The Chainlink

“Hey Chicago, what would encourage you to walk, bike or take CTA more often?”

That’s what the Give a Minute campaign is asking Chicagoans. Citizens are encouraged to participate by texting their ideas to 312.380.0436 or posting them on the website www.giveaminute.info.


Active Trans is honored that our leader, Ron Burke, is featured in the campaign along with CTA Chairman Terry Peterson and SRAM President and CEO, Stan Day.


Look for the ads on CTA buses and trains and send in your ideas and thoughts about what would get you to walk, bike or jump on the CTA.


Here's a great video about the campaign:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEWlsiEyuZ4


Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications Director, Active Trans

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I live 100 yard from the Logan Square Blue/Bus station...

Still the bike is my main form of transportation in the city now. We'll see how that works this winter when there is snow and ice and sub-zero temps every day. That nice warm underground station will be calling out to me from my front door as I attempt to push my bike out the front door...

What would make me want to take public transportation more?

CATTLE CARS at the back (or front depending on which way the train is going) of all L trains specifically for bikes/bikers. If I knew that I could take my bike at any time without any stupid anti-bicycle restrictions I'd be much more likely to use the L as part of my everyday commuting around town. Failing that they need to have SECURE INSIDE bike racks at every station. These piss-poor excuses they have at many train stations are nothing more than places of stolen dreams.

Ride the bus? That reminds me, it's time to clean my toilet.



Julie Hochstadter said:
Awesome. I do use public transit (and in a rush take a cab or car which I prefer not to ).... so I will def share with them my thoughts.

Bus stop and entrance to all CTA stations in front of my house :))
oops bike!



chrisc927 said:
I suspect that all bodily fluids, not just bile, are prohibitted on all forms of public transportation.


Joe Willis said:
1. If I could put my bile on the L during my A.M. commute! (I work 3rd shift in the burbs and this SUCKS on rainy/snowy days!)

2. If the main buses ran within the hours of bars. ex. the last Irving Park bus only runs until a little after midnight. In the summer I just ride my bike home but it would be nice to go out with the woman (or to drunk to ride my bike) until one or two A.M. and not be forced to take a cab home.

3. Night buses run the FULL rout beginning to end. Another Irving Park example, the last few buses only run to the Blue line or to Central instead of out to Cumberland. In the summer we walk but if she is in heels, cab it is!

4. Clean the damn bus/train!
....if we got tax credits for biking or using transit for 75% of their commuting needs.
ummm... not a joke but something that did happen to me last night. I will definitely be biking more, even though I do a lot anyways. I use my car to carry big items around; grocery shopping, work related items and hauling a few bikes around the city for various reasons. Well, I got pulled over for the first time last night b/c I did not pay attention to the fact the light was still red! So yes, a court date, fines, my I.D taken way and pure embarrassment will make me stay on my bike more... Way more
Also my commute today in my girlfriend's car reminded me why driving a car sux during rush hour!


Davo said:
....if we got tax credits for biking or using transit for 75% of their commuting needs.
Hey Jennifer,

Active Trans is a partner in this campaign, the campaign was put together (and paid for) by CEOS for Cities. Once they get all the public input, they will host a symposium with us and several other agencies in the hopes that several organizations working together on some primary goals/efforts will be most successful.

Please keep in mind that this is also just one campaign. Active Trans is working on lots of other campaigns, programs and efforts to make it better and safer to walk, bike and take transit in Chicagoland.

You can learn more about our work in 2010 and priorities for 2011 in our blog about our recent Member Meeting. http://www.activetrans.org/blog/lcrandell/active-trans-2010-member-...

If you're not a member, please consider joining us...we'd love to add your voice and support to the movement. www.activetrans.org/membership.

Thanks much,
Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications Director, Active Trans



jennifer james said:
I'm glad to share my thoughts. Uh. Not to be a downer but it this the best that the major transit advocacy organization in the city can do? Can we cut to the chase and get some education out there about how to do the work it will take to get the 2015 bike plan in action and how to get tough with getting the work done together. How much does this campaign cost? New ideas are great and I hope that there are plenty coming in. I think that the improvements to public transit and cycling that are horribly needed here that have been painfully organized already are the only way to convince people that the investment is worth it. Make transit and cycling possible for everyone and they will show up just like they do where it is in place.
Also, there are a lot of good ideas, challenges and questions here...hope you are all posting them to the Give a Minute site so they can be included.

Thanks much,
Ethan Spotts, M&C guy, Active Trans


Davo said:
....if we got tax credits for biking or using transit for 75% of their commuting needs.

I think we do, part of a recent bill was to allow companies to give you up to $20 per month for biking just like they give you pretax flex accounts for public transit. You cannot get both in the same month, and you have to ask your HR to start this up at your company. It is pretty new and I only heard about it once, not sure I'm getting it right.
You got it right. It's confusing and challenging. Active Trans and other partners on the national level are working to improve/change it.

