Grid Chicago Network

Grid Chicago is parked. Come join us at Streetsblog Chicago!

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 09:00:12 -0500

[flickr]photo:8404278778[/flickr]

We’ve come to the end of our journey with Grid Chicago, but we’ve embarked on a new one with Streetsblog Chicago. Since June 2011 we’ve had a great time covering Chicago’s burgeoning sustainable transportation scene on this website, and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading about it. Grid Chicago is going dormant but the site will remain online as an archive. Feel free to browse our older articles about walking, biking and transit issues under the first two years of the Emanuel administration. Hopefully these posts will serve as a useful record of this exciting period in our city’s history.

As of January 22, 2013, Steven Vance and John Greenfield are writing Streetsblog Chicago, the latest addition to the Streetsblog family of transportation news websites. We’ll be publishing more frequently about a wider range of transportation and public space topics, with more of a focus on late-breaking news. We’re also adding new features like Today’s Headlines, a round-up of transportation stories from a wide variety of local publications. We’ll also be posting articles from the Streetsblog network about U.S. transportation policy and issues happening in other parts of the country. We’re confident that the new format will help keep you better informed about local and national topics. It will also bring more attention to the movement to turn Chicago into a safer, more convenient and more fun place to walk, bike and take transit.

We hope to hear from you soon on the new website. Thanks again for joining us on this excursion. It’s been a great ride so far, and the road ahead looks promising.

First CTA Starbucks to open this year at North/Clybourn station

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:53:05 -0500

Does anyone else remember the dank, drab, dreary "L" station that used to sit at North and Clybourn on the CTA's Red Line? Well that's in the past, as the gentrification is now complete with Friday's announcement the CTA was granting its first-ever Starbucks lease for a space that's not even 1,000 square feet at the North-Clybourn station. From the CTA press release:

A total of 32 bids were received for the 776-square-foot location at 1599 N. Clybourn Avenue. Starbucks submitted the highest bid per square foot for the 10-year lease, with options to extend the agreement after the initial term. Annual rent for the first five years is projected at $75,000 per year with 10% increases at year six and at the beginning of the first and second year options. The third and fourth option terms will be determined by appraisal. The total 10-year base term lease is projected to generate $787,500.

Of course, the gentrification in that corridor has been happening for many years, with businesses such Crate and Barrel, the Container Store, and especially the Apple Store opening there. Apple funded the $4 million remake of the station house. And now Apple customers can get their lattes in the station before shopping at the Apple store.

CTA adjusts parking rates

Also on Friday, the CTA board changed some parking rates at its eight of its Park and Ride lots, depending on how busy the lots have been. Rates were decreased by $2 to a $2 daily rate at Garfield, Ashland and 63rd, 54th and Cermak, and 48th and Kedzie. Rates were increased by $1 to $5 a day at Halsted and Archer, 35th and Archer, 51st and Pulaski, and Kimball and Lawrence. These rates will charged beginning May 1.

Nashville Rolls On

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 13:02:21 -0500

I have a friend in Nashville and try to get there about once a year for a visit. He knows my insatiable desire for urban exploration, so tries to take me around to new places each time, which is awesome. A couple of my previous trips were documented in the posts “Impressions of Nashville” (from 2007) and “Nashville: Next Boomtown of the New South” (from 2008). As with previous visits, I want to highlight a few observations I had.

The first is, “What Great Recession?” Yes, Nashville surely suffered from this, and there’s a notable absence of private sector construction visible that testifies to that, especially in marked contrast to my first visit in 2007. Yet what you feel in Nashville is a sense of vitality and a sense of optimism. This is a place that hasn’t lost faith in its destiny.

I think that can’t be overstated in a city. It feels good to have the wind at your back. It feels good to be in a place where the people believe they are headed towards better days and towards a better future. Just like bandwagon sports fans, people want to sign up to be with the winning team and while the future can’t be predicted, Nashville looks like a winner and its people believe they are winners. I can feel the difference in the air versus say even the best performing Midwest metros like Columbus or Indianapolis.

Nashville was the 12th fastest growth large metro in America in the 2000s, growing at 21.2% and adding 278,000 people during the course of the decade. Last year, like most regions, growth slowed, but remained healthy at 1.4%. During America’s “lost decade” of job creation, Nashville added 36,000 jobs. Nashville’s job growth last year ranked 5th among large cities at 2.4% or 17,400 new jobs. The sense of optimism is fully backed up by the numbers. Lots of places would kill to be performing like this.

Beyond simple internal growth, Nashville is an attractor city. People from outside want to move there and I’ve met many people originally from someplace else. While this is changing or diluting the culture – southern accents are in decline in various precincts, for example – in ways some might not like, as I’ve noted before, having a critical mass of outsiders is very important to urban success.

The driver of this seems to be the music industry. I’ve gotten in the habit of asking people why they moved to Nashville. Music is by far the most common answer. (In fairness, perhaps this is something that’s de rigueur to say, and people don’t want to admit to having moved for more prosaic reasons). That industry is clearly key to the city. Not only is it economically important in its own right, but it draws media attention and even draws celebrities (not all of them country stars) to live there. Music is like a lot of other industries. It’s easier than ever to get into the game and I suspect most cities have a vastly better music scene than they did a decade or two ago, yet the peaks of the industry are also higher than ever, and Nashville is one of the peakiest of all.

