Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Lori Lightfoot

The moment before the police first shot the man they were trying to arrest for crossing between cars. Image: Michael McDunnah

Police decision to arrest a man for breaking a minor CTA rule ends in tragedy

By John Greenfield | Feb 29, 2020 | No Comments

Lightfoot needs to order the police need to stay focused on behavior that's actually dangerous, instead of escalating petty offenses into encounters with the potential for violence.

Motorists illegally drive in downtown Loop Link bus lanes. Photo: Kevin Zolkiewicz

Lightfoot’s crackdown on bus and bike lane violations is a step in the right direction

By John Greenfield | Feb 19, 2020 | No Comments

A new ordinance would allow parking aides to photo violations of bus and bike lanes and mail the tickets, even scofflaws try to escape the fine by driving away.

Police on New York's MTA. Photo: Caitlin Plauf via Streetsblog NYC

Caveat to Lightfoot: Over-police the CTA and you may face NYC-style subway protests

By John Greenfield | Feb 3, 2020 | No Comments

If additional policing leads to the criminalization of more people of color and low-income residents, don't be surprised if the response is hundreds of angry Chicagoans storming the turnstiles.

It’s official: After City Council approval, Gia Biagi is now the new CDOT chief

By John Greenfield | Jan 15, 2020 | No Comments

Bia's responsibilities will include studying, and possibly implementing congestion pricing, and helping to speed up bus service.

There should be physically protected bikeways on every major Chicago street. Photo: John Greenfield

Let’s stop coddling drivers and prioritize building a citywide protected bike lane network

By Courtney Cobbs | Jan 8, 2020 | No Comments

Getting around Chicago on bike should be as safe, convenient, and intuitive as navigating the city by car.

The Riverview Bridge. Photo: John Greenfield

2019 was a year of new beginnings for transportation

By John Greenfield | Dec 30, 2019 | No Comments

In 2019 we got a new mayor who promised to use an equity lens for transportation decisions, the Divvy expansion deal, the scooter pilot, the fair ride-hail tax, and many other new developments.

An ultra-realistic rendering of the Cleveland-Chicago Hyperloop. Image: Jonathan Roth

Cheer up Clevelanders, the O’Hare Express is dead, and you can kill the Hyperloop

By John Greenfield | Dec 16, 2019 | No Comments

The story of how Elon's Musk's airport died an early death offers hope for Cleveland transportation advocates dismayed by Hyperloop Boondoggle.

Gia Biagi, right, at Studio Gang's West Town office. Photo: Studio Gang

Advocates laud Lightfoot’s pick of Studio Gang’s Gia Biagi as transportation chief

By John Greenfield | Dec 10, 2019 | No Comments

Biagi comes to CDOT from Jeanne Gang's renowned design firm Studio Gang.

ATA launches petition to counter Lightfoot’s opposition to South Side Metra plan

By John Greenfield | Dec 4, 2019 | No Comments

Sign the petition to help convince the mayor to stop stonewalling the proposal by her former mayoral rival Toni Preckwinkle.

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Once again Chicago leads the way, passing a tax to help get Uber and Lyft under control

By John Greenfield | Nov 26, 2019 | No Comments

Meanwhile a new Reuters report shows that although Uber claimed it opposed the tax for equity reasons, it quietly raised price on UberPool in Chicago this year, which is disproportionately used by lower-income residents.

Jacky Grimshaw, Oboi Reed, Julio Rodriguez, and Leslé Honoré.

What do transportation advocates of color think of Lightfoot’s ride-hail tax plan?

By John Greenfield | Nov 22, 2019 | No Comments

CNT's Jacky Grimshaw, Oboi Reed from Equiticity, Julio Rodriguez from the Northwest Side Housing Center, and Leslé Honoré from K.L.E.O. weigh in on the mayor's plan.

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