Mayor Daley not going to run for Mayor

 The so-called biking mayor is stepping down.What do you think of the future of biking will be under a new mayor?

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Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on September 9, 2010 at 3:28am
I agree with Anne that Mayor Daley substantially helped improve our city's bicycling infrastructure from what it had been. I attended the Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council Meeting yesterday, and I was impressed -- as I have been before -- with the intelligence and level of commitment among the people from CDOT, IDOT, the Mayor's office and Active Trans who work on making our city better for biking. Lord knows they sometimes don't get it right, but they are trying to tackle the problems facing our infrastructure with earnestness.

Mayor Daley stepping down is an opportunity for us as a community. As the months progress, let's analyze who we want as our next mayor, to help us implement the kind of infrastructure we've dreamed about. Cynicism is good, but let's not be blinded by it to the point of apathy and inaction.

All of that said, what do you guys think of 32nd Ward Alderman, Scott Waguespack. I'm told that he "gets it." He's apparently participated in the Ride of Silence. Here's what his website states regarding transportation issues:

Transportation and the CTA- I will demand accountability from CTA management and transportation agencies.

While most CTA dollars are not subsidized by the City of Chicago, we need to keep our eyes on how the system is operated and how city dollars are spent. We will continue to work with our federal and state legislators to bring funding to our ward to fix our aging transportation infrastructure. We are presently working with Metra to move in the direction of improving aging viaducts, bridges and support systems that traverse the city. I will continue to support programs such as Moving Beyond Congestion, and organizations that support other means of transportation, especially cycling and carpooling. We are dedicating funds to improve our bike lanes in the ward, and I support plans to improve and increase the number of bike lanes available for the growing number of cyclists in our city.
Permalink Reply by Davo on September 9, 2010 at 3:49am
Gives new meaning to mud flaps

Serge Lubomudrov said:
We migh get a new kind of bike racks!
Permalink Reply by David on September 9, 2010 at 4:14am
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)? I could be convinced otherwise, but there's not much on his website touting actual achievements. I like that he "gets it", but does he also get things done?

That said, does ATA or LIB or anybody send out candidate questionnaires and do candidate evaluations or anything like that, or do they avoid anything related to electoral politics in order to keep their non-profit status? Is there anything like a "Cyclists Democratic Club" in Chicago, a group that evaluates candidates, raises campaign funds, etc.?


Brendan Kevenides said:

All of that said, what do you guys think of 32nd Ward Alderman, Scott Waguespack. I'm told that he "gets it." He's apparently participated in the Ride of Silence. Here's what his website states regarding transportation issues:

Transportation and the CTA- I will demand accountability from CTA management and transportation agencies.

While most CTA dollars are not subsidized by the City of Chicago, we need to keep our eyes on how the system is operated and how city dollars are spent. We will continue to work with our federal and state legislators to bring funding to our ward to fix our aging transportation infrastructure. We are presently working with Metra to move in the direction of improving aging viaducts, bridges and support systems that traverse the city. I will continue to support programs such as Moving Beyond Congestion, and organizations that support other means of transportation, especially cycling and carpooling. We are dedicating funds to improve our bike lanes in the ward, and I support plans to improve and increase the number of bike lanes available for the growing number of cyclists in our city.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Kevenides on September 9, 2010 at 4:40am
It is my understanding that Active Trans will send out questionnaires. Certainly hope they will.

Your questions, to which I have no answers, are fair and are exactly the type of questions that should be asked. . .

David said:
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)? I could be convinced otherwise, but there's not much on his website touting actual achievements. I like that he "gets it", but does he also get things done?

That said, does ATA or LIB or anybody send out candidate questionnaires and do candidate evaluations or anything like that, or do they avoid anything related to electoral politics in order to keep their non-profit status? Is there anything like a "Cyclists Democratic Club" in Chicago, a group that evaluates candidates, raises campaign funds, etc.?