The other thing music drives is tourism. Nashville is a big (but thankfully not too big) tourist draw. Again, this creates brand awareness and drives economic growth, but also exposes people to the city. I’d say that increases the likelihood of attracting people. My point of view on Nashville before visiting it would have been to assume it was a sort of hillbilly heaven, but I learned it was more cosmopolitan by visiting it. It’s a city I could actually live in. Drawing visitors gives Nashville the opportunity to tell its story and make a pitch for the place.

Nashville also is implementing some very forward looking urbanist policies. I noted before their form based code, high quality basic urbanism of the new development in the central city, and legitimate infill densification. They continue to up their game here, with a major rezoning that effectively eliminates traditional zoning in the downtown apart from banning heavy industrial use, and eliminates minimum parking requirements. That’s huge and we’ll see what dividends it pays over time.

Everything isn’t perfect in Nashville. My friend worries that if he ever lost his job, there would be few corporate opportunities available to someone with this skill profile. Nashville doesn’t yet have the large and diverse employer set of major cities, making planting your flag there somewhat risky outside of industries like music and health care. Assuming the city continues its growth, this will be addressed over time. But it’s something that should inform the city’s recruitment efforts. The city is very focused on trying to lure corporate HQ relocations. But trying to lure an HQ where there’s little overlap with the existing industry base might not be the best idea.

Also, Nashville suffers from a notable lack of quality in some areas. I previously mentioned their second class infrastructure standards. This place too often suffers from a southern “bare bones” feel, even in new development. Also, the architecture is extremely conservative. This seems not to have harmed their growth and perhaps really isn’t that important in the short term, no matter how much I might want it to be. Where I believe it makes a difference is over time as things age. If things are super-cheaply done and notablw mostly for being new and to contemporary style, they may lose their appeal over time and end up as struggling redevelopment zones 20-30 years down the road as so many other places have.

But that’s a problem for another day. For now Nashville continues to rock and roll, as it were.

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A Spring Saturday Bike Ride

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:00:00 -0500

Saturday morning, I met up with my friend Araidia for a brunch and thrift shop expedition. Of course, we biked, which was half the fun!

There are so many beautiful spring flowers in bloom, we each found one to match our helmets.

Araidia’s a purple Bern…

…and mine a pink Nutcase.

We chatted freely along the way, either riding side-by-side or dropping back into single-file when a car approached. The route and area were new to me, so Araidia led the way. Since she took us along a very quite path, there were few cars and no stress.

We biked through a college campus…

parks…

…and neighborhood streets.

Our destination was the Albany Park neighborhood. Once there, we enjoyed a Swedish brunch at Tre Kronor and thrifting at Village Discount Outlet, where I scored two dresses and three skirts (including an Elie Tahari and a Ralph Lauren) for $37 and Araidia found the awesome pink bag in the photos.

Here is a short little video of our ride through Albany Park. (The song is Jenny Mayhem, “All the World.”)

I returned home five hours after I left, feeling very good about my day – and entitled to some cake and wine after biking nine miles.

Did you spend some quality time on your bike this weekend?

A Spring Saturday Bike Ride is a post from Let's Go Ride a Bike and is only authorized to appear in our personal RSS feed.
For more LGRAB, follow us on twitter or watch our YouTube channel.

Tulips and a Dutch Bike :)

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:18:32 -0500

Spring is such a beautiful time of year for riding a bike! Oma enjoyed very much spotting so many of her homeland’s flowers during the ride home this evening.

I put her flowered basket back on for now. I could feel a substantial weight difference with the front rack and basket today, versus strapping my bag to the rear rack, but the basket set-up is worth it for the convenience and aesthetics.

The back street route I traveled was car-free for much of the time. Such a rarity in Chicago, which is why I’m happy to go 15 minutes out of my way.

Here’s a more representative “gritty” city shot. I think I need to start adding more spring color to my wardrobe. The tulips have inspired me!

I hope everyone had a lovely week of bicycling and is ready to begin the second half of April! :)

Tulips and a Dutch Bike :) is a post from Let's Go Ride a Bike and is only authorized to appear in our personal RSS feed.
For more LGRAB, follow us on twitter or watch our YouTube channel.

Are you going to the Severe Weather Seminar?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 15:23:00 -0500

Watch out for severe weather.

Still in favor of speed enforcement cameras

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:46:00 -0500

by Michelle Stenzel

The city council will be voting next week on the speed enforcement camera ordinance. In support of the measure, my husband and I submitted to Alderman Michele Smith the statement below.

Grid Chicago has provided detailed coverage of this week's committee-level hearing with lots of information about the proposed measure, which you can read in three parts starting with this one.

I encourage you to share your own opinions with Alderman Smith before the vote on Wednesday, April 18, as she is actively seeking her constituents’ input. You can call her office at 773-358-9400 or e-mail her at yourvoice@ward43.org .

