Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by igz on December 28, 2010 at 5:39pm

Are we looking for bicycle representation beyond what the city currently offers?

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike.html

 

and helping maintain focus on the 2015 plan?

 

http://www.bike2015plan.org/

 

Permalink Reply by igz on December 28, 2010 at 5:43pm

the current bike program:

http://www.chicagobikes.org/

 

Permalink Reply by igz on December 28, 2010 at 5:45pm

we know that Active Trans will not align them selves politically due to their NFP status, but can they be utilized for consulting adn guidance? does anyone have an open line of communication with the organization?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 29, 2010 at 2:58am

I can make a couple of phone calls.

iggi said:

we know that Active Trans will not align them selves politically due to their NFP status, but can they be utilized for consulting adn guidance? does anyone have an open line of communication with the organization?

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 29, 2010 at 3:17am

Given the current budget situation, I think we should focus on getting the most bang for the buck in focusing on what's currently on the menu and what's laid out in Bike 2015.  One way I could see to do this is to work on a culture shift - putting ped, cycling and transit issues on the radar of as many candidates as possible, AND talking to people we know to broaden the base of support for these issues for this year and future elections.

 

We all know people who drive everywhere, or drive more often than they get around in other ways - friends, relatives, neighbors, co-workers.    We can work on them little by little.  With some of my neighbors, I've suggested things like taking a walk to the library or out to lunch.  When a friend who usually drives asks for directions to a destination, I might start by offering public transit directions or suggesting "it might be a lot easier for you to get there by transit because you wouldn't have to deal with the awful traffic and parking there."  When a friend wants to go out to dinner, I'd suggest walking or riding there.

 

At job interviews, I ask what bike facilities are available in the building.  More often than not, they have to ask the property manager.  This sends a message to employers and property managers that bike parking makes their building a more desirable place to work.

When I go out to eat at a restaurant where there's no bike parking, I add a comment on the check - "Please add bike parking.  I'd come here more often if there was a place to lock up my bike." I'm doing more of this with other types of businesses as well. 

 

If we make a conscious effort to put sustainable transportation on the radar of individuals and businesses, they're more likely to look to their local governments and organizations for information and resources.

iggi said:

Are we looking for bicycle representation beyond what the city currently offers?

 

http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike.html

 

and helping maintain focus on the 2015 plan?

 

http://www.bike2015plan.org/

 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 29, 2010 at 3:18am

I think we should work on as many candidates as possible and urge them to compete for the "greenest" title.  See my longer comment about broadening the base of support.

Permalink Reply by igz on December 29, 2010 at 3:32am

i agree...thats probably best. and the one with the most initiatives will get the endorsement of the chicago cycling community in return.

 

so...how do we approach each candidate?

Anne Alt said:

I think we should work on as many candidates as possible and urge them to compete for the "greenest" title.  See my longer comment about broadening the base of support.

Permalink Reply by igz on December 29, 2010 at 5:35am

semantics indeed, and why i used the "quotation marks". but you do bring a valid point in appropriate classification.  i suppose we dont want to construe or brand ourselves as environmentalists or a green council of any sort, but define ourselves as the chicago cycling community (and alternate travel community). it just so happens that the environmental benefits are a fortuitous byproduct of our agenda. almost a two-bird-one-stone deal if you will.

Cameron Puetz said:

I don’t want to turn this into a debate on semantics, but I think “the greenist of them all” shortchanges the issue. To me this isn’t just an environmental issue. The quality of life reasons for pushing active transportation are as important as the environment reasons.

 

That said, I agree with the general sentiment on this thread that we should focus on getting more people to think about this issue and work with all candidates to make transportation issues part of the debate. However if one candidate comes out head and shoulders above the rest we should help that candidate.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on December 29, 2010 at 6:21am

Public health is another important aspect that shouldn't be overlooked.  Obesity and air quality have been significant issues in recent years.  Stress due to traffic congestion has also gotten media coverage.  These public health issues should be talking points in our discussions with candidates.

I've started sending e-mails to 19th ward aldermanic candidates, and will be doing follow-up shortly.  I haven't yet sent e-mails to mayoral candidates, but I will soon.

Cameron Puetz said:

I don’t want to turn this into a debate on semantics, but I think “the greenist of them all” shortchanges the issue. To me this isn’t just an environmental issue. The quality of life reasons for pushing active transportation are as important as the environment reasons.

 

That said, I agree with the general sentiment on this thread that we should focus on getting more people to think about this issue and work with all candidates to make transportation issues part of the debate. However if one candidate comes out head and shoulders above the rest we should help that candidate.

Permalink Reply by Liz on December 29, 2010 at 6:30am

I think its important to play up how improving alternative transit options makes citizen's lives easier.  The more that people can easily rely on public transit and safe cycling routes, the less people will consider using a car to get around.

 

One thing that the CTA hasn't looked at in a long time is making sure that bus routes are going where people want to go.  There are many buses that could easily be routed so that they stop at "L" stations (82 Homan doesn't make a green line stop and I'm not willing to walk around that area by myself to get to the L) that change streets when it would be simplier to continue routing the bus already on that street (the 94 California bus ends, the 52 Kedzie/Calfornia bus is then routed up California).  Bring back the X9 and the X49 during rush hour, consider adding express to downtown routes at rush hour from areas other than just the northside Lakefront homes (these are just examples I notice because its where I live). Many people do not use the bus system because they don't think it takes them anywhere useful without a long walk or waiting for a transfer.

 

Adding train times to station is a simple change that would make many people extremely happy, so many other cities offer this at all stations, there is no reason that we shouldn't have it here. 

 

The easiest bike friendly item to me is adding plates to all grated bridges.  It would not cost a lot of money, but would make a statement that bikes belong on all streets and make riding over bridges much more comfortable. 

 

A mayoral candidate could easliy make alternative transit issues something that can improve the lives of everyone by reducing traffic, no longer searching and paying for parking, and keeping travel times similair/less than driving.

Permalink Reply by igz on December 29, 2010 at 6:42am

*devils advocate*

 

one can argue that improving transit standards will remove vehicles from the street. however, these vehicles contricute to the city's budget via city stickers, parking permits, meter fees, violations. how does the city recoop the cost?

 

is there any science out there that we can reference to (maybe ATA has collected data?)

 

how will alternative transport benefit the local economy?

Permalink Reply by igz on December 30, 2010 at 3:43am

part of Del Valle's campaign message is that he is not buying into lobbyists

iggi said:

*devils advocate*

 

one can argue that improving transit standards will remove vehicles from the street. however, these vehicles contricute to the city's budget via city stickers, parking permits, meter fees, violations. how does the city recoop the cost?

 

is there any science out there that we can reference to (maybe ATA has collected data?)

 

how will alternative transport benefit the local economy?

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