Chicago Mobility Collaborative
Chicago Mobility Collaborative
Thursday, March 16, 2023
6:00 p.m. — 7:30 p.m. CDT
2210 W Pershing Rd, Chicago, Illinois 60609 Chicago, IL 60609 (Directions)
McKinley Park Field House
You have the option to attend this meeting in person or remotely, though a portion of the meeting for table discussions will only happen in person. If you attend in person, an hour will be added to your total assignment pay.
We recommend that you register via this form in order to receive updates from the meeting organizers.
Reporting
Edited and summarized by the Chicago - IL Documenters Team
Free bikes for Chicagoans, plans for improved bike safety, skepticism from public

The 6:00pm meeting will be held both virtually via Zoom and in person at McKinley Park Field House (2210 W Pershing).
I wasn’t able to make it to the in-person meeting, so I am documenting remotely.
Meeting info: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/chicago-mobility-collaborative.html

Tonight’s agenda. Note the breakout tables section. Remote attendees may not be able to view that portion.
Source (PDF): https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/supp_info/chicago-mobility-collaborative/CMC_2023.03.16%20MeetingAgenda_FINAL%20(1).pdf https://t.co/waJHHy72fP


Garth Katner kicks off the meeting at 6:05pm and says there are a number of goals for this meeting
- make new connections
- learn about transportation/mobility challenges especially in McKinley Park area
- learn about transportation initiatives https://t.co/2Nd8bWAaRo

Dixon Galvez-Searle of the Southwest Collective, community group of the greater Southwest side (covering Archer Ave, I-55, Orange Line), talks about neighboring areas that are blocked by physical barriers such as freight lines. https://t.co/LRS3ljQAVt

The Southwest Collective does a series of family-friendly bike rides. They stick mostly to side streets, and rides last about 30 minutes. SC performs other services such as organizing farmers markets and clothing drives. Galvez-Searle notes that much of the area is car centric.

Galvez-Searle mentions some priorities for the area
- Bike safety on Archer Ave (infrastructure, speed improvements)
- Sidewalk design, repair
- Community input from folks on the Southwest side

David Smith with CDOT discusses current initiatives and 2023 plans
- Document/proposal in improving city bike-ability
- Connected network in entire city
- Learn to Ride program in Little Village
- SAFE Ambassadors https://t.co/bTjU61Ehce

Smith says CDOT has identified next 100 mile of (mostly protected bike lanes). Also:
- Edgewater area improvements
- Expanded protected bike lanes Downtown
- Kedzie in Logan Square protected bike lanes
- Commercial Ave in South Chicago streetscape
Couldn’t catch all said

Smith discusses the Left Turn Traffic Calming initiative: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/ped/news/2022/september/cdot-installing-left-turn-traffic-calming-infrastructure-to-impr.html

Smith says CDOT is introducing more traffic calming improvements around Kelly High School.

Smith says CDOT partnered with Chicago Works to improve accessibility at 100 bus stops (60 last year, next 40 this spring). CDOT working to identify next 100 bus stops.

CDOT says they are working on website improvements in order to communicate initiatives better with the public.

Smith mentions policy developments:
- Smart Streets ordinance
- Complete Streets
- Coordination between CDOT and IDOT regarding improvements to city streets that are overseen by the state

Smith highlights that CDOT wants the same as those in attendance – to improve safety and accessibility of transportation – and highlights the importance and power of working together.

Romina Castillo introduces the Community Tables portion of the meeting. Anyone can submit feedback in an online form. https://t.co/VG0CLWUEeD

Today, there will be three tables/groups:
Table 1. Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)
Table 2. Beyond the Bike Lane: How to build support among local businesses for bike infrastructure
Table 3. Walkshop: McKinley Park walking tour


Table 3 will actually be going on a walking tour of the area to discuss bike infrastructure and pedestrian safety.

Castillo points out the SAFE Ambassadors in attendance. More info regarding the program that teaches folks to ride bikes in the City: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/supp_info/mayor_daley_s_saferouteambassadors.html

Zoom attendees will not be able to attend the breakouts. Looks like I will have to chill for about 45 minutes.

So the Zoom meetings were able to unmute themselves and chat, so some of the attendees are chiming in. The chat is disabled, though.

Zoom meeting attendees are mentioning:
- Buses are slow and unreliable
- More updates needed regarding BRT
- Want CDOT to explain why protected bike lanes are not better maintained
- Some CDOT initiatives are “half assed”


A Zoom meeting attendee says that CDOT doesn’t seem to have enough staff to adequately implement initiatives and update their websites.