___________________

We’re writing today to express strong support for the speed camera initiative. This is on behalf of ourselves only, but our opinions and thoughts are summarized in three posts I wrote for Bike Walk Lincoln Park on the subject, which are linked below, and I invite you to read those if you haven’t already.

Speeding is breaking the law, and we have the right to take steps to discourage people from breaking the law. If driving at excessive speeds in a heavy motor vehicle were not dangerous to other people on the street – whether in cars, on bikes or on foot – then we wouldn’t need speed limit laws at all. But we as a society recognize that there are increased risks of crashes and injuries at higher speeds, so the limits on speed are set. Citizens who don’t want to be ticketed by the cameras merely need to drive within the speed limit. It’s really that easy. (Actually, I believe that the drivers will even be given a 5-mph margin, so they only need to stay within 5 mph over the posted limit.)

As is noted in the second post, we believe the city can and should undertake various measures before installing the cameras, in order to help people change their behavior of speeding: People don’t know that the default speed limit in the city is 30 mph; fund a citywide campaign to educate people on that simple but very important fact. Make sure existing speed limit signs are visible. Place machines that tell people how much they’re going over the speed limit so they can start getting a better sense of whether they’re speeding or not. The city’s goal for the initiative should be 0 tickets issued and 100% compliance with posted speed limits. That would be a fantastic result, in our opinion, because our streets would be calmer, safer and more livable.

Very importantly, and this is something I address in the third post linked below, it’s crucial as a long-term strategy for the city to redesign streets in a way that encourages drivers to stay within the speed limit. That is, clear striping on every street, narrow travel lanes, curb bump outs to visually narrow the street, putting over-built streets on a road diet by removing a lane – these and many more design features are an effective way of keeping auto traffic at safe speeds without having to ticket people.

Finally, in any debate that ensues on the topic, it’s critically important to distinguish red light cameras from speed enforcement cameras. Red light cameras provide evidence to issue a ticket for running through a red light. Speed enforcement cameras provide evidence to issue a ticket for speeding. There are separate issues involved.

Traffic cameras to curtail speeding? Yes, please / previous BWLP post is linked here.

Let’s help drivers obey speed limit laws / previous BWLP post is linked here.

Intended speeds vs. design speeds of Chicago’s streets / previous BWLP post is linked here.

White Sox active commuter of the day

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 12:43:17 -0500

And the winner is…Susan, who was spotted rollerblading to work southbound on Clark Street this morning with a sweet Konerko jersey and Sox mussette bag.

Susan commutes on Rollerblades nearly every day of the year and should be commended for her safe, law-abiding approach. She also plays beach volleyball at North Avenue and is a huge White Sox fan.

Her 2011 blizzard commute? Cross country skis!

Go White Sox on their home opener! Hopefully, the Rollerblade mojo will work better than the Cubs bike mojo…go local sports teams!

Image Gallery:

A Friday Quiz

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 10:34:00 -0500

BikeSnobNYC posts a weekly "Friday Fun Quiz" on his blog, so I thought I'd offer up a Friday quiz myself. Its not meant so much as a test, but rather as an outlet to share some fascinating facts I recently picked up from "The Spring Classics," a coffee-table sized book originally published by "L'Equipe" in French in 2007 and republished in English by VeloPress three years later.

According to worldcat.org only 25 libraries in the United States have a copy. Lucky for me one of them is in Skokie, a ten-mile bike ride from my apartment. This was a most appropriate time to read it, the week after the Queen of the Spring Classics, Paris-Roubaix, won by Belgian Tom Boonen, joining fellow Belgian Roger De Vlaeminck from the 1970s as the only two riders in the 115-year history of the race to win it four times.

More than half of the 200-page book is photographs. They are interspersed with four or five page essays on the various Spring Classics written by five of "L'Equipe's" foremost cycling writers. They give short histories of Paris-Roubaix, Liege-Bastogne-Liege, the Tour of Flanders, Amstel Gold, Paris-Tours, Bordeaux-Paris and a few others. Just a couple years before this book, "L'Equipe" devoted an entire book to Paris-Roubaix, as it could to any of these races, most of which are over 100 years old. This serves more as an introduction to these great races for neophytes, rather than an in depth study. Still it was most worthwhile.

Here are ten questions (bits of trivia) from the book. Unlike the Snob I won't offer up cute and clever multiple choice answers. You're on our own:

1. Which French classic moved from spring to fall and in what year?

2. Which French classic was run in reverse for 14 years? (A two-point bonus if you know the years.)

3. Who was the first cyclist known as the Campionissimo and who invented the term?

4. Most of the classics were founded by newspapers as a means to increase circulation. What is the only one that is still publishing?

5. How many climbs are in the Amstel Gold and which is climbed three times?

6. Where did Coppi begin his 180 km breakaway in the 1946 Milan-San Remo, his first great breakaway that gave birth to his legend?

