WE NEED YOU TO SUBMIT WITNESS SLIPS.

Please use the following link to create witness slips for SB3478.

By 3:30pm on Wednesday 3/25:

• Please sign as "Self" in the firms/business field;

• "Proponent;" and

• "Record of Appearance only"

We’ve got a how-to on filing witness slips this session. Use our video to learn how to file a witness slip to support safe streets legislation.

You can read our full press release on our website! bikegridnow.org/in-the-news/ Many thanks to you all for you continued support!

Share the social media posts on Instagram, Bluesky, and Reddit!

Chicago Bike Grid Now Steering Committee

Charna, Sahal, Alyssa, Chris, and Nik

October 15th we’ll be jamming in support of a new greenway on Granville crossing the 40th and 48th Wards. Meet at 5:15pm at Winnemac Park. Roll at 5:30pm. We’ll end at the Granville Traffic Safety meeting at 6300 N Ridge Ave.

THE BACKGROUND PLOT:

In a traffic study, CDOT found that drivers speed excessively along Granville and that the width of the road encourages risky driving. The study also found that Granville is one of the few roads that could serve as an East-West connector for cyclists and the CTA. So CDOT proposed a Granville greenway from Sheridan to the river. But a small group of neighbors is trying to block it.

We need to help educate neighbors on how the excessive traffic is making the neighborhood less safe, increasing pollution, and point out that bike lanes increase property values. We’re showing out to support the development of a Granville Greenway and demand city officials to prioritize cyclists’ safety over drivers’ perceived convenience. Come out and jam!

CALL FOR MARSHALS

If you want to help keep our rides safe, find a rider in a stylish safety vest at the next ride and ask if you can pair up with them to learn the ropes of marshaling. You can also hit us up by replying to this email if you’re interested or posting in our Slack. We’ll get you paired up with an experienced marshal ahead of time.

BIKE BUSES GO THRU HALLOWEEN, THEN HIT PAUSE IN NOVEMBER

Come in your spookiest Halloween ensemble for our last Wednesday bike bus of the month on October 30th. Whimsy required.

Bike buses will be on PAUSE for the month of November. We’ll be taking some time to hone our bus strategy; then we’ll be back to haunt the roads once more.

POLITICKING FOR A BIKE GRID

We’re whipping up strategic plans to tackle bike grid legislation and funding at the city, state, and community levels. And we need YOU!

Join us if you’re into politics, have graphic design experience, can help gather data, or want to find out what you can contribute. Reply to this email and we’ll get you plugged in.

VOTE FOR BIKEABLE WALKABLE SCHOOLS

You can vote (and volunteer!) for candidates that prioritize safe biking and walking conditions for Chicago’s 600+ schools. Find your district and see which candidates have signed on. Anyone who lives in Chicago can - and should- vote! To get involved, contact grassroots@bikegridnow.org.

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION SUMMIT

CBGN is part of the host committee for the Chicago Sustainable Transportation Summit, a convening on October 15 of Alderpeople, State Legislators, advocates, and organizers to discuss a shared roadmap for achieving world-class connectivity. The hope is that this leads to a sense of shared vision and collaboration between our State and City governments.

BIKE GRID MAKES FRONT PAGE NEWS

The Chicago Sun-Times ran a front page article on cyclists’ safety last month featuring Bike Grid Now organizers Alyssa Edes and Rony Islam. The choice to focus on bike safety in the press shows how far we've come in pushing this issue to the forefront of conversation in Chicago and that is well worth celebrating.

However, the framing of the article in part suggests that the City’s progress in creating new bike infrastructure successfully approaches the urgent need for safer streets. It also suggests that the City is close to achieving Vision Zero Chicago, a plan that promises to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries by 2026.

The statistic the Sun-Times relies on to emphasize the extent of the City’s progress is one that became outdated just days after printing: that only one Chicago cyclist died in a traffic crash in 2024, according to CPD data.

Such a narrow statistic misses the point that death is not the only – or even most accurate – measure of cyclists’ safety. What it doesn’t count:

• The more than 1,200 cyclists reported hit by vehicles so far this year.

• The 8 percent of those who suffered incapacitating injuries at the scene.

• The cyclists who later died in the hospital.

• Those who never called the police.

• Untold numbers of near-misses.

• The stress cyclists carry of being on constant high alert.

• The terror, pain, and trauma of nearly being killed by a car.