Another person says CDOT needs to re-shift their focus away from drivers. Instead focus should be on improving safety for more vulnerable populations.

Meanwhile the camera swivels around so we can see the view of the meeting room. https://t.co/yVV2nj5WpT

One Zoom attendee claims that traffic engineers ignore that cars are designed to be at odds with other forms of transportation such as biking. They say they’re not receiving the transparency they need from these meetings.

Another attendee says that CDOT doesn’t have all the answers yet. It seems like meetings such as these are pivotal in the decision process.

Someone says that while protected bike lines are very popular, CDOT has continuously dragged their feet on them. They mention the existing ones (Kinzie, Dearborn) are not connected, which is bad design.

Same attendee says that it’s not enough for CDOT to push citizens to pressure their alders for action. It’s not enough. They are demanding more honesty, direction, and transparency from CDOT.

Some are suggesting that, when CDOT forwards people to their alders, they are saying their hands are tied in achieving progress. Everyone wants to see improvements, and it sounds like folks are not receiving information regarding who exactly is blocking initiatives.

Another attendee mentions that budgets can affect progress. “It may not be all their fault.”
Someone else asks CDOT to “play ball a little more” or “play politics” and to have courage to push for progress. They say it’s not that hard to make streets that aren’t killing people.

Someone mentions that drivers may not see from a cyclist’s perspective. More awareness may help. Another person claims that trying to educate drivers to be nicer is shown to be less effective than redesigned traffic infrastructure.

A Zoom participant says it will require a culture shift to move away from a car-centric society and that it will take a while.

Someone says some of the Left Turn Traffic Calming infra is already damaged. For example, some bollards are broken/missing and are not being replaced.

A Zoom attendee says that the pace of progress needs to be quadrupled. “People are dying. It needs to be changed now.”




Someone says they’re surprised by the budget in Chicago Works 5 year plan: Under Complete Streets bucket ($618 million 2023-2027), only 24% allocated for Complete Streets bikeways, Vision Zero improvements. 68% going to beautification (streetscapes)

Chicago Works 2023-2027 budget document, see starting page 16: https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/obm/supp_info/2023Budget/2023-2027%20Chicago%20Works%20Program.pdf


A Zoom commenter says that, compared to other cities and countries, Chicago and the United States in general cannot rely on the kindness and awareness of drivers. Instead, they have to rely on the infrastructure itself to help ensure safety.

Even though the folks in the Zoom weren’t able to attend in person and join the discussion tables, there was still an earnest discussion among about 7 people.
It’s not clear if CDOT intended the Zoom meeting folks to have their own “table”, but it was an interesting outcome.

During the Regroup segment of the meeting, a rep from Commuters Take Action says we don’t have true BRT in Chicago. They say their table was mostly in favor of immediately implementing one BRT to gather public input and reception.

Table 2 talked about bike infrastructure and local business. They discussed a pilot program for Complete Streets. In addition, they discussed gathering data to show bike infrastructure promotes local and small business. https://t.co/n48hkrZDCr

Another table talked about approvals process for installing bike infrastructure such as bike racks. Community-local rides were highlighted for spreading cycling awareness. https://t.co/u6wxaKoIVp

Table 3 went outside to take a tour of McKinley Park. Went up to Pershing Rd and industrial history of the area. They discussed how industrial areas/parks cut off geographically close parts of SouthWest side. “It is built for cars.” https://t.co/pIMf30WlQH

Table 3 action items:
- Archer Ave comprehensive planning across affected neighborhoods/wards
- Ensure City depts work together
- Biking/walking infra on Archer (and other streets) takes width of street into consideration. Archer is a long street that varies in width

Next CMC meeting will be Thursday, June 22nd https://t.co/2w8nROVVRB


This concludes my coverage for @CHIdocumenters. #CHIDocumenters
Please see https://bit.ly/chicagomobilitycollaborative for more information. Reply to this thread or DM me with any questions.
Free bikes for Chicagoans, plans for improved bike safety, skepticism from public
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Agency Information
Chicago Mobility Collaborative
romina.castilloguerrero@cityofchicago.org
See instructions for Google Calendar (using a link), Outlook or iCal.
The Chicago Mobility Collaborative (CMC) is a new public forum related to walking, biking, transit, public space, mobility justice, and accessibility. Four times a year CMC will bring residents and community organizations together with CDOT to help build a safer, equitable, and more accessible transportation system for everyone.