Brendan Kevenides said:

All of that said, what do you guys think of 32nd Ward Alderman, Scott Waguespack. I'm told that he "gets it." He's apparently participated in the Ride of Silence. Here's what his website states regarding transportation issues:

Transportation and the CTA- I will demand accountability from CTA management and transportation agencies.

While most CTA dollars are not subsidized by the City of Chicago, we need to keep our eyes on how the system is operated and how city dollars are spent. We will continue to work with our federal and state legislators to bring funding to our ward to fix our aging transportation infrastructure. We are presently working with Metra to move in the direction of improving aging viaducts, bridges and support systems that traverse the city. I will continue to support programs such as Moving Beyond Congestion, and organizations that support other means of transportation, especially cycling and carpooling. We are dedicating funds to improve our bike lanes in the ward, and I support plans to improve and increase the number of bike lanes available for the growing number of cyclists in our city.
Permalink Reply by Dr. Doom on September 9, 2010 at 5:50am
Waguespack is like 12 years old, if he somehow got into office he would get curbstomped by all the aldermen who have had Daley's boot on their neck for years and are going to be grabbing for every bit of power they can. Not that he doesn't have a future, but he's too green to pry away all the hands that will be grabbing for the wheel and steer it himself.
Permalink Reply by Michael Perz on September 9, 2010 at 6:05am
Okay, but what about a hundred mini Ditkas?

notoriousDUG said:
Ditka doesn't care, at all, period.

This is why I believe he will make an excellent mayor.



Juan Dominguez said:
You think Ditka cares about da cyclists?

notoriousDUG said:
Personally I support Da Coach for Da Mayor, but that's just me.

Juan Dominguez said:
It looks like all of us concerned chainlinkers will have to start looking at and talking about the upcoming candidates.
Permalink Reply by Davo on September 9, 2010 at 8:11am
"Okay, but what about a hundred mini Ditkas?"

It would be close but still an outright advatage goes to da mini Dikas.
de one hundred mini Dikas would win by tree thousand votes to all the uder contestants combind.

Go Dika
Permalink Reply by payton on September 9, 2010 at 8:13am
FWIW, he did use his aldermanic menu money to repaint the area's bike lanes in 2009 or 2010 (can't remember offhand). CDOT has stymied attempts to add bike parking; CDOT doesn't have any more racks to offer, and trying to buy racks for CDOT has proven fruitless.

If you have any other ideas for improving cycling in Wicker Park-Bucktown, let me know!

David said:
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)?
Permalink Reply by spacemodular on September 9, 2010 at 10:14am
Damen going south from the 6 corner intersection (North, Damen, Milwaukee) has had the bike lane repainted this summer. This is across from Wicker park and right before Pritzker school on Schiller.

The police in conjunction with the bicycle ambassadors have had a number of events at the same intersection (North, Damen, Milwaukee) over the last 2 years. Traffic is definitely calmer there than anytime I remember in the past 10 years.

I am not sure if Waguespack had any part in these activities, but am guessing that he did. Anyway, biking is better in Bucktown/Wickerpark since he has been in office. Just my opinion...

payton said:
FWIW, he did use his aldermanic menu money to repaint the area's bike lanes in 2009 or 2010 (can't remember offhand). CDOT has stymied attempts to add bike parking; CDOT doesn't have any more racks to offer, and trying to buy racks for CDOT has proven fruitless.
If you have any other ideas for improving cycling in Wicker Park-Bucktown, let me know! David said:
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)?
Permalink Reply by David on September 9, 2010 at 5:05pm
Thanks for that info, that's the kind of thing I was hoping to find out.

I'd note, though, that Damen south of North doesn't seem to be in Waguespack's ward, apparently south of North is Proco Moreno's ward.

spacemodular said:
Damen going south from the 6 corner intersection (North, Damen, Milwaukee) has had the bike lane repainted this summer. This is across from Wicker park and right before Pritzker school on Schiller.