Yes, the protected bike lane on Kedzie Ave on the short stretch between Elston to Diversey in Avondale does make a meaningful difference in moving through a nerve-wracking, car-dense area. We did not have almost any infrastructure like that 11 years ago, so even the small changes from then to now are a relief.

But they’re not enough in a city ranked number two for worst traffic in the country. Protected bike lanes still spit cyclists out onto dangerous roads with no protection once they end, and the City’s implementation of bike safety measures is slow.

Chicago needs to invest in affordable, quick-build solutions like placing planters, jersey barriers, traffic barrels, or even small boulders in strategic places to help to calm traffic on residential streets. It needs to install more flexible post bump outs to keep drivers out of crosswalks and intersections, and bollards at park entrances to keep cars off pedestrian paths. Meanwhile, the City needs to push harder on permanent solutions – like concrete curb extensions, roundabouts, bus islands, raised crosswalks, bike-and-pedestrian plazas, and narrower high-traffic roads. We need a connected network – a grid – of streets that slow cars down and prioritize cyclists and pedestrians.

We told all this and more to the Sun-Times. It’s not the story they ran.

ICYMI

BRIDGEPORT JAM: We brought neighborhood folks out to jam from Bridgeport to neighboring McKinley Park last month to highlight the lack of safe streets connecting the neighborhoods across Bubbly Creek. Cyclists are forced to take either Archer Ave or ride down Halsted and 35th St. These are all high traffic lanes with no protection in a crucial area for folks who have to commute by bike along these dangerous routes every day. We want to work with Alders Nicole Lee and Julia Ramirez to increase safety across Ward lines.

DICKENS GREENWAY JAM: We jammed the Dickens Greenway and Landing for the THIRD TIME last month after news that Alder Timmy Knudsen and CDOT are – as Streetsblog put it – “caving to motorheads by giving Dickens bike-ped plaza back to dangerous cut-through traffic.” The move comes less than a year after the City completed the project, funded by $1 million in profits from Divvy riders. How much will it cost to undo it and make the space for vulnerable road users? Sign our petition to rebuke this misuse of taxpayer dollars and shared road space.

OCTOBERTEST (*NOT FEST) 

OktoberTest is a challenge put on by the organization GoodForUs.Org to help folks drive less and use more active mobility. Participants are tracking their progress this October and the results will help show policy-makers they should invest in infrastructure that supports public health and mitigates fossil fuel emissions. It’s not a competition buuuuut Bike Grid Now organizers participating in the challenge are in the lead. If you want to jump in late but not too late, sign up here.

6:15pm Monday Sept 16

Jonquil Park Tell the city that low-stress greenways mean low-traffic greenways!

https://bit.ly/dickens-landing

Are we really half way through the summer, already?! Before another season slips by, here’s what’s cooking on the Grid. 

We’ve got some great stuff in progress, and a righteous mission, and a Bike Grid that won’t build itself. That’s where you come in, dear reader. 

Unveiling our Steering Committee: 3 organizers take the helm

In our last newsletter, we shared the news about our work on a new and improved leadership structure. We’re thrilled to announce our Steering Committee is finally kicking off! Congrats to Alyssa Edes, Charna Albert, and Chris Gentry. We’re planning to add two more organizers  to the mix to move the Grid forward and execute our goals this coming year. Shout out to our founding organizers for bringing us through 2+ years of excellent progress, growth, and community building. We’re excited about Chicago Bike Grid Now 2.0. 

Among other things, we plan to make it easier for new folks to get involved.  If you’ve tried to plug in with us before and got lost in our Slack void, give us another shot to bring you on board. 

Shoot us a note at grassroots@bikegridnow.org. Let us know what brings you to us, and what you might like to get involved in – politicking with alders and local officials, design, social media, comms, event planning, bikeable schools, and whatever else you might be dreaming of. 

Bike Grid Adjacent:

Taking Down the Highway on the Lakefront 

Gridders pulled off a massive, months-long feat organizing  15 alders, plus a host of ally organizations to call on  the Illinois Department of Transportation to scrap a proposed redesign of Dusable Lake Shore Drive that would prioritize even more cars – instead of public transit, bikes, and pedestrians. 

The Chicago Tribune published our open letter, “Aldermen: Halt all work on DuSable Lake Shore Drive project” and news orgs like Block Club picked up the story. . This is the most official notice from elected officials that IDOT is headed in the wrong direction on the lakefront.

