John Greenfield
In addition to editing Streetsblog Chicago, John writes the transportation column for the Chicago Reader weekly paper. A Chicagoan since 1989, he enjoys exploring the city on foot, bike, bus, and 'L' train.
Recent Posts
Advocates Discuss Significance of ‘Ride of Silence’
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It’s been a rough past year for Chicagoans who ride bikes
Neighbors Say Road Diet Causes ‘Traffic Nightmare,’ but Data Tell a Different Story
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In reality, plenty of people benefit from such projects. But the media often highlight the loudest, least-informed voices.
Gas Giveaways Harm People. Don’t Let Rich Politicians do Them.
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Gas giveaways don't just benefit some residents while ignoring others, they negatively impact vulnerable people by slowing down buses and creating more emissions.
Chicago Auto Show producers sponsor contest that produces awful victim-blaming PSAs
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Recently Streetsblog contributor A.J. LaTrace discussed the absurdly large SUVs and pickup trucks on display at the Chicago Auto Show. These machines have massive blind spots that make it difficult to detect a child in front of the vehicle, and their absurdly high grilles that basically ensure that a struck pedestrian or bike rider will […]
Podcast: John talks with Eben Weiss, aka Bike Snob NYC, about legalizing the Idaho stop
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We also discussed why ultimately U.S. cities should be building citywide networks of connected, protected bikeways with logical traffic light timing, so Idaho stop laws become unnecessary.
Illinois lawmakers killed an “Idaho stop” bill this week, but one could pass in the future
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Treating stop signs like yield signs is nearly universal among bike riders, and Idaho stop laws have been shown to reduce bike injuries. Rep. Janet Yang Roh explained why her bill didn't pass – this time.
Talk on Traffic Cameras
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Researchers discuss potential equity issues with the program, as well as sharing the nitty-gritty of their methodology.
More Evidence that Speed Cameras Save Lives
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The new report compared the changes in crash numbers near speed cameras and citywide between 2012-13 and 2018-2019 and confirmed that collision numbers have stayed relatively low near the cams.
Reality check: You can’t solve congestion by widening roads – invest in transit instead
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Yes, driving to work in Chicagoland is terrible, but more lanes aren't the answer. We need faster, more frequent, and more reliable CTA and Metra service.
The DUI Shuffle: Why was ex-Bears star and 4-time offender Dan Hampton still driving?
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In a just world, if you've previously committed three DUIs, you wouldn't even have the opportunity to rack up a fourth one.
Officials: As traffic deaths continue to climb, Vision Zero must be a top priority
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Alderman LaSpata discussed his "crash not accident" ordinance: "There is no intention behind an accident. There is intention behind the actions that lead to traffic crashes and injuries."
I’m fairly optimistic about the future of public transportation – if we take action now
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As Mark Twain might have said, reports of the death of transit have been greatly exaggerated, but we do need to take decisive action to make buses and trains a more reliable and appealing option.