Active Trans members speak up in survey

By Lee Crandell

Active Trans belongs to us, its members--people who care deeply about better biking, walking and transit.

Chicagoland residents organized themselves 25 years ago under a membership organization to represent their voice and work on their behalf. And we are still working for our members.

You know your community best, and we rely on that expertise. We turn to you to help identify our priorities, inform our work and shape our collective voice.

That’s why we want to know what you think. Our member survey allows us to find out who is fueling our movement and what you’d like out of your organization.

Our online survey earlier this year received 717 responses from our 5,300 members. This strong response gives us a good portrait of our membership.

We also received 420 responses from former members and non-members through a separate survey designed to help us improve our outreach and membership programs.

We’ve heard you, and your input will help as we continue to set priorities and shape our programming.

We are Active Trans members!

We are regional. Fifty-eight percent of us live in Chicago and 42 percent live in the suburbs and beyond.

We are multi-modal

• 81 percent of us ride our bikes at least a few times per week.

• 40 percent of us take public transit at least a few times per week.

• Biking is the most popular commuting option: More than one-third of us use our bikes as our primary mode of transportation to and from work.

We like healthy and enjoyable ways to get around. The top five factors our members cited as influencing transportation choices.

1. Health/active lifestyle

2. Enjoyment

3. Convenience

4. Environment/sustainability

5. Time-saving

Top three reasons for being a member

1. 54 percent join to support our mission to improve biking, walking transit

2. 25 percent join simply because they bike, walk and/or take transit.

3. 11 percent join to stay informed.

We advocate for biking, walking and transit. In the past year

• 36 percent of us have participated in an online petition or email campaign.

• 26 percent have written or called a public official.

• 19 percent have spoken out at a public meeting or hearing.

We are committed. Ninety-five percent of us say we are likely to renew our Active Trans membership. In the past year

• 80 percent of us attended an Active Trans event.

• 44 percent participated in an Active Trans program or campaign.

• 20 percent volunteered for the organization.

• 20 percent made a donation beyond membership dues.

We want to help. Fifteen percent of us would like more opportunities to get involved in the organization’s work.

We’ve felt the hard economic times. Forty-seven percent of lapsed members said they didn’t renew for financial reasons, but 67 percent of lapsed members said they are likely to renew.

Our priorities. We rated these Active Trans efforts as the most important to us

1. Lobbying/advocating for legislation and funding to improve bicycling, walking and transit.

2. Developing and improving on-street bicycle-lane network.

3. Increasing street and intersection safety.

4. Promoting biking as transportation.

5. Encouraging safe driving behavior.

We know the organization pretty well. Two-thirds of us say we are very familiar or extremely familiar with the organization. We are most likely to be familiar with MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive and least likely to be familiar with Active Trans’ programs with youth, parents and communities to address barriers to walking and biking to school and generally promote active transportation.

What we want. What would make us more excited about being a part of Active Trans?

1. More events.

2. More impact in the suburbs.

3. More impact on pedestrian and transit issues, as well as cycling.

4. More improvements to our region’s transportation infrastructure.

Thank you for letting us know what you think. Active Trans belongs to our members. Without you, we wouldn’t have the momentum, voice or power to bring needed changes to our region.

Read more survey results here.

Lee Crandell is Active Trans’ membership director. You can reach him at lee@activetrans.org.