But the fight isn’t over, and we need you to show out and voice your dissent on August 8 (3-7pm) at Truman College for IDOT’s public meeting. You can also info@ndlsd.org with your comments to be entered into the official record.

In June, we also helped organize a “lemonade stand” to ask roughly 50 Lakefront Trail users if they could envision the lakefront without a highway. Maybe it was the Country Time Lemonade, or the enchanting effect of a bubble machine, but not one person opposed a highway-free lakefront. Let’s support more of these kinds of fun, easy events; the feedback is pretty compelling. Email grassroots@bikegridnow.org and let us know you’re interested in more lakefront related community events.

Ride with The Bike Mayor on Monday, July 22

Yes, he’s known as the Bike Mayor; yes he’s running for higher office; and yes you can ride with him this Monday! John Bauters, the former mayor of Emeryville, CA is known for creating “the ultimate bikeable city” and he’s now running for Supervisor of Alameda County. Supporting this event sends the message that we want this type of bold leadership in Chicago.

Please note that this is not a CBGN event nor an endorsement by CBGN.

Tonight in the 40th

If you’re planning to attend 40th Ward Alderman Andre Vasquez’s Summer Jam Chi tonight, we’re hoping to get a group pic with the alder  and folks in the safe streets movement. Look out for Michael McLean to get in on the photo.

Bikeable Schools = one step closer to a Bike Grid

Rather than despairing about our presidential prospects, get involved in a local election flying under the radar. What if Chicago Public Schools had to audit the bikeability and walkability of every school and then publish a report of the results? We’d be taking a giant step closer to Bike Grid reality. The campaign is underway for our first elected school board in over 40 years and right now, we have an opportunity to make bikeability a priority amongst the field of candidates. Let us know if you’re interested in helping out! Email grassroots@bikegridnow.org and let us know you’re interested in Bikeable Schools.

Happy July, everyone – ride safely. 

Cheers, 

Chicago, Bike Grid Now!

Happy Spring, Bike Grid Enthusiasts!

While we didn’t completely go into hibernation, our newsletter did! But we’re back and gearing up for another season of making good trouble. Here’s some things we’re excited about: Pedal for the Planet, Jefferson Park Tour de Grid, New Leadership Structure, Bike Jam Planning; Hope for Lakefront; and Hope for our Dysfunctional City Council; Bike Grid Expansion. Let’s dig in!

Pedal For The Planet

Join Chicago, Bike Grid Now! and CTU Climate Justice Committee for a pedal-powered Earth Day event to build solidarity for a just and sustainable city and planet. Take a bike bus from Lakeview, Hyde Park, or Wicker Park. See flyer for details.

Tour de Grid - Jefferson Park Edition on 4/28

We’re pumped to have our first Tour de Grid of the season in Jefferson Park. Get a glimpse of what could be, with the help of some political will. Meet at the Jefferson Park Memorial (near the CTA station) at 10:45 for 11:00 roll out. All the local alders and state legislators are invited, so we should greet them with lots of smiling cyclists.

New Leadership Structure

Part of our hibernation was due to the need for a new shared and transparent leadership structure, so we can empower more people to participate in making the Grid a reality. We are moving in that direction and hope to have a more robust and resilient structure soon. Stay tuned!

Bike Grid Expansion

Plans are in the works to build alliances and support where we haven’t jammed or toured before; we’re always looking for community group partners throughout the galaxy, so hit us up at grassroots@bikegridnow.org.

Bike Grid Adjacent

Our Fragmented Bike Network is a Symptom. And there’s Hope.

While Chicago’s democratic machine has largely died off, we still have a system of government of fifty separate fiefdoms that was built for delivering city services and patronage jobs. When we have a patchwork government, we get patchwork solutions, like a fragmented bike network for example. Each alderperson’s power to veto any project in their ward is also why we don’t have Bus Rapid Transit or an adequate supply of affordable housing. These are symptoms of a system that isn’t equipped to address big challenges and opportunities in an equitable way. 

Let’s not advocate for a better system of government, let’s organize for one. Bike Grid Now will continue to organize events that build political will to build a city-wide bike grid. And at the same time, we should work to build a coalition of other change makers that are frustrated by our fragmented government. Between now and the municipal election of 2027 we can create a referendum on the fifty fiefdom system by giving aspiring candidates a compelling issue to run on. Learn more or reach out to hutcheson.nate@gmail.com to get involved. 

