Alex
@acannon.bsky.social
They’re passing a new law. Its called Ride Your Bike.
Chicago
Chicago
Pinned
Alex
@acannon.bsky.social
· Apr 28
Lincoln Square Road Closure and Accompanying Comments From The Local Facebook Page (April 2025)
Fantastic timing for the Mamdani admin to come in after congestion pricing is an established, proven success in NY, but still in time to ride a lot of that new momentum on the way to their lofty streets and transit goals.
January 5, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Fantastic timing for the Mamdani admin to come in after congestion pricing is an established, proven success in NY, but still in time to ride a lot of that new momentum on the way to their lofty streets and transit goals.
Last day of State/Lake operation until 2029
January 4, 2026 at 9:34 PM
Last day of State/Lake operation until 2029
Reposted by Alex
Strong Towns Chicago deployed my location crash report dashboard 🤝 @strongtownschicago.bsky.social
Use this to generate crash reports for intersections, corridors, or your own ward.
Best experienced on desktop
🗺️ www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...
Use this to generate crash reports for intersections, corridors, or your own ward.
Best experienced on desktop
🗺️ www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...
January 2, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Strong Towns Chicago deployed my location crash report dashboard 🤝 @strongtownschicago.bsky.social
Use this to generate crash reports for intersections, corridors, or your own ward.
Best experienced on desktop
🗺️ www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...
Use this to generate crash reports for intersections, corridors, or your own ward.
Best experienced on desktop
🗺️ www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...
Seems bad that like half my city’s municipal functions are headed by interim leaders with seemingly no timeline for permanent appointments.
I can count CPS, CDOT, CTA, CHA, (and Zoning Committee!) off the top of my head. Any others?
I can count CPS, CDOT, CTA, CHA, (and Zoning Committee!) off the top of my head. Any others?
The interim chair of the Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee is halting its meetings to try to force Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint a permanent head of the critical committee.
North Side alderman pausing Chicago Zoning Committee meetings to pressure Mayor Brandon Johnson to pick chairperson
The interim chair of the Chicago City Council’s Zoning Committee is halting its meetings to try to force Mayor Brandon Johnson to appoint a permanent head of the critical committee.
trib.al
December 31, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Seems bad that like half my city’s municipal functions are headed by interim leaders with seemingly no timeline for permanent appointments.
I can count CPS, CDOT, CTA, CHA, (and Zoning Committee!) off the top of my head. Any others?
I can count CPS, CDOT, CTA, CHA, (and Zoning Committee!) off the top of my head. Any others?
Sucks that from this winter on I’ll always associate Chance The Rapper’s voice with standing in the freezing cold waiting for my train to show up.
December 30, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Sucks that from this winter on I’ll always associate Chance The Rapper’s voice with standing in the freezing cold waiting for my train to show up.
Sucks that the Cool Zone on this diagram is functionally nonexistent in the US
December 30, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Sucks that the Cool Zone on this diagram is functionally nonexistent in the US
Going to balance the city budget off of Bears home playoff games
December 29, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Going to balance the city budget off of Bears home playoff games
I scored 90% on the Chicago local news quiz 2025! Take the quiz at: lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
December 26, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I scored 90% on the Chicago local news quiz 2025! Take the quiz at: lauriemerrell.com/chicago-news...
Reposted by Alex
New from me! Chicago has far too many bus stops to provide efficient service for its riders—nearly twice the national standard. I reimagined what Chicago's bus network could do to make it look like its peers.
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
A plan for faster buses
We can speed up the bus at (almost) no cost
citythatworks.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
New from me! Chicago has far too many bus stops to provide efficient service for its riders—nearly twice the national standard. I reimagined what Chicago's bus network could do to make it look like its peers.
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
citythatworks.substack.com/p/a-plan-for...
Reposted by Alex
Speed Matters.
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Speed matters
Of time, life and space. Or why transit speed matters.
open.substack.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:09 AM
Speed Matters.
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Some thoughts about transit and speed, life, space and time.
open.substack.com/pub/marcochi...
Reposted by Alex
The CTA told me traffic keeps wasting bus operator time so I asked how many bus operators they have and they said they just go to the job fair and get a new operator afterwards so I said it sounds like they're just feeding bus operators to traffic and then bus riders started crying.
