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
Why Won't Chicago Fix Its Train to the Airport?
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Chicago politicians are generally more interested in using the latest (or nonexistent) technology as an alternative to a mobility solution that's been around for decades in other countries: fast trains.
Are Online Retail and COVID to Blame For Declining Sales? Nah, It’s Gotta Be the Bike Lanes
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Chicago magazine's Ted McClelland ran a piece looking at the issue of business owners scapegoating bike lanes for poor sales.
Chicago Highway Expansion Transformed into Greenway Project
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While it may be a few years until the greenway project gets off the ground, it's certainly a fantastic outcome that instead of being filled by cars, trucks, and pollution, the corridor will be used by pedestrians, bike riders, and wildlife.
Biden Budget Proposal Earmarks $350M For $3.6B Transit Extension
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Yesterday the administration began to make good on its promise to help fund the RLE including a request for $350 million in Biden’s fiscal year 2024 discretionary funding request.
Family of Three Year-Old Killed in Bike Crash Sue City of Chicago To Save Future Lives
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Hopefully one outcome of this lawsuit will be corporations, commercial drivers, and city officials prioritizing cyclist safety. That would help ensure that Lily's passing will not have been in vain.
How A Bike Lane Towing Ordinance Honors Children Lost to Traffic Violence
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Hopefully it's some comfort to the families of kids who were lost to traffic violence this year, that their stories helped bring about change that could prevent others from experiencing that kind of heartbreak.
High Speed Rail Alliance Wants Better Train Service Across the Nation
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“The system would be useful for so many more people,” said executive director Rick Harnish. “It really would be a game-changer for Chicago-area transit.”
Education, infrastructure, and holding drivers accountable > bike helmets for cyclist safety
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Stopping drivers from killing cyclists shouldn't be a matter of good fortune and a couple inches of Styrofoam and plastic. We need education, infrastructure, and laws to prevent crashes from happening in the first place.
Chicago Police Caught on Camera Assaulting Child Cyclists
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This is the second disturbing incident this month in Chicagoland involving teens of color, bicycles, and alleged police violence.
ProPublica Helps Lawmakers Who Want to Let Motorists Drive at Deadly Speeds
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it's frustrating to see ProPublica, a news outlet that's supposed to be working for the public good, come out with yet another windshield-POV piece on Chicago's automatic enforcement program.
Speed Camera Coverage Shouldn't Ignore Safety Benefits, Traffic Violence Victims
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It's not surprising when right-wing publications run garbage articles about traffic cameras. But it's disappointing when progressive news outlets approach this issue with a windshield POV.
Shared Mobility Action Agenda Aims to Make Sustainable Modes Convenient For All by 2030
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There are many ways to screw up shared mobility. So hopefully the action agenda will focus on shared modes that actually decrease emissions, rather than exacerbate climate change.