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Chicago had the chance to do the right thing—lower the speed limit to 25 mph and join cities New York, Boston, and Seattle in reducing pedestrian accidents. But instead of taking action, the City Council backed down. Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), who championed the measure, pulled the vote at the last minute. Instead of...

Chicago bicyclists face yet another betrayal from city officials. Streetsblog reader Steven Irwin flagged an ongoing problem with the city’s handling of bike lanes near Diversey River Bowl, at 2211 W. Diversey Parkway. His concern? The Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) is playing fast and loose with bikeway safety, which leaves cyclists at a heightened...

The City of Evanston’s proposal to install a two-way protected bike lane along the east side of Chicago Avenue has sparked a community-wide debate about safety, sustainability, and economic vitality. While city officials view the project as a step toward greener and safer transportation, residents and businesses fear it could jeopardize their livelihoods and accessibility....

Lincolnwood residents were recently left with the decision to install painted bike lanes, rather than the concrete-protected lanes initially proposed, on Pratt Avenue. Safety advocates had hoped for robust infrastructure to shield cyclists and e-scooter riders from reckless drivers. Instead, they reached a compromise, which many feel is a missed opportunity for real safety improvements....

Since their introduction in 2019, electric scooters have become a go-to mode of transportation in Chicago, with more than 3.7 million trips taken between mid-2022 and late 2023. However, as e-scooter use continues to rise, so do the risks associated with riding them. A recent article in the Chicago Sun-Times highlights the very real dangers that some...

Dickens Landing, a vital part of Chicago's Lincoln Park, is under threat, and residents are rallying to protect it. After 4.5 years of planning and community input, the Dickens Greenway officially opened in January 2024. However, just months later, the City announced plans to reopen the space to cars. The original goal of Dickens Landing...

Thousands of cyclists took over DuSable Lake Shore Drive, enjoying a 15-mile car-free stretch with the Chicago skyline as their backdrop during the 2024 Bike the Drive event. Organized by the Active Transportation Alliance, a Chicago nonprofit advocating for walking, biking, and public transit improvements, this annual event has temporarily closed streets to motor vehicles...

Chicago bicyclists have to navigate a daily obstacle course of distracted drivers, poorly maintained roads, and inadequate bike infrastructure. As a result of the city's growing bicycle safety concerns, the Chicago City Council approved the Smart Streets pilot bike lane ticketing program in March 2023 to enhance safety for bicyclists and pedestrians. However, 16 months...

A recent global traffic analysis has ranked Chicago as the fifth most congested city worldwide, with congestion levels surpassing pre-pandemic figures by 18%. Transportation analysis platform Inrix compiled data for the annual Global Traffic Scorecard. It reveals that Chicago drivers lost an average of 96 hours to traffic delays over the past year. The study...

However, Bicyclists Are At Risk Due To Negligent Drivers Every year, the nonprofit organization People For Bikes rates more than 700 cities worldwide for bike-friendliness. Chicago ranks near the bottom of the list every year. But people who actually bike in the city seem to disagree. A study has found that over the last four...