All for more bus drivers but what they really need are dedicated lanes. Otherwise we get into diminishing returns territory pretty quickly.
December 21, 2025 at 10:31 PM
The CTA told me traffic keeps wasting bus operator time so I asked how many bus operators they have and they said they just go to the job fair and get a new operator afterwards so I said it sounds like they're just feeding bus operators to traffic and then bus riders started crying.
After peaking in September, CTA rail staffing has slipped back to just over the 2019 benchmark.
December 19, 2025 at 5:29 PM
After peaking in September, CTA rail staffing has slipped back to just over the 2019 benchmark.
Honestly embarrassing that the alders and city hall have been doing so much mud slinging over the budget, making personal attacks and constantly being at each other’s throats on X and facebook the last couple weeks.
They should be doing it here.
On Bluesky.
They should be doing it here.
On Bluesky.
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Honestly embarrassing that the alders and city hall have been doing so much mud slinging over the budget, making personal attacks and constantly being at each other’s throats on X and facebook the last couple weeks.
They should be doing it here.
On Bluesky.
They should be doing it here.
On Bluesky.
Chicago Plan Commission approved 90 more homes at 3746-3766 S Michigan Ave today. Four 4-floor buildings.
20% ARO Affordable
19 1-bd
71 2-bd
56 Parking Spaces
Easy walk to the Green Line and Mariano's
$267k/unit construction cost.
20% ARO Affordable
19 1-bd
71 2-bd
56 Parking Spaces
Easy walk to the Green Line and Mariano's
$267k/unit construction cost.
December 18, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Chicago Plan Commission approved 90 more homes at 3746-3766 S Michigan Ave today. Four 4-floor buildings.
20% ARO Affordable
19 1-bd
71 2-bd
56 Parking Spaces
Easy walk to the Green Line and Mariano's
$267k/unit construction cost.
20% ARO Affordable
19 1-bd
71 2-bd
56 Parking Spaces
Easy walk to the Green Line and Mariano's
$267k/unit construction cost.
Reposted by Alex
CDOT is putting out hundreds of new bike racks all across Chicago this month. Here are some of the greatest hits.
December 18, 2025 at 4:10 PM
CDOT is putting out hundreds of new bike racks all across Chicago this month. Here are some of the greatest hits.
Don’t know how split people are on these but personally I’d choose these two-way bike paths over separate curbside PBLs whenever possible.
The new street design along 111th st west of the Pullman station is finally becoming legible- and holy shit talk about luxurious! Curb moved, wide enough to ride 4 abreat (2 in each dotection), fully selarated from peds. Only lasts a block or
so though @slucy.bsky.social
so though @slucy.bsky.social
December 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Don’t know how split people are on these but personally I’d choose these two-way bike paths over separate curbside PBLs whenever possible.
"I love my townhouse in the heart of the city!"
The townhouse in the heart of the city:
The townhouse in the heart of the city:
December 17, 2025 at 1:42 AM
"I love my townhouse in the heart of the city!"
The townhouse in the heart of the city:
The townhouse in the heart of the city:
Now that NITA is signed, Chicago should go ahead amend the municipal code to clearly and uniformly eliminate off-street parking requirements citywide.
No good reason to keep the entire parking and loading section around as-is when it only applies to a few scattered blocks on the edge of town.
No good reason to keep the entire parking and loading section around as-is when it only applies to a few scattered blocks on the edge of town.
Thanks to the NITA Act, and a city ordinance from @aldermanlaspata.bsky.social, Chicago has the highest population of any city in America that live on property that does not require vehicle parking
December 16, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Now that NITA is signed, Chicago should go ahead amend the municipal code to clearly and uniformly eliminate off-street parking requirements citywide.
No good reason to keep the entire parking and loading section around as-is when it only applies to a few scattered blocks on the edge of town.
No good reason to keep the entire parking and loading section around as-is when it only applies to a few scattered blocks on the edge of town.
For Comparison- North Lakefront (Lincoln Park to Rogers Park)
Overall up from 2010, sniffed 2000s numbers in 2021, but trending back down in '22 and '23.
