Active Transportation Alliance

05/29/2026

Check out this Smart Cycling Workshop co-hosted by Forest Preserve District of Cook County & Ride Illinois

"Learn skills to become a confident, competent bicyclist certified through the League of American Bicyclists. Ages 12 & up. Pre-course work and minimal fees required."

Tap here for more info:

05/29/2026

Tomorrow is our last Archer Ave. bike ride of the spring 😢

We’re riding from McKinley Park at 10am, and this week we’ll be joined by the crew from Gage Park Cyclists.

They’ll talk about their weekly rides from Gage Park—every Wednesday at 7pm. Check them out, and be sure to try out the new protected bike lanes on Archer and Kedzie this summer!

05/28/2026

Metra is implementing service improvements across the Metra Electric Line with a new schedule that takes effect June 15. The new schedule simplifies service patterns and increases service frequency at multiple stations in alignment with the goals of the Northern Illinois Transit Authority Act to expand public transit access and improve reliability. View the news release: https://www.metra.com/newsroom/new-metra-electric-line-schedule-takes-effect-june-15

05/27/2026

Join us and Ride Illinois next week for our Suburban Advocacy Connect Call on Wednesday, June 3rd at noon. Hear the latest on state legislation and tune in for guest speakers from IDOT.

RSVP Here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/PEOeTdUTQ8GEfkyDnd8MUg #/registration

05/27/2026

"Vision Zero efforts in the United States have been less successful. Traffic fatalities in the United States are roughly the same today as they were in 2000, with roughly 40,000 people killed each year in motor vehicle crashes. While the absolute numbers remain relatively unchanged, the composition of these crashes has changed dramatically. Far from being safer for vulnerable road users, the number of pedestrians and bicyclists killed each year has increased by 68%. Pedestrians and bicyclists now comprise one out of every five persons killed in a traffic crash (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Citation 2024); pedestrians and bicyclists are 30 times more likely to be killed on a per-mile-traveled basis than motorists (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Citation 2023; League of American Bicyclists, Citation 2024)."

Pedestrian and bicyclist deaths now account for nearly one in five traffic fatalities in the United States. They continue to rise even as peer nations have reduced deaths dramatically. We examined ...

05/27/2026

This summer, join our free Changemakers for Trails trainings to learn how to speak up for trails, walking and biking where you live!

Our Changemaker for Trails program is an opportunity to explore what advocacy involves, why it is important, what RTC is advocating for, and how you can get involved.

Sign up for our summer cohort to take part in three curated trainings led by RTC staff via Zoom. The trainings are scheduled for:
📅6/9: Intro to Advocacy
📅 6/23: Messaging Matters
📅 7/14: Taking Action: Putting Advocacy into Practice

Learn more about the Changemakers for Trails program and sign up for the summer cohort: https://www.railstotrails.org/policy/changemakers

05/27/2026

05/27/2026

"Induced demand typically refers to additional driving that happens when a road is widened: while the widening reduces congestion in the short term, that makes others seek out the less congested roadway, and the road fills back up with new traffic and congestion in just a few years. Meanwhile, DOTs have spent millions on new infrastructure that doesn’t deliver on its intended outcomes and adds to the agency’s maintenance bill."

Modern state DOTs and their engineers are grappling with a different set of challenges than they did in the 20th century. Some are shifting to managing travel demand and limiting vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) to make their systems operate more efficiently. But engineering education programs may not b...

05/27/2026

"The service improvements are possible thanks to a $1.5 billion rail funding package Illinois legislators passed last year that staved off major service cuts to the CTA and other rail agencies."

What other service improvements would you like to see for Metra? 👀

Metra's new Rock Island schedule takes effect June 1, adding four trains to weekday services, seven trains Saturdays and 11 trains Sundays.

05/26/2026

Our Bike Commuter Challenge is well under way and you have a chance for bonus points this Wednesday! Join us and Special Service Area #33 as we cheer you on and make sure to come get some free swag! We'll have tons of free goodies on site like reflective leg bands, rear bike lights, bike headlights, bike bells, and tote bags. Need a pick me up? We got you covered with healthy snacks, waters, and hydration packets.

Special thanks to Illinois Bicycle Lawyers at Keating Law Offices for sponsoring the Bike Commuter Challenge.

Happy pedaling, see you there! 🚲👋

05/22/2026

Walk through Chicago’s History🌿Join Equiticity in collaboration with Chicago Park District for a free walking tour of Douglass Park this Sunday, May 24 exploring civil rights history, cultural landmarks, and community spaces right here in Chicago.

The walk starts at 10 AM! Register with the link below🌳
https://events.eventnoire.com/e/walking-history-exploring-chicago-parks