7. Who was the first Swiss rider to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France and the year?

8. What was the time limit for the first Bordeaux-Paris in 1891?

9. Who did away with motor-pacing in Paris-Brest-Paris and what year?

10. Who is the only German to win Paris-Roubaix?

This was the third book on cycling I've recently read that mentioned the practice of racers in the early days of the sport sprinkling nails on the road behind them to give their adversaries flat tires. According to "The Sweat of the Gods" the German rider Hans Ludwig gave advice on the best type of nails to use in a book he wrote in 1913. "The Spring Classics" mentions that the first four riders in the 1904 Paris-Brest-Paris were all demoted for various offenses, including tossing nails. "Ride and be DAMNED" also commented on the practice in English races in the '40s and '50s.

Though such a practices is no longer a factor, contending with dogs remains an issue. Hardly a Tour de France passes without a dog running out on the course and causing a crash. "The Spring Classics" mentions two such instances, both in Paris-Roubaix. In the very first edition in 1896 Joseph Fischer was able to escape his breakaway companion Arthur Lenton and win the race when a dog knocked Lenton down. A dog also brought down Bernard Hinault in 1981, but it didn't prevent him from winning the race. Hinault vividly remembered, "It was a small black poodle with a red collar. The only thing I didn't know was its name."

Nor is the book without its mentions of tears. A full page photo of Paul Sherwen accompanies the introduction he contributes to the book. It shows him with his head thrust back, eyes squinting and face cringing, splattered with mud at the end of the 1983 Paris-Roubaix. He said his mum cried when she saw this photo, "because she finally understood how tough the sport was that I had chosen." Paolo Bettini sheds tears of release after winning the 2006 Tour of Lombardy as a tribute to his brother Sauro, who had died in a car crash just days before. Fausto Coppi collapses in tears after losing out in a sprint in the 1956 edition.

Though the Classics venture no where near the Alps, as they are saved for the stage races, L'Alpe d'Huez still receives mention four times in the book, all spelled with the capital L. The toughest or most iconic climb or feature of a Classic is referred to as its L'Alpe d'Huez.

And for the answers:

1. Paris-Tours in 1951

2. Paris-Tours (1974-1987)

3. The Italian Costante Girardengo by Eugenio Colombo, La Gazzetta's race director

4. La Gazzetta dello Sport, created in 1896, the same year as the modern Olympics

5. 31 climbs with the Cauberg three times

6. The Turchino tunnel

7. Paul Egli in 1936

8. Four days to do 572 kilometers. The winner accomplished it in one day and 2 1/2 hours.

9. Henri Desgrange in 1911.

10. Joseph Fischer in 1896 thanks to a dog.

Ask for “yes” vote on speed camera ordinance

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:49:38 -0500

The speed camera ordinance passed out of committee Wednesday on a 8-3 vote, and it is scheduled for a vote by the full Chicago City Council on Wednesday, April 18.

Active Transportation Alliance supports speed limit enforcement by cameras for the same reason we support speed limit enforcement by police: Both work to reduce speeding, crashes, injuries and deaths. No one likes to get a speeding ticket, but it’s a great way to prevent speeding.

That speed cameras reduce speeding and crashes is a commonsense conclusion backed by research, but some just aren’t convinced. So let’s lay out the facts and de-bunk some of the excuses for opposing the speed camera ordinance.

Facts

Traffic injuries are widespread in Chicago: In 2010, an average of 60 people (47 in cars, 13 on bike or foot) were killed or injured every day in motor vehicle crashes in Chicago. Speed usually plays a factor. (Ironically, Alderman Graham missed Wednesday’s committee hearing because she was hurt in a car crash – thankfully, not seriously.)
Speed cameras reduce traffic injuries: An analysis of more than 90 studies assessing speed enforcement cameras in the Journal of the Transportation Research Board found an average injury crash reduction of 20 to 25 percent, with more effective programs reducing injuries from crashes by more than 50 percent.
Speed kills: Pedestrians hit by a car at 20 mph survive 90 percent of the time, but only 10 percent survive at 40 mph.
Chicago police made 19 percent fewer traffic stops and issued 30 percent fewer tickets last year compared to 2010. Police have limited resources for traffic enforcement, and speed cameras will help police address speeding without compromising other programs.

Excuses for opposing

Excuse 1: There is no proof that speed cameras reduce injuries and fatalities involving children.
Why it’s wrong: Research, along with common sense, shows speed cameras reduce crashes and injuries. And it’s not only about kids near schools, as some aldermen have argued. Just because the ordinance prioritizes protecting children doesn’t mean we should disregard seniors and other adults who are hurt in crashes.

Excuse 2: The city is installing thousands of speed humps that prevent speeding, so we don’t need speed cameras.
Why it’s wrong: Active Trans supports traffic calming, including speed humps, but speed humps aren’t appropriate for many streets. And it will be years before the city can traffic calm its vast 9,000 mile street network, leaving plenty of opportunities for cars to speed.

Excuse 3: Chicago should do traffic calming instead of speed cameras.
Why it’s wrong: It’s not either-or; we need both along with education, other types of enforcement and more efforts to reduce vehicle violence on our streets.

Does your alderman care about speeding?

Call your alderman today and ask him or her to support the speed camera ordinance. (Find out who your alderman is and get his or her contact information.)

