“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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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by shar on November 19, 2010 at 5:05am
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
Permalink Reply by Davo on November 19, 2010 at 5:14am
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.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on November 19, 2010 at 5:16am
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.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on November 19, 2010 at 6:14am
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
Permalink Reply by Chris B on November 19, 2010 at 6:29am


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.
Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on November 19, 2010 at 6:35am
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.
Permalink Reply by jennifer james on November 19, 2010 at 8:26am
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.
Permalink Reply by jennifer james on November 19, 2010 at 8:44am
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.
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on November 20, 2010 at 4:26am
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...
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 20, 2010 at 6:45am
Yeah, the site is REALLY easy to post to, fyi.



Active Transportation Alliance said:
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
Permalink Reply by Jared on November 20, 2010 at 8:12am
Or shut down the south side green line and run CTA trains on what is now the Metra Electric tracks. But it would make too much sense to run trains where the people are.



Jennifer said:
If the CTA ran later, like they used to before the cutbacks.

Universal RTA fare system. Take the Metra Electric downtown, transfer to the Red Line for 25 cents.

A bike station at Union Station like the one at Millennium Park.

Metered/permit parking absolutely everywhere.
Permalink Reply by Liz on November 20, 2010 at 9:34am
I really miss the express buses. They where great for getting up and down Ashland and Western quickly without the hassle of getting to the red line. Also it would be awesome if there where neighborhood specific morning/evening bus routes to downtown. In my view there are serveral bus routes that could use improvement and some that would great additions. In lakeview, uptown and lincoln park there are express buses servicing various areas of downtown along the lake, why aren't there similar buses for areas like North center or Humbolt Park. Its frustrating to ride a (slow) bus and train to get to work. Also I don't understand why the Kimball bus isn't routed to serve the conservatory or Kedzie green line station. Aslo why not just route the current #94 bus north on California to Roscoe and leave the #52 bus on Kedzie, and have it service up to the blue line station. This would connect a lot of people to the L much faster and reduce walking in questionable areas.


Jennifer said:
If the CTA ran later, like they used to before the cutbacks.

Universal RTA fare system. Take the Metra Electric downtown, transfer to the Red Line for 25 cents.

A bike station at Union Station like the one at Millennium Park.

Metered/permit parking absolutely everywhere.

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