DLSD, the Lakefront, the Grid, and Hope for the Planet

Getting under the highway to get to the lakefront trail is not safe or pleasant because, um there’s an 8 lane speedway that severely restricts access. The speedway/traffic jam also degrades the quality and benefits of the open space. Just because Chicago made the mistake 60+ years ago doesn’t mean we should force future generations to live with it. This is a completely winnable cause, but we have to show politicians and institutional nonprofits that they're not sticking their necks out there alone.  

How do we do this? By getting lots of us together and stirring up some good trouble. Please spread the word about this movement-building event: The Lakefront and “The Lorax”.

See you on the Grid!

POWER GENERATION

Chicago Bike Grid Now is all about building a movement that empowers people to work together to create systemic change. There is so much impactful work to do (see Winter is for Bike Grid Work), but it can’t be done without lots of energized people, so we continue improving on our model of open-source organizing (be brave, be kind, be welcoming, be engaging, make it fun and use the buddy system).

If you’re reading this, but haven’t gotten involved, reach out to grassroots@bikegridnow.org. If you’ve participated in a bike jam, bike bus, or Tour de Grid, but haven’t gotten involved in organizing, reach out. There’s a role for everyone who wants to help make the city-wide bike grid a reality.

WINTER IS FOR BIKE GRID WORK

Nothing fuels our winter fires like the vision of getting anywhere in the city on a low-stress bike ride. Here are some of the tasty things we’ve got cooking:

• High School bikeability (Partnering with other orgs to survey and empower the next generation of street users.) 

• Changing the conversation about DLSD (Our lakefront and future deserve a process that isn’t led by people who like building highways.)

• Committee on Ped and Traffic Safety (Did you know it was a thing? Well it is and we’ve started working with them on a shared agenda.)

• Land Acknowledgement (The bike grid we’re working toward is on land inhabited by American Indian tribes; it is up to us to try to understand the context in which we’re working.)

• Getting more alders on board with the Bike Grid.  

• Doing outreach to place-based organizations, like neighborhood associations, local school councils, and chambers of commerce, especially on the South and West sides. 

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT KAM; IT’S ABOUT THE MOVEMENT

Advocacy is how we spend capital, but organizing is how we build it. When we, as individuals or as a group, try to persuade policy makers with reasoning and moral authority, we are effectively “spending” our influence. But when we are engaging and empowering more people, then we are “accumulating” influence.

We believe we can accumulate influence and build our movement by working with allies to show state and local electeds that we are thinking about the next election and that we want to help those that have championed the safe streets cause. We would love to see you at this  fundraiser for Rep Kam Buckner. If you can, chip in $50 to show what we can do together.

YEAR IN REVIEW- HIGHLIGHTS

We know 2023 isn’t over yet and we might still add to this list, but we wanted to reflect on all the things we did together to further our mission. We’re grateful to the community of folks who took part in it.

• We got the Bike Grid endorsed by candidates who won mayoral and aldermanic elections. 

• We shutdown DLSD THREE times

  • Jamiversary

  • NASCAR Jam

  • Jamapalooza II

• We launched neighborhood group rides - Tour de Grids

  • Tour de Grid- Far North Side (with Alders Vasquez and Manaa-Hoppenworth)

  • Tour de Grid- Near West Side (with Alder La Spata)

  • Tour de Grid- Far South Side (with Alder Lee and Rep Ma)

• Human Protected Bike Lane on Halsted

• Three bike buses every week, all year long!

• Did some fun stuff too:

  • Ran dozen of bike buses to Friday Morning Swim Club 

  • Co-hosted Danile Knowles, author of Carmageddon, with Active Trans and Urban Environmentalists at Revolution Brewing

  • Laughing Past Traffic comedy at AliveOne

Thank you! Now, let’s cook up some more good trouble.

We are excited to have comics and musicians perform who also bike our streets and know the joy of Laughing Past Traffic. No RSVP needed. No cover. All are welcome to join!

The evening will be hosted by David Feinberg with HILARIOUS performances by Maddie Daviss, Matty Merritt, Mo Burns, and Sage Huston. Pre and post-comedy tunes will be brought to you by Superfloss.