If your alderman is one of the seven committee members who voted yes, please thank him or her. Here’s the tally of votes from Chicago City Council's Pedestrian and Traffic Safety Committee.

AYE
Margaret Laurino, 39th
James Balcer, 11th
Rey Colon, 35th
Michelle Harris, 8th
Richard Mell, 33rd
Ricardo Munoz, 22nd
Marty Quinn, 13th
Debra Silverstein, 50th

NAY
James Cappelman, 46th
Jason Ervin, 28th
Roderick Sawyer, 6th

NOT VOTING
Deborah Graham, 29th
Emma Mitts, 37th
Howard Brookins, 21st
Will Burns, 4th

Find Upcoming Cycling Events at the chainlink!

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:50:21 -0500

I'm heading north to do some bike dealer events and sales clinics for the next 10 - 12 days and ran out of time this morning to post "60 Second Cycling; Week in Review and Upcoming Events". Please visit the chainlink for a calendar of what's going on in the Chicago area this weekend. While you're there, consider becoming a member - it's a great resource for riders throughout the area! If you're into more long-term planning, check out Mike Bentley's Bicycling Links Page / Calendar. He has the inside scoop on all the great event rides happening throughout the Midwest. Don't forget about the 2012 Women's Cycling Clinic hosted by Higher Gear at Highland Park High School next Sunday, April 22nd. Keep riding and be safe! If you found this post helpful, share it on Google+, Facebook, and Twitter by clicking the boxes below the article title. If you like this blog, fan it on Facebook and follow me on Twitter by clicking the boxes below my bio.

Division St development’s height and neighborhood “character”

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 06:00:29 -0500

Last week I presented the villainous “density” and “parking”; today, I’m completing this unholy trifecta with “height.” Tall buildings, or really, any buildings perceived — fairly or not — as towering over their neighbors tend to inspire controversy at best, and legal vitriol at worst. Charlie Gardner at Old Urbanist recounts how a tall residential building in America’s largest unzoned city inspired a backlash and an ensuing setback ordinance. Closer to home in Chicago, another new development — while not nearly as tall — reflects similar issues.

Where a defunct single-story Miller Lumber building with a small front surface parking lot now stands, at 1815 W. Division (southeast corner of Division and Honore), Smith Partners is proposing a four-story, glass-paneled mixed-use building. Ground-level retail, presumably with storefronts facing to the street, will support 39 apartments, mostly one-bedrooms with a couple of studios and two-bedrooms sprinkled in. Thirty-five off-street parking spots will be built in a surface lot with egress to the alley.

This project has actually already been cut down from its initial height of five stories (and 42 parking spots), which was initially controversial because it allegedly did not fit in with the character of the neighborhood. On a scale writ large, this is the story of tall buildings in Washington, that city’s height limits and the current effort to loosen those limits. That height limit has been credited with creating an “exceptional” architectural character of the city and a supposed “European” character, although I’d call many of the ensuing ten-story office buildings built to conform exactly to the limits anything but exceptional or European. But I digress.

Miller Lumber’s stretch of Division is marked largely by three- and four-story buildings, residential buildings scattered amidst small commercial shops, restaurants and bars. Perhaps the most significant feature of this particular “pedestrian street” is its uncharacteristically wide sidewalks, which lend themselves to summer al fresco dining and plentiful urban greenery. Here, Smith’s original building would have risen above its lower-rise neighbors; the four-story will still be among the tallest buildings on the block.

But even if the old project had been built at five stories, though, I would have supported it. The lot is only a quarter-mile from rapid transit — the Washington region again offers an example of what we shouldn’t do with lots close to transit — and is located on a major, even chronicled, urban thoroughfare. The sidewalk currently is considerably narrowed for head-in parking spots; it looks in the plans like there will be planters instead, though I hope the planters won’t be as wide.

Maintaining the “character” of the neighborhood doesn’t mean running roughshod over neighbors’ concerns or indiscriminately permitting development. Poorly-designed buildings that don’t fit into the urban fabric, with seas of surface parking or blank street façades, for instance, should be carefully scrutinized. But when buildings are objected to solely on the basis of height, I think it’s important not to have a knee-jerk response of rejection. If a building taps into an urban neighborhood’s benefits (good transit access, wide pedestrian sidewalks and desirable geographical location) it makes a pretty strong case.

Some might argue that this would result in a fundamental change of neighborhood character: over the course of two or three decades, a formerly low-slung city neighborhood might rise vertically. But fundamentally, if there’s a market demand for it, then why is this a bad thing?

After all, to put it bluntly, if we don’t “sprawl” vertically, we’ll sprawl horizontally. A simplification, to be sure — but it’s something to keep in mind overall. Washington’s height limit may have created a beautiful low-slung cityscape, but it isn’t doing anything to keep the city affordable or encourage center-city density.

