Interviews

Other topics in our questionnaire included Vision Zero, raising the gas tax, eliminating parking minimums, affordable TOD, speeding up buses, and shared-mobility services.

Chicago Department of Transportation commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld has overseen the completion of several good projects during her four years on the job, including the Loop Link bus rapid transit corridor, the Bloomingdale Trail, the Chicago Riverwalk, and 100 miles of new and upgraded bike lanes. (However, it’s worth noting all of these initiatives were launched by her higher-profile predecessor, Gabe Klein.)

Shortly before the Reader published an expose on the problem, the city announced they were speeding up security measures. Right before a WTTW segment on the issue, they moved the completion date forward again.

An ACLU rep says it's doubtful that heavy-handed bike enforcement would be tolerated in majority-white neighborhoods.

Anton Seals from Grow Greater Englewood discusses the importance of respecting the neighborhood's history, and learning from the mistakes of The 606.

Chicago's South Side dockless bike-share pilot is starting to shift into high gear, with yesterday's release of 50 LimeBike electric cycles with wheel locks, and 50 non-electric Pace bikes (from Zagster) with built-in cable locks, plus today's deployment of 50 Ofo non-electric, wheel-lock bikes. And word is that Jump Mobility will soon be releasing a fleet of electric bikes with built-in U-locks.

"Out of all the big ideas," said Cole, "I think it should be free, and it should be extended.

Residents discussed whether they'd accept the Metra solution as a cheaper, quicker way to get rapid transit.

The advocacy group's annual Winter Bike to Work Day shows that all-season cycling is becoming mainstream in Chicago.