Come out and laugh with us, bring all your friends regardless of how they get around Chicago! If we can fill the room we will certainly be putting on more events just like this one!!

Please note that this is an indoor event where masking AND social distancing will be difficult. We look forward to hosting more events where that will be possible. Or join our Wednesday morning Bike Bus!

Press Release

EVENT DETAILS

TDG- Near South Side: Meet at 11:00 at SW corner of Palmisano Park, roll at 11:15

Lincoln Square bike bus: Meet at Welles Park Gazebo at 9:50, roll at 10:00

Austin Bike bike bus: Meet at SW corner of La Follette Park (N Laramie and Potomac) at 9:50, roll at 10:00

Hyde Park bike bus: Meet at NE corner of Kenwood Park (N Dorchester and 49th) at 10:15. roll at 10:30

Gage Park bike bus: Meet at SW corner of Gage Park (55th and Artesian) at 10:00 and roll at 10:15.

Join on of our Bike Buses that will head to the Loop, from Lakeview, Wicker Park, West Town, Austin, Pilsen, Bridgeport, and Hyde Park. Or meet us at Daley Plaza!

All Buses roll at 5:30pm, except Austin, which rolls at 5pm. Our marshals will do a lap around each park before rolling out.

• Lakeview - Jonquil Park

• Wicker Park - Ehrler Park

• West Town - Park 578

• Austin - La Follette Park

• Pilsen - Dvorak Park

• Bridgeport - Sintic Park

• Hyde Park - Kenwood Park

Our Bike Buses roll at ~10mph and our Bike Jam in the Loop will roll at ~4mph. Cargo bikes, road bikes, skateboards, rollerblades, recumbents, PEVs, all wheels welcome!

We look forward to jamming it up with you soon! If you have any questions please reach out to Grassroots@bikegridnow.org.

Why?

Because we like you! And, because Alderperson La Spata can shape and move policy. We want him to know that we’re here to help with and fight for the Bike Grid Now!

Tour de Grid Deets

See below to find a bike bus near you or meet us at Wicker Park (Damen/Schiller) at 10:00 on Saturday.

During the Jam, we stopped in front of Alderperson Carlos Rosa’s office and held our own Public Input Session. It was pretty clear that the over 100 people who turned up were in favor of protected bike lanes on Milwaukee. Surely not the kind of feedback the Alder’s office can ignore.

Send an email to ward35@cityofchicago.org and let Alderperson Carlos Rosa know that Milwaukee needs protected bike lanes and painted lanes are not enough to keep vulnerable road users safe.

Upcoming Events!

Tour de Grid on 9/9 - West Town Edition

Save the date! On the morning of September 9th, we’ll be riding with Alderperson and Chair of the Committee on Ped/Traffic Safety LaSpata (1st Ward) for the West Town Edition of Tour de Grid. This will be a ~10mph ride on a 9 mile loop will pass through six wards (1, 28,27, 37, 36, 26) and at least 5 different neighborhoods (Wicker Park, Ukrainian Village, West Town, West Jackson Blvd District, East Garfield Park, and Humboldt Park).

Our first such ride on August 6 (which we called Taste of the Grid) was an 8 mile loop through Wards 40, 47, 48, 49, and 50. Nearly 100 riders turned out and were joined by Alderpersons Vasquez (vice chair of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety) and Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth. Chicagoans should be able to experience connected bike infrastructure that is low-stress and fun to ride on. 

We’re looking to do more rides across Chicago as we build community support for the vision of a city-wide network of safe and slow neighborhood streets. We are also planning a crosstown ride connecting Rogers Park to Hyde Park. We’d love to hear from folks interested in helping plan these rides. Reach out to grassroots@bikegridnow.org.

Fall Equinox

Keep your calendar open for the evening of Saturday, September 23rd. Chicagohenge x CBGN.

Do Something!

Chicago, Bike Grid Now is a grassroots, people-powered movement of direct action and political engagement to make the vision of a city-wide network of safe streets a reality. We were founded on the principles of accessible action for everyone who wants safe streets. We are making progress and building momentum but there is more work to do. Please reach out to get involved. grassroots@bikegridnow.org

You can also support our work financially, as we’re always buying and printing things that will make us visible and our message more heard.

More about the Jam…

Robust community inputters! We are tired of the City drawing up plans that don't do enough to protect vulnerable road users.

Even worse? When they consider it and toss out protected lanes because...parking? It's challenging?

