Yep, there’s a new logo! When I launched this Substack about 3 years ago, I whipped up the magenta bike rider logo quickly, and without much thought. Its ugliness has bugged me for a long time, so I finally did something about it. Hope you like the new look!
In other news, spring in Chicago always brings with it more urbanist events, group bike rides, and general advocacy around safe streets. You love to see it! This past month, I attended Life After Cars: An Evening with War on Cars and got to meet quite a few of you! I also attended Active Transportation Alliance’s Movers and Shaker Ball, where I was surrounded by people who care about the same things that I do (and have more money than I do). It’s always nice to be in good company.
If you’re able to this month, I really encourage you to take a look at the upcoming events at the end of this newsletter and make plans to attend something that speaks to you. It can be easy to feel like not enough people care about safe streets when we’re staring down social media comments from angry drivers, but getting together with likeminded people can help you remember you’re not alone. And you may even make a new friend!
Support building 355 new homes in Lakeview* If you’ve ever complained about rent, this one’s for you. More supply of housing means lower prices for all. And, denser housing helps support public transportation. The pre-written letter also urges the amount of proposed parking spots to be reduced.
Demand that congress oppose funding cuts to passenger rail* The latest White House budget proposal cuts funding for the Federal Railroad Administration by 81% 🙄. Tell your reps we need to invest more, not less, in passenger rail.
Support the Stop Super Speeders legislation Intelligent Speed Assistance (ISA) is a proven technology that can help prevent extreme speeding by ensuring drivers with repeated offenses stay within safe limits. Tell your reps to support it!
Support the Crosstown Trail, a rails-to-trails project connecting Montrose to Cortland I was previously skeptical of this project, due to fear of losing train infrastructure. But I’ve since had it confirmed that there isn’t potential for the rail to be used in the future, so converting it to a safe walking and biking path seems like a fantastic plan B to me!
Sign up for your alder’s newsletter to stay updated on your ward’s happenings Many, though not all, alder people send out regular newsletters to their constituents with ward news, community events, and other related information. They’re a great way to stay informed about local happenings!
Share your thoughts about transportation in Illinois The High Speed Rail Alliance, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Metropolitan Planning Council want to understand how you get around and how they can make that better.
Take a look at last month’s TLA, and do anything you missed.
Participatory budgeting (PB) is one of the best ways that I know of to get funding for projects like protected bike lanes and pedestrian safety improvements. Each ward handles it differently (with many wards not even offering it).
Happening now:
The 1st ward (parts of Logan Square, West Town, Wicker Park, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, Ukrainian Village, & East Village) currently has a survey out to help inform a framework for participatory budgeting this year.
The 26th ward (parts of Humboldt Park, Logan Square, Hermosa, West Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin, West Town) is accepting infrastructure requests—this is a great way to call out areas that need pedestrian or cyclist safety improvements!
The 46th ward (parts of Uptown, Buena Park, Lakeview) is accepting infrastructure requests—this is a great way to call out areas that need pedestrian or cyclist safety improvements!
Check if/when your ward is doing it in my PB in Chicago, by ward tracker.
Get outside, meet like-minded people, learn more about urbanism, and create community with these urbanism- and sustainability-minded events.
🪧 Counter protest for a safer Grand Avenue | Every Monday | Grand and Ogden (West Town)
✅ Canvass for Inner Lake Shore Drive Petition | Saturday, May 2 | Nettlehorst French Market (Lakeview East)
🚲 Bike Grid Now Bike Marshal Training | Sunday, May 3 | Union Park (West Town)
✅ Better Street Chicago: 2027 Election Workshop | Sunday, May 3 | Logan Square Library
🫂 Spring 2026 Volunteer Fair | Sunday, May 3 | Burning Bush Brewery (Ravenswood)
🚲 Evanston Rides: Adults | Tuesday, May 5 | Fountain Square (Evanston)
👩🎓 Chi Hack Night: Chicago Transit Authority | Tuesday, May 5 | i.c. stars (River North)
👩🎓 High Speed Rail Alliance: Shifting Modes With Russell King | Wednesday, May 6 | Virtual
📢 Committee on Zoning, Landmarks and Building Standards | Wednesday, May 6 | City Hall (The Loop)
🫂 Chicago Growth Project Volunteer Night: Shape the Future of Chicago Politics | Thursday, May 7 | Harold Washington Library (The Loop)
🎉 Urbanist Karaoke Night | Saturday, May 9 | Shakers on Clark (Lakeview)
🚲 Where the Wild Things Grow Chicago River Day Ride | Saturday, May 9 | Afro Joe's Coffee & Tea (Beverly)
🌿 Trash People of Logan Square: Community Clean Up | Sunday, May 10 | Belmont Tavern (Avondale)
👩🎓 Walkability From the Bottom Up: Tactics for Engaging Your Community | Wednesday, May 13 | Virtual
🚲 Thursday WTF Social Ride | Thursday, May 14 | BFF Bikes (Bucktown)
🚶♀️Walk all of S. Vincennes and S. South Chicago Ave. | Saturday, May 16 | SEPA Station 3 - The Falls (Blue Island)
🌿 1st Ward Clean and Green | Saturday, May 16 | Multiple locations
🚲 Connecting Neighborhoods: Solidarity Ride | Saturday, May 16 | Logan Square Plaza
📚 Strong Towns Chicago Book Club | Sunday, May 17 | New Wave (Logan Square)
🌿 Trash People of Pilsen: Community Clean-Up | Sunday, May 17 | Rosca (Pilsen)
🌿 Trash People of McKinley Park: Clean-Up & Cookout at the Skate Park | Sunday, May 17 | 1644 W 35th St ( McKinley Park)
🫂 Street Outreach Mixer: Care in Community Meetup | Saturday, May 21 | Humboldt Park Athletic Fields
🌿 EcoFest at Welles Park | Saturday, May 30 | Welles Park (Lincoln Square)
🚲 Evanston Rides: Family | Saturday, May 30 | Raymond Park (Evanston)
🎉 Strong Towns Chicago picnic | Saturday, June 13 | Hamlin Park (Lakeview)
What spring/summer shoes do you wear when you know you’ll be doing a lot of walking? I’m doing my work’s annual steps challenge, and thus walking a lot more than usual. My Blundstones are great when it’s cooler out, but they’ve felt like too much as the weather warms up. Sound off in the comments!
*When sending emails like this, it’s extremely beneficial to personalize them if you can—even editing one word in the subject line can make a big difference as it makes it harder for recipients to filter out the mass emails.
Comments
Nothing yet. Say the first thing.
Sign in to join the conversation.