On a final note, I do find it interesting that the community worked for a taller building at the Ashland/Division site, while agitating for a shorter one here. In both cases, the original zoning is the same (B3-2 Community Shopping District); the former is a Planned Development while the latter is to be upzoned. I do wonder what prompted the difference — the former would have risen in an area surrounded by a number of empty lots, while this one is flanked by existing buildings and relatively less surface parking. Perhaps it’s a question of context, i.e. an eleven-story building at a street corner with lots of empty space around it feels less disruptive than a five-story building amid two- and three-flats?

Earth Day Activities 2012

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 04:30:04 -0500

With Earth Day fast approaching here are some fun ways to give back, and to learn more about this place we all call home.

Woodstock

The Green Box Boutique specializes in eco-sustainable and fair trade merchandise which is earth friendly and affordable. In honor of Earth Day the green box is having a food and wine tasting. In addition, there will be crafts for kids and eco artists.

To get to Green Box from the Woodstock Metra station head east on W. Church St. (Rt. 120), then right on N. Benton St.

When: April 21st
Where: The Green Box Boutique
108 N. Benton St.
Woodstock, IL 60098
Time: 12pm – 3 pm
For more information call (815) 337-7303 or http://justoffthetracks.com/2011/06/21/green-box-boutique-has-come-on-board/

Crystal Lake (Downtown Crystal Lake Station)

: Protect our Earth

There will be a Community Cleanup organized by the Crystal Lake Park District and the Crystal Lake Chamber of Commerce. come and help with this years spring cleanup. Volunteers will enjoy a free breakfast before starting work and will be treated to a hot lunch at 11:30 when the event ends. All tools will be provided and you will not need to preregister. What a great way to teach your kids about giving back. The park where this event is being held is a little further than the mile radius we normally adhere to.

To get to McCormick Park from the downtown Crystal Lake Metra Station head northwest on Woodstock Street, left on Grant St, left on N. Walkup Ave., right on W. Crystal Lake Ave., left on Pomeroy Ave., right on w. Virginia Ave. (Hwy. 14) Approximately a 1.4 mile walk.

When: Saturday April 21st
Where: McCormick Park
427 W. Virginia St. (Hwy 14)
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
Time: 8:30 am – 1:00pm (event will be held rain or shine)
Fee: Free
For more information call (815) 450-1300 or contact sbechtold@clchamber.com

Julie Ann’s Custard Stand

Earth Day Sundae - Worms in the Dirt

This Crystal Lake home town favorite will be selling a fun and delicious Earth Day Sundaes made especially in honor of the day. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the McHenry County Defenders ” a citizen organization dedicated to the preservation and improvement of the environment” www.mcdef.org/ What a sweet way to support this fine organization. Julie Ann’s is a little further out, but worth it. To get to Julie Ann’s from the Crystal Lake cleanup head east on Hwy 14.

When: April 21st & 22nd
Where: Julie Ann’s
6500 Northwest Highway
Crystal Lake, IL 60014
For more information (815) 459-9117 or http://julieanns.com/hours-and-location/

Des Plaines (Cumberland Metra Station)

Des Plaines Park District along with the Des Plaines Environmental and Energy Program is holding the 5th annual Earth day Youth Fair. Participants can take part in planting a bean and making a recycled craft. The first 150 attendees will receive a free 6″ evergreen.

To get to the Cumberland Terrace Field House from the Cumberland Metra Station in Des Plaines head southeast on E. Golf Ave., then turn left on S. Warrington. Allow approximately 13 minutes for the .7 mile walk.
When: April 21st
Where: Cumberland Terrace Field House
4265 S. Warrington Road
Des Plaines, IL
Time: 1pm – 4pm
Fee: Free
For more information (847) 391-5700 OR http://www.dpparks.org/ViewArticles/tabid/144/ArticleId/37/Earth-Day-Fair.aspx

Park Ridge (Dee Road Metra Station)

Park Ridge has two events planned in celebration of Earth Day, one on the actual day and one a week later so please check the days carefully as to not miss out on the fun.

The Park Ridge Park District will be holding an Earth Day celebration at Maine Park. Festivities include animal shows and
lectures, Eco-friendly fashion show, puppet show, Smokey the Bear, tree rope, raffle, Eco-friendly products and services, a live band and more. Come rain or shine as the event will be held indoors in case of bad weather.

To get to Maine Park from the Dee Road Metra Station head southeast on Busse Hwy., right on N. Dee Rd., right on W. Sibley St. The park is about .8 mile from the station.

When: April 28th
Where: Maine Park Leisure Center
2701 W. Sibley Ave.
Park Ridge, IL
Time: 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Fee: Free
For more information call (847) 692-5127 or http://www.prparks.org/events/earth-day-celebration

Park Ridge Park District will also be holding a clean up at the Wildwood Nature Center.

Wildwood Nature Center

Participants can help give back to their community by helping with the clean up of the woodlands, pond and prairie. Everyone is welcome, children ages 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult.

To get to Wildwood Park from the Dee Road Metra Station head northwest on Busse Hwy., left on Oakton, then left on Forestview Ave. This is about .8 miles or a 15 minute walk from the station.

