John Greenfield
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes the transportation column for the Chicago Reader weekly paper. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Recent Posts
SURVEY: Chicagoans Plan To Return to Transit
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About 80 percent of respondents who weren't riding buses and trains on a frequent basis said they planned to to return to their pre-pandemic commuting habits once worries about the coronavirus ease.
It's Time to End Unnecessary Police Chases On Foot
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As with vehicle chases, the issue at stake is the need for officers the weigh the potential threat posed to the public if a suspect is not pursued, with the possible harm that could be inflicted by a chase.
Chicago Seeks to Remove "Accidents" From Muni Code
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It's common to refer to serious crashes as "accidents," implying they're unavoidable, when it's actually possible to reduce crashes through better roadway design and public policy.
A COVID-Era Amtrak/Bike Packing Diary
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I was fairly comfortable using Amtrak for this journey, so as long as we don't see another major spike in cases, I'll probably make more such trips this year as a safer alternative to flying.
New Draft of the MUTCD is Still Too Car-Centric
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Transportation chief Gia Biagi argued in a letter to the FWHA that the draft version of the next edition of the manual is "far too focused on motor vehicle operations and perpetuates the status quo."
Police Shoot Passenger Over Fare Enforcement
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What's the best way to deal with unruly fare evaders? It's a complex question, but a more lenient policy might be worth the downsides, if it helps prevent the kind of near-deadly scenario we saw last week.
Rep. Garcia: We Need to Quadruple Transit Funding
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Advocates acknowledged the goals is ambitious and achieving parity is unlikely this year, but a strategy of aiming high could significantly move the funding needle during this window of opportunity.
Chicago's Speed Cameras Are Working
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Fatal or serious injury crashes increased by 1 percent near speed cameras between 2012-13 and 2017-18, compared to a 19 percent increase citywide.
Chicago Needs a Sidewalk Snow Clearance Plan
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The group has launched a new campaign and petition, with almost 1,250 signatures, to exhort the city of Chicago to take charge of winter sidewalk clearance.
CDC Mask Mandate Will Give Local Rules Teeth
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Hopefully now that the federal government is getting more serious about mask compliance, we'll see better behavior on this front from local transit riders.
Could Slow Streets Speed Pandemic Recovery?
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Streetsblog reader Nate Hutcheson brainstormed a system of Slow Streets designed as a community and economic development strategy.
What if Chicago Had Rapid Transit Everywhere?
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It's not that it would be particularly difficult to make this a reality -- we just need the political will.