We posted a blog with a lot of info and resources here: http://www.activetrans.org/blog/mkohara/more-details-bike-commuter-...

Thanks,
Ethan Spotts, Marketing & Communications Director, Active Trans



Chris B said:


Davo said:
....if we got tax credits for biking or using transit for 75% of their commuting needs.

I think we do, part of a recent bill was to allow companies to give you up to $20 per month for biking just like they give you pretax flex accounts for public transit. You cannot get both in the same month, and you have to ask your HR to start this up at your company. It is pretty new and I only heard about it once, not sure I'm getting it right.
Hey Adriana we are trying to build a "live" clearing house for routes on our blog Chicargobike.blogspot.com. It's not only for family riders (hough riding with kids along or on board can cut some more quick routes out of the equation) It's kind of just getting along but if you are trying to find a new route somewhere could you put it out there and see if anyone shares back?? J.
Hi Ethan- sorry to take a while to respond. I really didn't mean to seem overly critical. I completely appreciate how much Active trans does and have been a member for years. I was excited to hear that the cyclovia (which Active Trans has been footing the total bill for) was helped along with a grant for 2011! More nice work.
I missed the Dutch workshop this fall as it was on the same day as a fundraiser for my sons's school I chaired! I think that it would be great if along with the symposia with agencies we bring in the alderman for Chicago and every day riders. How do we practically get to the BIke 2015 plan and beyond? I get the feeling that few (No?) aldermen are aware of the huge economic benefit a more whole cycling infrastructure in Chicago could bring. I just got back from New York and wish we could get a Chicago Streetsblog up. I've been writing them to ask. I was so amazed by the progress they have made in the last three years alone. I work hard to stay on my bike with my family - no small feat here. (no pun intended.) And I know am not the only one. I see we are getting totally left behind. I can't always get to meetings but I do ride with three kids everyday all year. I want to do more and I really respect Active Trans for all they do but how do we get further along?? I know Active Trans takes alot of heat and get so much done. I wish that the people that cast the actual votes and turn the taps on the actual money could come to the table and see how vital transit and cycling are not as a sweet idea but as an essential part of our city staying competitive right now.
Adriana,

There are a few iPhone apps that help with this. I've got one that is OK: Bike the City. It helps with routes but isn't totally up to date on the best ones -nor does it have construction , bad potholes or other hazzards like that updated. It does have a neat feature that is shows you the nearest bike shops but even that isn't up to date. I've emailed them about new shops that are not on their list (Like the Bike Lane on Milwaukee) and months later they still haven't updated to include them.

As for flats or other issues the only way to become proficient in one-the-road repairs is to actually do them on your bike. You don't need much for tools to change a flat -maybe even nothing if you have QR wheels and a type of tire that comes off easy enough that you don't need levers. The only way to find out is to TRY -and I don't mean the next time you get a flat but to take the tire off and put it back on a few times in the comfort of your own home. You won't wear out your bike or the tires/tubes taking them off and putting them back on although you might pinch your tube if you do it wrong -just keep patching it until you learn how to do it. Get yourself a patch kit (you can buy them at the dollar store) and learn how to use it.

Read Sheldon Brown's extensive omnibus article about fixing tires called What Every Cyclist Should Know About Flat Tires

Every bicyclist who ventures out more than a few miles from home should have a patch kit, a portable pump, the tools to remove a wheel, and the knowledge of what to do when they get a flat (and maybe a spare tube but a spare tube does NOT mean you can skip the patch kit as you'll soon find out once you do it a few times).

I don't mean to be holier than thou with this advice. It's just a good practice to be able to change your own flats like at one time before cell phones and AAA it was necessary for car drivers to be able to change out a spare in the trunk. (it still is because AAA won't always come very quickly if they are busy).

Other than The Bike Lane's fix a flat service, I don't know of any other company that'll come to you and change your flat on a bike. Maybe someday there will be many places that serve bikes like you can call for a car. The only other option is to push the bike to a shop, or find a bus and rack it to the front and get to a shop or a friend who can fix the flat for you.

Fixing a bike flat is a 15-minute break from riding/commuting for someone who's done it a few times if they have their "flat kit" on them. I never go more than a mile from home without mine.



Adriana said:
I wish there was a free site that allows entry of location and destination and produces a best route based on road conditions (more than just bike lanes, but potholes, construction) and safety (reroute and alternatives if possible) and should route through side streets. Not just for the city, but for far surrounding suburbs. Its easy to preach, but where will the bike beaters be when I am in the middle of the hood, in the dark, in the middle of winter with a flat? Theoretically you should be able to go anywhere by bike as long as you are able to do the miles, right?

I can also do without the holier than thou attitudes, this makes my stomach churn every time. Its one thing if someone was born into this lifestyle, great...I find they have the most tolerance and kindness. Its the ones who are born again, where were you ten years ago, twenty years ago? Probably making out in the back of an evil, evil car...

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