When: April 21st
Where: Wildwood Nature Center
529 Forestview Ave.
Park Ridge, IL
Time: 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Fee: Free
For more information call (847) 692-3570 or visit http://www.prparks.org/events?page=3

Chicago

Lincoln Park Zoo is celebrating Earth Day with special animal presentation every hour from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm both Friday and Saturday. Guest can also plant seeds to take home and plant in their own backyard. Visit the nature Boardwalk for this fun and free activity.
When: April 22nd and 23rd
Where: Lincoln Park Zoo
2001 N. Clark St
Chicago, IL
Fee: Free
For more information http://www.lpzoo.org/magazine/articles/animal-enrichment-earth-day

The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is hosting an Earth Day Concert – Children of the Earth with Joe Riley. Children will have fun listening to the music while they learn about the environment. The program is interactive and sure to delight your little ones. Registration is recommended.
When: April 21st
Where: Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum
2430 N. Cannon Dr.
Chicago, IL
Time: 11:00am
Fee: Children $10 Adults $15
For more information call (773)755-5100 or http://www.naturemuseum.org/cgi-bin/calendar.pl?view=Event&event_id=12693&datestring=20120421

Chicago’s Speed Camera Follies

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 00:01:39 -0500

This past Wednesday’s hearings in front of the Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety on the speed camera ordinance (or should we call it by it’s new and improved name the “Children’s Safety Zone Ordinance”) produced a lot of news for the local media.

As far as TV news, the always dependable Chicago Tonight had a nice discussion and explanation on the issue (see video above).

Ald. Scott Waguespack (32nd) was all over the television and radio the past few days. As one of the few voices against the speed cam bill, he’s become the go to guy on trying to push the city to have a more comprehensive view of improving traffic safety instead of just putting up more cameras.

The alderman was interviewed on WLS TV and WGN TV News, as well at the center of a Sun-Times story that reported that since 2005, over 10,000 speed humps (6000 on streets and 4000 in alleys) have been installed city wide. The alderman’s contention is that speed bumps work to slow traffic around schools and therefore blanketing the city with speed cameras is unnecessary.

Then Thursday morning, Waguespack was on with WLS 890 AM’s Don Wade & Roma to discuss the issue.

Local pedestrian and bicycle transportation group, Active Transportation Alliance, to no one’s surprise came out strongly in favor of speed cameras and actually provided some of the information slides for CDOT Commissioner Gabe Klein’s hearing presentation.

But, just to balance things out, Chicago Current publisher Geoff Dougherty did a story about a UK study that showed that speed cameras had no or little impact on reducing serious crashes.

Here’s Chicago Current’s piece, “Study: Speed cameras fail to curb serious crashes.”

The Toronto Harbour Islands (and their cargobikes!)

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:38:00 -0500

Toronto has a little archipelago of sand bar islands just offshore from the center of the business district, with residential neighborhoods, a popular summer amusement park, lakeside beaches, and the (apparently not very popular among the islanders) Toronto City Airport. Ferries connect Ward's Island to the mainland year round and others during the summer season.

Here's a view of the ferries and a photo of Toronto as seen from Ward's Island.

Could this be a nice place for your boat?

The ferry might be the best part...

...but it isn't! There are cargo bikes all over the island!

From what we heard, there is a bike welder on the island who makes these wonderful creations out of old bits and pieces, shopping carts, and lots of creative design sense.

Cars are used there for deliveries and utility repairs but generally the residents use bikes to carry everything to and from the center of the city. Bike paths go everywhere and there's no car traffic to avoid.

Necessity is the mother of invention!

If your bike bell just doesn't attract enough attention, why not just replace it with one from a tram?

We think this might be the bike builder's lair.

We'd love to know what it's like to live on these islands. It looks so idyllic now in the off season, but when the summer comes and the amusement park fills with the rest of Toronto's population, is it like living on Navy Pier in Chicago?

If you live on the islands, know about these bikes, or have any other suggestions, please pop a comment below!

Convert Your Skirt!

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 20:31:54 -0500

This morning, I met up with my friend Elizabeth at Heritage Bikes for a quick breakfast before continuing on to work. Bikes and coffee and friends is a lovely way to start the day!

While there, I met Sarah, one of Elizabeth’s high school friends visiting from Berkeley. She showed us her clever creation, a restrictive pencil skirt that she made bike-able by replacing the side seams with zippers and sewing in extra fabric.

The surprise pop of color is so fun!

At the office, you’re wearing a regular pencil skirt and then before getting on you bike at the end of the day, you unzip the sides and viola. Here’s a short demonstration video.

Sarah has a website, Skirts on a Bike, where you can download instructions on how to convert your own skirt. She plans to start selling kits complete with zippers and fabric in the future.

I have a few pencil skirts and dresses that I love but rarely wear due to not being able to ride my bike with them. I think it’s time to convert some skirts!

Has anyone else tried something like this?

Convert Your Skirt! is a post from Let's Go Ride a Bike and is only authorized to appear in our personal RSS feed.
For more LGRAB, follow us on twitter or watch our YouTube channel.