Unacceptable! It's time to jam it up.

The city is developing plans for a refurbished Logan Square Blue Line station... including bike lanes on Milwaukee to Belmont.

While the city did consider adding protected bike lanes, those plans were abandoned after "robust community input".

To top it all off, the "robust" community input comprised of 30 people. 13 of which said they wanted protected lanes vs 10 who said dashed lanes were enough.

Fatality and injury data is clear, dashed lanes aren't enough.

Even CDOT designs show a truck in the dashed bike lane!!

Pushing aside the concerns that vulnerable road users have over traffic violence is unconscionable as drivers continue to kill people at record numbers.

88 people have been killed so far this year. Over 150 ppl in 2022. We need to build better infrastructure.

Formal statement coming soon.

In the meantime, join Friday Morning Fish Club which rolls from Cafe Jumping Bean at 6:30am! Bring coffee, breakfast, fishing rods, or none of the above! But definitely bring yourself. Light refreshments may be provided.

You may have heard of our Wednesday morning Bike Buses to the Loop. But now…over the past few weeks we have been building up a new type of Bike Bus, Bike Buses to the Lake!

Join our Bike Bus to Friday Morning Swim Club OR join Chicago, Bike Grid Now’s very own Friday Morning Fish Club. We roll every Friday, including tomorrow, July 7th. Both Bike Buses roll out at 6:30am.

What’s Friday Morning Fish Club? It’s whatever you want it to be. It’s an a Bike Bus to 31st Street Beach where we can all fish, swim, drink coffee, have a donut, or hangout!

Bike Bus to Friday Morning Swim Club | Meet at NE corner of Horner Park | Roll at 6:30AM

Bike Bus to Friday Morning Fish Club | Meet at Cafe Jumping Bean | Roll at 6:30AM

Mark your calendars! We are celebrating one year of community, bikes, joy, and jamming it up. Hop on a Bike Bus or meet us in the Loop! It’s time to Jam. It. Up.

RSVP here to stay in the loop.

Upcoming Events

Bike Bus to Daley Plaza

Wednesday, June 14th at 7:45AM

Join our North Halsted, South Halsted, or Milwaukee Bike Bus as we roll to Daley Plaza to give City Hall a shout before the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety meet for the first time since the new City Council was elected.

Track the Bike Bus here: bikebustracker.bikegridnow.org

Bike Tour - How to Design for Bikes

Wednesday, June 7th at 5:30PM

Join us at 5:30pm, Wed. Jun 7, at Daley Plaza for a ~10mph bike ride around downtown Chicago as we highlight & discuss bike infra and design.

We'll see what works, what doesn't, and how we can design people-centered infra and plans that support micromobility. All wheels welcome!

RSVP here.

Bike Bus to Friday Morning Swim Club

Friday, June 7th at 6:30AM

We’re going swimming! Join our Bike Bus to Friday Morning Swim Club. We’ll roll from Montrose & California at 6:30AM and bike together to Montrose Harbor. Once we get a nice dip in the lake, we’ll roll back at 7:30AM.

CBGN Safe Streets Union - 5th Ward Street Talk

Wednesday, June 14th at 5:30PM

Join us for an open forum for discussing how to make our streets safer in the 5th Ward and surrounding neighborhoods for pedestrians, bikers, drivers, and public transit.

This listening and discussion session will be an opportunity to connect with neighbors as we build power, together.

RSVP here.

• Bike to the Blossoms - Join us as we bike to the cherry blossoms this Sunday (4/30) at 12:00 PM, starting at Ping Tom Park.

• CDOT Grand Avenue Community Meeting - Support better pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure on Grand Avenue, including a protected bike lane! Join us this Tuesday (5/2) at 6:00 PM at Smith Park Fieldhouse.

CBGN x Save Jackson Park: Bike to the Blossoms

Join CBGN and Save Jackson Park as we bike to see the cherry blossoms! We’re running a bike bus starting at Ping Tom Park this Sunday, April 30th at Noon, ending at Jackson Park. We will also visit ‘Redefining Redlining‘, a floral project by Amanda Williams, highlighting the historic & continued impact of redlining.

Save Jackson Park is a nonprofit fighting to preserve South Shore Nature Sanctuary. They want to keep green space, trees, bird migration pathways, and clean air in Jackson Park by stopping the removal of legacy trees. You can follow them on Facebook, follow them on Twitter, or donate to help their cause.