Overall up from 2010, sniffed 2000s numbers in 2021, but trending back down in '22 and '23.
December 11, 2025 at 10:03 PM
For Comparison- North Lakefront (Lincoln Park to Rogers Park)
Overall up from 2010, sniffed 2000s numbers in 2021, but trending back down in '22 and '23.
Overall up from 2010, sniffed 2000s numbers in 2021, but trending back down in '22 and '23.
Great to see Bronzeville keep turning empty lots into 3-flats.
ACS data is only through 2023, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear total population along the south lakefront neighborhoods is back at post-2000s highs by now.
ACS data is only through 2023, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear total population along the south lakefront neighborhoods is back at post-2000s highs by now.
December 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Great to see Bronzeville keep turning empty lots into 3-flats.
ACS data is only through 2023, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear total population along the south lakefront neighborhoods is back at post-2000s highs by now.
ACS data is only through 2023, but I wouldn't be surprised to hear total population along the south lakefront neighborhoods is back at post-2000s highs by now.
Reposted by Alex
IMPORTANT DETAIL HERE: garbage fees are essentially a wealth transfer from apartment residents to homeowners!
If you live in an apartment building with 5+ units, you have to pay full price for a private service, and you ALSO SUBSIDIZE 82% OF THE COST of garbage pickup for SFHs + 2-4 unit buildings!
If you live in an apartment building with 5+ units, you have to pay full price for a private service, and you ALSO SUBSIDIZE 82% OF THE COST of garbage pickup for SFHs + 2-4 unit buildings!
Commentary: Us schmucks living in six-flats, courtyards, mid-rises and high-rises? We pay full price for private trash and recycling services.
Cate Plys: How Mayor Brandon Johnson can help the budget and make the city’s trash fee more equitable
Chicago should institute a graduated garbage fee by tying it to a property’s assessed valuation.
trib.al
December 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
IMPORTANT DETAIL HERE: garbage fees are essentially a wealth transfer from apartment residents to homeowners!
If you live in an apartment building with 5+ units, you have to pay full price for a private service, and you ALSO SUBSIDIZE 82% OF THE COST of garbage pickup for SFHs + 2-4 unit buildings!
If you live in an apartment building with 5+ units, you have to pay full price for a private service, and you ALSO SUBSIDIZE 82% OF THE COST of garbage pickup for SFHs + 2-4 unit buildings!
Chicago's Smart Streets cameras began issuing new fine types for expired meters and parking in bus stops in late October. New cameras have come into rotation as well, to limited use.
Low impact to daily fines issued so far, and a majority of tickets are still warnings.
Low impact to daily fines issued so far, and a majority of tickets are still warnings.
December 10, 2025 at 6:37 PM
Chicago's Smart Streets cameras began issuing new fine types for expired meters and parking in bus stops in late October. New cameras have come into rotation as well, to limited use.
Low impact to daily fines issued so far, and a majority of tickets are still warnings.
Low impact to daily fines issued so far, and a majority of tickets are still warnings.
CTA Rail having a certified Bad Time this week
December 10, 2025 at 5:12 PM
CTA Rail having a certified Bad Time this week
CTA Rail and Metra both notched their best month since Covid this October.
CTA Bus ridership ran slightly behind last year's October peak.
CTA Bus ridership ran slightly behind last year's October peak.
December 5, 2025 at 5:45 PM
CTA Rail and Metra both notched their best month since Covid this October.
CTA Bus ridership ran slightly behind last year's October peak.
CTA Bus ridership ran slightly behind last year's October peak.
Using FTA data- CTA, Metra, and South Shore Line Rail ridership recoveries have all converged at 61% of what they were in 2019.
2025 Water Taxi rides blew past pre-2020 averages, setting new ridership records in both July and August this summer.
2025 Water Taxi rides blew past pre-2020 averages, setting new ridership records in both July and August this summer.
December 3, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Using FTA data- CTA, Metra, and South Shore Line Rail ridership recoveries have all converged at 61% of what they were in 2019.
2025 Water Taxi rides blew past pre-2020 averages, setting new ridership records in both July and August this summer.
2025 Water Taxi rides blew past pre-2020 averages, setting new ridership records in both July and August this summer.