PathPath
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Newsletter
    Follow Us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Streetsblog Logo
    • HOME
    • USA
    • NYC
    • MASS
    • LA
    • CHI
    • SF
    • DEN
    • CAL
    • STREETFILMS
    • DONATE
Streetsblog Chicago Logo
  • Donate
  • Contact
  • About Us
  • Newsletter
    Follow Us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

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

Diagram of the Joshua Avina-Luna collision from the Chicago Police Department traffic crash report.

A witness discusses how a speeding postal worker killed Joshua Avina, 15, on his bike

By John Greenfield | Jul 1, 2022 | No Comments
"This is yet another tragic example of one of Chicago's children not being able to ride safely in the city's streets," said an attorney from a local bike-focused firm.
A slide stressing the importance of diverse community engagement, at a meeting that was impossible for working-class people to attend. Image: CDOT

Equity-focused Chicago Mobility Collaborative meeting takes place at inequitable time of day

By John Greenfield | Jun 30, 2022 | No Comments
The transportation department could take one very simple action to help more broaden the demographics of who has a say in Chicago mobility projects, but for some reason it has resisted doing so.
Looking south on the 6200 block of South Austin at a location where an alley intersects with the avenue. Image Google Docs

Stop the child killings. Joshua Avina-Luna, 15, hit by van driver on bike, is 4th kid to die this month.

By John Greenfield | Jun 29, 2022 | No Comments
Chicago has lost four children to traffic violence this month, but the response to the crisis from some aldermen and media outlets has been totally irresponsible.
The WBEZ headline before and after Streetsblog and others called them out for it.

WBEZ retracts claim that speed cams “don’t slow down” drivers, have “little safety benefit”

By John Greenfield | Jun 28, 2022 | No Comments
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.
Is the CTA heedlessly racing towards an impeninding financial disaster, "Thelma and Louise"-style?

Another reason why CTA should get real about its schedule: looming funding shortfalls

By John Greenfield | Jun 26, 2022 | No Comments
Reallocating service now to address staffing shortages in the best way possible, while being truthful about that, is a good dress rehearsal for what to do if and when federal relief money runs out.
The 16 alderpersons who voted in committee to allow drivers to speed by up to 9 mph over the limit with impunity.

Here are 16 alders who voted to allow deadly speeds, and crash cases in their wards.

By John Greenfield | Jun 25, 2022 | No Comments
Let's look at the 16 alders who supported the ordinance – and recent traffic violence cases in their wards that should have inspired them to vote differently.
Long headways at the Division Street Blue Line station in Wicker Park. Photo: Brian Dolan

Dear CTA: Stop gaslighting us. Change “scheduled service” to better reflect actual service.

By John Greenfield | Jun 23, 2022 | No Comments
The CTA needs to do the honest and responsible thing. It must change its published timetables so that "scheduled service" and actual service begin to at least remotely resemble each other.
A trucker blocks a bike lane on Leland Avenue in Uptown, near the site where Lily Shambrook, 3, was killed earlier this month. Photo: John Greenfield

Ordinance introduced to allow towing bikeway blockers, speed cam vote gets deferred

By John Greenfield | Jun 22, 2022 | No Comments
A lot of transportation-related stuff happened at today's City Council council meeting.
Catching a #9 Ashland bus in Pilsen. Photo: John Greenfield

Alderpersons turn up the heat on CTA to explain how the agency will fix service gaps

By John Greenfield | Jun 22, 2022 | No Comments
Service gaps were understandable during the depths of the pandemic, but that's no longer an acceptable excuse, so it's good to see alders lighting a fire under the agency to address the problem.
The aftermath of the high-speed crash that killed pedestrian Malinda Massey, 52, last September in Chicago's Gresham neighborhood. Photo: Chicago Fire Department

These 16 alderpersons narrowly won the committee vote to let people drive at deadly speeds

By John Greenfield | Jun 21, 2022 | No Comments
Tomorrow the legislation will go before the full City Council, including the 19 alders who didn't weigh in today, and hopefully it will be defeated.
Memorial to Lily Shambrook, 3, killed by a driver in Uptown on June 9. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

If alders vote to allow drivers to speed by 9 mph, more Chicagoans will die

By John Greenfield | Jun 21, 2022 | No Comments
It's clear that the arguments for letting drivers speed by up to 9 mph over the limit are bogus. And if aldermen vote to do that, they'll have blood on their hands.
Ramon Escapa

Senior in pickup kills Ride Illinois board member Ramon Escapa on bike in downstate Frederick

By John Greenfield | Jun 20, 2022 | No Comments
"Our organization is devastated by his death," said Ride Illinois executive director David Simmons We will miss Ramon and the amazing work he did for those who ride bikes in Illinois."
Load more stories
      • Comment Moderation Policy
      • Our Funders
      • Staff
      • Donate
      • Sponsorship
        Follow Us:
      • Facebook
      • Twitter
      Streetsblog Chicago Logo