Redefining Redlining is an installation by artist Amanda Williams. In fall 2022, artist Amanda Williams, in collaboration with Emerald South Economic Development Collaborative, led hundreds of friends, neighbors and strangers alike in a mass planting of 100,000 red tulips. The bulbs were planted in the shape of the almost 2 dozen houses and buildings that should still occupy this site.  These tulip building footprints are meant to symbolize the value of the homes that used to be here, but more importantly the worth of the people that are here now and the beautiful black neighborhoods that can be here in the future.

Grand Avenue Community Meeting

CDOT is holding a community meeting for some upcoming improvements to Grand Avenue. The meeting will be at 6:00PM at the Smith Park Fieldhouse. Come show your support!

CDOT is looking to make a number of amazing improvements to Grand Avenue, including:

• Wider sidewalks and street trees.

• Improved traffic calming, including raised crosswalks, shorter crossings, and countdown timers.

• Protected bike lanes

• Improved CTA bus stops

We need people to show up to this meeting! Come and show your support for better infrastructure on Grand!

Other Events

Our weekly bike buses will be running this Wednesday at 7:30 am, ending at the Chicago French Market. Can’t wait to see you there!

• Saturday, April 22nd 11am -  Pedal for the Planet with CTU. 4 Bike Buses throughout the city and a bike jam from Douglass Park. RSVP: earthday.bikegridnow.org

• Sunday, April 23rd 2pm - Bike Jam to the One Earth Mini Film Fest where they are screening The Street Project. Free tickets for the screening: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-street-project-chicago-public-library-austin-branch-tickets-582685326497

• Tuesday, April 25th 6pm - Workshop/Conversation about building local power through community and neighborhood orgs and how to influence aldermanic decision making. RSVP: https://actionnetwork.org/events/post-election-conversation-how-to-build-community-power/

DuSable Lakeshore Boulevard

It’s no surprise that when you put highway builders, AKA IDOT, in charge of something, the result will be a highway. Chicago can and must do better. We’re going to push for the governor and the mayor to cancel this process with IDOT and start with a fresh perspective and higher aspirations. This is the beginning; join us by taking a small step.

Bike Grid Implementation

CBGN organizers met for a second time with CDOT to discuss possible ways to collaborate. While we believe that CDOT is trying to accelerate bike infrastructure implementation, it seems pretty clear that there’s still not enough urgency from City Hall and enough demand from communities throughout Chicago to use the quick-build tactics (see below) that we mentioned in our last newsletter. We are planning to organize a city-wide stakeholder group so that CDOT can hear from communities that want the benefits of being part of a city-wide grid.

The early stage, simple version as rendered above, would use concrete barriers to create chicanes.

Next iteration. A little prettier.

Thanks to the thousands of folks who have been part of Chicago Bike Grid Now’s direct actions and community activism, we have the attention of nearly all the mayoral candidates and at least 60 alder candidates! And we’re not backing off until 10% of our streets are connected by bike-prioritized streets or barrier-protected lanes. No matter how the election shakes out, we’ll have work to do, so get on your bike and get involved!

Support the Bike Grid Endorsers- NOW!

It’s amazing what a bunch of organized people can accomplish. It really is. Check out the endorsement page to see. 5 Mayoral candidates have endorsed the Grid and a whole bunch of alder candidates too. This is the time to get out and support candidates that have endorsed the bike grid, especially those facing less bike-friendly opponents. There are at least three alder races that where a Bike Grid endorsing candidate is competing with at least one unsupportive candidate. Their campaigns need boots on ground for phone banking, but you can also do your own promoting on social media and by personally reaching out to people you know in those wards to let them know why their vote matters. Three wards in particular— 11th Ward (Ambria Taylor), 39th Ward (Denali Dasgupta), 45th Ward (Susanna Ernst and James Suh) — have important races.

Safe Streets For All – Transit That Works Mayoral Forum

As part of a coalition with Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago Family Biking, Southwest Collective and other orgs, all the mayoral candidates except one (just guess!) discussed their sustainable transportation plans for an in-person audience of 200 and streaming audience of 600+. Such an important step to get them all on record.

What Would A Bike Grid Street Look Like?

The early stage, simple version as rendered above, would use concrete barriers to create chicanes.

Next iteration. A little prettier.

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