The police in conjunction with the bicycle ambassadors have had a number of events at the same intersection (North, Damen, Milwaukee) over the last 2 years. Traffic is definitely calmer there than anytime I remember in the past 10 years.

I am not sure if Waguespack had any part in these activities, but am guessing that he did. Anyway, biking is better in Bucktown/Wickerpark since he has been in office. Just my opinion...

payton said:
FWIW, he did use his aldermanic menu money to repaint the area's bike lanes in 2009 or 2010 (can't remember offhand). CDOT has stymied attempts to add bike parking; CDOT doesn't have any more racks to offer, and trying to buy racks for CDOT has proven fruitless.
If you have any other ideas for improving cycling in Wicker Park-Bucktown, let me know! David said:
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)?
Permalink Reply by Duppie on September 10, 2010 at 3:17am
So does repainting a number of bike lanes make him a good mayoral candidate?

What I would look for in a candidate is his/her ability to create a balanced budget, solve the underfunded pension plan riddle, etc, etc.

Because making progress will cost money. If the city has no money we will never see large scale improvements to bicycling related infrastructure, no matter how pro-bike a candidate is

payton said:
FWIW, he did use his aldermanic menu money to repaint the area's bike lanes in 2009 or 2010 (can't remember offhand). CDOT has stymied attempts to add bike parking; CDOT doesn't have any more racks to offer, and trying to buy racks for CDOT has proven fruitless.

If you have any other ideas for improving cycling in Wicker Park-Bucktown, let me know!

David said:
I don't know Waguespack that well, but when you consider he's the Alderman for what is possibly the most active bike commuting ward in Chicago, a single line on his website touting vague undefined support for future goals is pretty weak tea. In the three years he's been there, has there actually been any improvements to the bike lanes in Wicker Park/Bucktown (that's not rhetorical, it's a real question)?
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on September 15, 2010 at 9:36am
Our executive director just posted this blog. Copied/pasted below...thanks. Ethan with Active Trans.

Mayor Daley's legacy and the opportunity/threat of a new mayor

Like many American cities, Chicago hit hard times in the 60s, 70s and 80s. People and businesses left Chicago in large numbers for the suburbs and beyond, and the city was dangerously close to suffering a Detroit-like implosion.

Since he was elected in 1989, Mayor Daley has championed a number of strategies to make Chicago neighborhoods more vibrant and livable.

He turned to cycling and walking infrastructure and education early on, and enlisted the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (now Active Trans) to help.

Why? Cars and highways had enabled the sprawl that depleted the city. In addition, the mayor had seen during trips to Europe just how dynamic and fun a place can be with throngs of people biking through streets and strolling down sidewalks.

Nearly 20 years later, Active Trans continues to work closely with the mayor and his staff. Not everyone always see eye-to-eye with Mayor Daley, but we have been able to take our ideas and concerns to his office on the 5th floor of city hall—and that has paid off in Chicago becoming one of the best cycling cities in the nation.

With more than 100 miles of bike lanes and routes, more bike parking than any other U.S. city, a significant percentage of bike commuters, and a master pedestrian plan on the horizon, Chicago has made improvements and considered biking and walking as it developed. For all these reasons and more, Active Trans inducted Mayor Daley into its Hall of Fame last year.

But his upcoming departure represents a crucial crossroads, and we need your help to make sure all the candidates embrace biking, walking and transit.

Despite the progress made during the Mayor's tenure, biking and walking is still a hassle (or worse) in some parts of Chicago, and transit is chronically underfunded and inadequate.

The next mayor could be a champion for biking, walking and transit or he or she could be someone who wants to turn the clock back 20 years. Help us ensure that the next mayor is committed to sustainable transportation throughout the city.

If you’re not an Active Trans member, join now and lend your support to our work finding the best path to improving biking, walking and transit in Chicago and our region.

Just as we surveyed Illinois congressional candidates, stay tuned as we push mayoral candidates for their views on transportation safety and funding.

Ron Burke, Executive Director

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