Bike bike commuting stories and Expedia team, a whopping 120 Challenge, but they also sway Commuter Challenge is our tips. And the team has recently employees participate some of them to volunteer for annual biking competition begun organizing group rides every year. the pit stops that are part the among workplaces throughout after work. Scales credits the high competition. Scales and about Chicagoland. Keep watch on participation rate in part to In the three weeks leading six employees coordinate and bikecommuterchallenge.org Expedia’s support of bicycling. up to the Bike Commuter host a pit stop twice during for updates about the event to Expedia offices across the Challenge, Scales and his the competition each year in be held June 15 – June 29.
11 Going car-free in Elgin
By Maya Norris
For a family of four, navigating the suburbs without a car may seem daunting. But Katie Shaw Thompson and her family were up for the challenge. The Thompson clan ditched their car for a month, discovering that their car-free lifestyle allowed them to enrich their connections with their community and reinforce their commitment to sustainable transportation.
The Thompsons embarked on their car-free experiment in Since completing this car-free experiment, the Thompson family December 2017 when they realized that they rarely drove their decided to sell their car and go car-free for good. “My whole car. Since moving to north suburban Elgin two years ago, Katie world is different because I ride my bike. The whole scale is and her husband, Parker, have become avid bicyclists. They different,” Thompson says. “I get to know my city by the inch, both commute to work by cycling and use a cargo bike when and it feels bigger and more rich and full of possibilities.” cruising around town with their sons, Noam, 5, and Gabriel, 3.
On her blog at elginbikehub.com, Thompson thoroughly documented her experience and described how she and her family primarily cycled and sometimes rode Pace buses to get Maya Norris is Active Trans’ writer/editor. around Elgin during December. That included commuting to work, doing their errands, attending social events and taking their sons to activities and appointments. Thompson says it was easy for her and her family to get around Elgin by bike not only because they live near downtown Elgin but also because of the city’s layout.
“Elgin is as old as Chicago. It has these great bones that make it so bikeable — small city blocks and quiet neighborhood streets,” she says. “Now we don’t have a great transit system. That’s the difference I think. I don’t have a CTA train that arrives every few minutes. My Pace bus system doesn’t even come every 30 minutes.”
Despite the infrequent public transit service, Thompson and her family enjoyed the car-free lifestyle. They relished getting up close and personal with the scenic beauty while using the Fox River Trail, which runs through Elgin, and enjoyed regular sightings of bald eagles near the river. Going car-free also allowed them to get to know their neighbors and community better. When biking, she and her family got the chance to meet their fellow Elgin residents, who were often enamored with their cargo bike — a rare site in the suburbs. “Bike commuting is a way to improve the health not just of individuals, but of whole communities because of the way it helps us to break out of isolation and connect with each other better,” Thompson says.
12 Top ten active transportation stories of 2017
By Kyle Whitehead
With 2017 now behind us, it’s a good opportunity to pause and reflect on the accomplishments of the past year. As you browse through our top ten active transportation stories from 2017, be sure to savor the successes — especially if you’re one of the many people who helped make them happen.
First sections of Lakefront Randolph protected bike lane trail separation open adds to downtown network 1. Thanks to many years of advocacy 5. The city installed a westbound and a $12 million donation from Ken protected bike lane on Randolph in the Griffin, the Chicago Park District began Loop as part of the Loop Link bus project. building separate trails on the lakefront for people walking and people biking on all Chicago adds new 311 code 18 miles of Chicago’s Lakefront Trail. for blocked bike lanes 6. Thanks to Active Trans’ Progress made on advocacy efforts, people riding bikes Chicago River Trail can now easily report when vehicles are parked in bike lanes, and the city 2. Phase 2 of the North Branch will then use the information to identify Trail extension opened and construction hotspots and prioritize enforcement. began on the 312 RiverRun Trail. Bus rapid transit project breaks ground in Gary Chicago releases Vision 9. The City of Gary, Indiana CTA launches prepaid Zero Action Plan boarding pilots began construction on a bus rapid 7. Active Trans was thrilled to see transit corridor through downtown. 3. Chicago expanded its the release for the Vision Zero Action prepaid boarding pilot program, one Plan and look forward to the needed of the key recommendations featured in next steps: Citywide policy change and Chicago increases ride- Active Trans’ Back on the Bus report. a dedicated Vision Zero Infrastructure 10. hailing fee to pay for transit Fund in the city budget. Also needed The Chicago City Council is getting meaningful community input Bike lanes installed increased the fee on Uber and Lyft trips from residents living in the high-crash in order to fund public transit upgrades. on Milwaukee Ave. areas that are prioritized in the plan. 4. through Wicker Park The dashed bike lanes are a good near- Suburbs embrace Read the online version of this article to term solution until funding is available action transportation learn more about each of these topics: to add more permanent infrastructure, plans and policies http://bit.ly/2mPAAqk. such as protected bike lanes. 8. Active Trans’ planning team finished 10 complete streets policies and 6 active transportation plans for suburban Kyle Whitehead is the government relations director Chicago towns, the majority of which at Active Trans. were in low-income communities.
13 NON-PROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT 6197 CHICAGO, IL
35 E. Wacker Drive, Suite 1782 Chicago, Illinois 60601
Active Transportation Alliance 2018 Awards Reception Celebrate people throughout the region who helped make great strides in biking, walking and transit.
Wednesday, March 7 This year’s awardees are: 5:30pm–8:30pm Ken Griffin — Community Leadership Award Expedia — Business Leadership Award 1871 Kelley, Drye and Warren — Volunteer Leadership Award (222 W. Merchandise Mart Pl., Suite 1212)
Register at activetrans.org/awards-reception