CTA scuttles no-bid deal for Bombardier rail-repair facility

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:07:11 -0500

If you missed the Tribune's exclusive story today about how the CTA was thatclose to giving a no-bid, $300 million contract to Bombardier to build a rail overhaul facility on the South Side, then you must give it a read. Yes, that's the same company that is producing 704 new rail cars for the CTA - production that had to be halted until Bombardier fixed problems with the wheel housings on the rail cars. From the Tribune story:

First word of the previously undisclosed discussions with Bombardier comes as Emanuel is asking the City Council to give him broad authority to partner with the private sector to build everything from schools and sewers to ports and railways. The details uncovered by the newspaper highlight both the potential benefits and pitfalls of such public-private partnerships.... Emanuel's press office repeatedly refused to answer questions about what involvement the mayor had in the Bombardier discussions. On Tuesday his top spokeswoman would only acknowledge the mayor was initially attracted to the Bombardier plan because of potential jobs. She said the mayor soured on the idea because of the no-bid aspect, without saying when that happened. "The mayor doesn't do sole-source deals," said Emanuel communications director Sarah Hamilton. "It was a nonstarter. It was never going to happen."

Nice job on this story by Jon Hilkevitch and David Kidwell. And they give some back story on how the story unfolded here. Also, in case you missed it today, Jack and Scooter, your two favorite CTA Tattler commenters, discuss the story in this thread.

Get a free ticket to the biking event of the summer

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 15:01:37 -0500

Want to help Active Trans promote MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive and get a free ticket to ride?

Active Trans invites you to join our street team. No uniform required--just your time and energy to help inform people in your community about MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive on Sunday, May 27.

Bike the Drive is a fun, annual event that helps Chicago continue to expand its cycling community.

Bike the Drive takes cycling – usually considered to be an individual activity – and transforms it into a communal experience. The event is a great opportunity for families, friends, co-workers, and individuals of all ages and abilities to spend time together.

To volunteer or learn more, please contact Ed Weigel at edward.weigel.j@gmail.com. Be sure to indicate the neighborhoods or the suburban communities you’d like to volunteer.

The House proposes painful cuts to transportation, but the Senate still has a chance to repair them now

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 12:25:46 -0500

Senate Appropriations Committee members list. Take action if you see your state listed.

Alabama – Richard Shelby
Alaska – Lisa Murkowski
Arkansas – Mark Pryor
California – Dianne Feinstein
Hawaii – Daniel Inouye
Illinois – Dick Durbin
Illinois – Mark Kirk
Indiana – Dan Coats
Iowa – Tom Harkin
Kansas – Jerry Moran
Kentucky – Mitch McConnell
Louisiana – Mary Landrieu
Maine – Susan Collins
Maryland – Barbara Mikulski
Mississippi – Thad Cochran
Missouri – Roy Blunt
Montana – Jon Tester
Nebraska – Ben Nelson
New Jersey – Frank Lautenberg
North Dakota – John Hoeven
Ohio – Sherrod Brown
Rhode Island – Jack Reed
South Carolina – Lindsey Graham
South Dakota – Tim Johnson
Tennessee – Lamar Alexander
Texas – Kay Bailey Hutchison
Vermont – Patrick Leahy
Washington – Patty Murray
Wisconsin – Herb Kohl
Wisconsin – Ron Johnson

Just a few weeks ago, Rep. Paul Ryan and the House released their budget for next year, and it proposed painful cuts to important transportation programs that our local communities depend on.

The TIGER grant program that rewards innovative local transportation projects, funding for new transit systems, passenger rail funding, and the office of sustainable communities that helps our towns and cities plan better for the future all were either slashed or eliminated.

Mr. Ryan and the House made it clear — making much needed transportation investments in our communities is not a priority to them.

But there’s a chance to make things better: Senate appropriators are writing their budget right now and they need to know that we’re counting on them to put together a better budget for transportation.

If you live in one of the states with a Senator on this powerful Appropriations Committee, can you take a minute to send them a short letter?

The small TIGER grant program has helped more than 130 communities build innovative transportation projects that are often ignored by the federal or state government — projects that improve freight rail, help give people more options to get around, fix broken bridges, or make walking or biking safer, just to name a few.

As we wait for the House to take action on the big multi-year transportation bill extended yet one more time until June, they still have to decide how much money to spend on transportation each year.

While it’s important to find ways to reduce spending, many of these important programs are being unfairly targeted by House members who are out of touch with what their constituents want and need from transportation: safe places to walk or bike, travel options that let us avoid pain at the pump, and bridges and roads that get repaired before we spend money on new things we can’t afford.

Yet the House is proposing to cut or eliminate the very programs that help do these things.

Help us defend them by writing your Senator today.

Gala

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:28:00 -0500

So, should I wear a party dress with a compression sports bra and look trashy, or should I wear a knit 3/4-sleeve top and look underdressed?

Read this! "The Crisis in American Walking" series in Slate

Thu, 12 Apr 2012 08:24:43 -0500

The fabulous Tom Vanderbilt has kicked off a new series of articles in Slate entitled, "The Crisis in American Walking."

The first article ran Tuesday (April 10), the second yesterday and the third runs today. Part IV is "slated" (HA!) for tomorrow. Good stuff!

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