Released: Sunday, May 30, 2010

Contact: Margo O’Hara, Director of Communications
Active Transportation Alliance
312.427.3325 x224
312.282.5088 mobile
margo@activetrans.org
photos available

20,000 cyclists kick off Chicago summer on a car-free Lake Shore Drive for ninth annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive

Cyclists kicked off Chicago’s summer today by cruising down a car-free Lake Shore Drive and enjoying unparalleled views for the ninth annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive.

About 20,000 bicyclists – young, old, couples, friends and professionals – spun their wheels up and down a car-free Lake Shore Drive for the annual fundraiser that benefits the Active Transportation Alliance’s work to improve biking, walking and transit.

“Summer in Chicago has begun! Families and friends are cruising up and down a car-free Lake Shore Drive and having the time of their lives,” said Active Transportation Alliance Executive Director Rob Sadowsky. “Twenty-thousand cyclists transformed this highway into a wonderful bicycling utopia.”

Lake Shore Drive opened to bicyclists at 5:30 a.m. From downtown Chicago, participants had eight lanes and 15 miles of open highway to bike as much as they liked north to Bryn Mawr or south to the Museum of Science and Industry.

http://www.stihltourdestrees.org

The Tree Research and Education Endowment Fund (TREE Fund) is pleased to again welcome STIHL Inc. as title sponsor of the 2010 Tour des Trees. The Tour des Trees has become the signature fundraising event of the TREE Fund, and America’s largest fundraising event for tree research and education.

The 2010 STIHL Tour des Trees will launch from Chicago's beautiful Millennium Park on July 18 and travel westward to the Mississippi River and Iowa before looping back toward the Chicago area. The 2010 Tour concludes with a 30-mile "Ride for Research" through Chicago's western suburbs and a grand entrance into the Morton Arboretum during the International Society of Arboriculture’s International Tree Climbing Championship on July 24.

Bike/walk/transit friendliness as competitive advantage

Howwedrive.com posted a nice graph of time wasted because of rush

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Pothole Problems?

Now that spring has sprung the city of Chicago will likely start filling potholes soon.

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Crosswalk enforcements start tonight

Chicago will start more crosswalk enforcements tonight.

Released Aug. 1, 2009

Contact:
Margo O’Hara
312-282-5088
margo@activetrans.org
photos available
Informacion disponible en Espanol

Open Streets Brings Tens of Thousands out to Play in Their Neighborhood

Tens of thousands of people replaced car traffic with physical activity today on 8 miles of Chicago streets for Open Streets, an event that encourages fun physical activity in Chicago neighborhoods.

Residents rode bikes, walked and ran along the route, which passed through the Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Garfield Park, North Lawndale and Little Village neighborhoods.

“In a community with high rates of crime, obesity and asthma, Open Streets offers a safe space that promotes active living while decreasing air pollution produced by motorized vehicles,” said Juana Ballesteros, director of the Greater Humboldt Park Community of Wellness. “Open Streets contributes to our community's well-being."

Activities stations lined the route and showcased the flavor of each neighborhood. Residents stopped for a wide variety of activities and performances, including yoga, Gospel choir, salsa dancing, basketball and children’s games.

“This event is a trailblazer,” said Rob Sadowsky, Active Transportation Alliance director. “We demonstrated that when you combine the power of neighborhood-based organizations, with committed and engaged city agencies, along with hundreds of volunteers, we can truly transform our streets and our parks.”

Thank God for Open Streets!

I think the most exciting part of Open Street is the location.  Open Streets (from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow) will stretch from Logan Squre to Little Village.

Bike paramedics save the day at the Taste

A helpful bicyclist and some paramedics on bikes saved the day when a woman on her way to the Taste went into cardiac arrest.

Private parking meters have long-range impact on urban planning, transportation

The privatization of Chicago’s parking meters puts the region’s future in a precarious position related to transportation, urban planning, congestion and overall quality of life, accord

Released June 5, 2009

Contact: Rob Sadowsky, Active Transportation Alliance
312.427.3325 x228
773.575.1933 mobile
rob@activetrans.org
Photos available

Families and fun replace cars along eight miles of Chicago streets Aug. 1 for Open Streets!

See what it’s like when streets are filled with people, becoming your playground.

In the morning and early afternoon on Saturday, Aug. 1, Open Streets will give friends and families the chance to enjoy the streets the way they want: biking, dancing, playing, walking and more!

The free event combines last year’s two Sunday Parkways events into one, huge eight-mile event. Like last year, Open Streets will span from Logan Square to Little Village, passing through Humboldt Park, North Lawndale and Garfield Park along the way.

There is no event registration, and participants can join in at any point along the route.

“Open Streets is an opportunity to celebrate communities, encourage healthy, physically active lifestyles and encourage transportation choices that benefit the environment in a safe setting,”
said Active Trans Executive Director Rob Sadowsky. “What people are really going to get is a morning of fun and exercise.”

Take a step off the route at any of the community-run activity stations. The lively scenes will display each community’s flavor with performances, children’s games, art activities, workout classes, music and much more.