Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about Studies and Reports

The Bloomingdale Trail, aka The 606. Photo: Jeff Zoline

Study: The 606 Shows the Downside of Having Parks Nonprofits Lead Infra Projects

By Lynda Lopez | Dec 7, 2018 | 22 Comments

The authors argued that groups like the Trust for Public Land, which managed Bloomingdale Trail development, tend to overlook potential impacts on housing affordability.

MPC Study Highlights Importance of Transit for Attracting Businesses

By John Greenfield | Nov 12, 2018 | 13 Comments

The report also underscores the importance of getting the business community to support more funding for public transportation.

The only photo in the city of Chicago's online section about bicycling is this image of a cyclist helping another cyclist fit her helmet. Photo: City of Chicago

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How America’s Bike Helmet Fixation Upholds a Culture of “Unfettered Automobility”

By Angie Schmitt | Feb 14, 2018 | No Comments

It's not a coincidence that bicycling remains dangerous in our helmet-obsessed safety culture.

People of color make up a disproportionate share of "missing workers." But transit investment could help, according to a new report. Demos

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Transit Investment Can Help Close the Racial Employment Gap

By Angie Schmitt | Nov 20, 2017 | No Comments

By both improving access to jobs and creating new jobs, transit investment can connect people of color to employment.

Detroit's 3.3-mile QLINE streetcar, funded in part by a $25 million federal grant, saw ridership drop 40 percent after introducing a $1 fare. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

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The Problem With America’s New Streetcars

By Angie Schmitt | Oct 4, 2017 | No Comments

The new wave of streetcars should be recognized for what they are: economic development projects, not solutions to the transit and transportation problems cities face today.

When people who bike get behind the wheel of a car, their attitudes toward cyclists are influenced by the type of bike trips they make. Photo: John Luton/Flickr

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What Do Drivers Really Think of Cyclists?

By Stephen Miller | Jun 28, 2017 | No Comments

There's ample research out there backing up the safety benefits of streets with protected bikeways and slow car speeds. But what about the critically important yet less tangible factor of individual attitudes -- how does the mind of the person behind the wheel affect driver behavior toward cyclists? A new report from Portland State University looks at the question.

For London's mayor, reconfiguring streets for people is an essential goal, not a frill. Image: Mayor's Draft Transport Strategy

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London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s Transportation Vision: Add a Million People While Cutting Traffic By 3 Million Miles Each Day

By Stephen Miller | Jun 21, 2017 | No Comments

London Mayor Sadiq Khan's transport strategy for the next 25 years lays out a vision for how his city, expected to add 1.5 million people by 2041 on top of its current 9 million residents, is planning to keep moving while reducing pollution and improving quality of life. The big idea: Cars are the problem, not the solution.

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Boston Survey Suggests Approaches to Bikeway Design That Will Appeal More to People of Color

By Stephen Miller | Jun 7, 2017 | No Comments

A new survey conducted in Boston's Roxbury neighborhood shows that while people across different racial groups like protected bike lanes, there are variations in preferences that should inform design.

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Global Street Design Guide Now Available Free Online

By Stephen Miller | May 19, 2017 | No Comments

As of this week, the Global Street Design Guide, a handbook for cities around the world to design safe, sustainable streets, is available to the public as for free online.

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It’s Hard to Overstate the Health Benefits of Biking to Work

By John Greenfield | Apr 24, 2017 | No Comments

A massive new study of commuters in the United Kingdom reveals that people who bike to work tend to live longer and are at lower risk of heart disease and cancer. While the study establishes correlation but doesn't prove causation, the size of the sample and the magnitude of the effects strongly suggest that biking to work can yield major health benefits.

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