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
For Safe Transit, We Need Good Mental Health Services
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Providing all citizens with adequate mental health support is crucial for creating a safer, more peaceful city.
How Ped/Bike-Friendly Are Chicago's Train Stations?
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Unsurprisingly, he found that pedestrian- and bike-friendly stations tend to be located in denser parts of town, but they also correlate with wealthier and neighborhoods.
‘School of Rock’ Drummer Kevin Clark is Killed in Crash
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The former child actor is the second high-profile celebrity death by automobile in Chicago in as many months.
Architect Helmut Jahn Dies in Bike Crash
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While Jahn reportedly ran a stop sign on his bike, all the facts of his death aren't clear yet, and he deserves our empathy.
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.