This past weekend kicked off with a big dumping of snow. The streets were not very clear on Saturday morning, so I decided to walk instead of bike to meet my friend at a local coffee shop. I passed through Palmer Park and watched a group of people lining up in the snow. I couldn't figure out what they were doing until someone said, "Ready? Set. Go!" and pairs of people sprinted off with their legs tied to each other. It was a three-legged race! People were out on an overcast, dreary winter day to have a three-legged race in the park. I love walking in my neighborhood (and walking, generally) because it's a great way to check out things that are happening. My neighborhood, Logan Square, is going through a lot of changes right now. So much so that everytime I go for a walk I see something new or different. Going for walks is a great way to check on the health of your neighborhood and be aware of things happening there. If you haven't taken a stroll around the block or walked to the train in a while, I highly recommend it. You may be surprised at what you'll see happening just down the street.

Here's a short video of the race in Palmer Park:

Starting January 26 the Chicago Transit Authority will add eleven new routes to the current bus tracking system that they unveiled in 2008. The bus tracking system allows riders to check the real-time locations of buses. The new routes include:

• 3 King Drive, X3 King Drive Express
• 4 Cottage Grove, X4 Cottage Grove Express
• 22 Clark
• 36 Broadway
• 49B North Western
• 82 Kimball/Homan
• 93 California/Dodge
• 96 Lunt
• 97 Skokie

For currently available bus tracking routes and for more information, please visit: http://www.ctabustracker.com/bustime/home.jsp

As has been submitted in the comments of last Monday's post, the Trail from Ardmore to Fullerton is in pretty good shape this Monday morning having been plowed and salted. The paved section of the trail just south of Fullerton is closed and the dirt trail to the west is not in great condition. The lake side tire track seemed in the best shape (as opposed to the LSD side tire track) and was certainly rideable.

The Trail south of Fullerton to Oak Street had a bit more snow cover but still was in pretty good shape. I did not try to ride or even walk the Oak Street Bend this morning as I had my BOB trailer with me and the snow was pretty deep due to plowing pile up just as you enter the bend.

The Oak Street underpass was not very clear. I will try to get the Park District to clear this as soon as possible.

Chicago lost funding for bud rapid transit.

"Amid a business revolt and a sour economy, the Daley administration has missed a key deadline on a huge federal transportation grant, a lapse that could cost the city $153 million in anti-congestion funds."

A swing and a miss.

This is pretty dissapointing especially considering the dangerous congestion and carbon dioxide levels in the city.