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Metra notes big increase in bicycle ridership while Amtrak shares details on Union Station concourse overhaul

Metra and Amtrak staff hosted a public virtual meeting this week as a part of the Bicycle Working Group initiative that Metra launched last autumn. Metra provided new insights on bicycle ridership on trains since the regional rail service initiated a new policy allowing bikes on all trains starting in February while an Amtrak representative shared updates on upcoming changes to Union Station.
Streetsblog Chicago •

The Tour de Illinois: Riding the perimeter of the Prairie State on Chicago’s West Side

"The goal today is to trace the outline of the shape of Illinois," said Kenny Labbé, a Chicagoland resident who rides bikes and is the announcer for the Chicago Cross Cup, to a few dozen people at the start of a ride last Sunday afternoon.The winding 17-mile route, which organizers dubbed the "Tour de Illinois," started and ended in Humboldt Park and traced the state's outline.
Streetsblog Chicago •

Metra: We want to accommodate bicycles on 100 percent of trains

Metra revealed some of its plans to accommodate more bikes on more trains in a first-of-its-kind presentation and Q&A on Monday night. (The video recording is embedded below.)

The meeting occurred due, at least in part, to consistent appearances and comments at Metra board meetings by a handful of riders who have spoken up about being blocked from boarding with their bikes, inconsistent application of Metra's bikes on trains policy, and other irritations.
Streetsblog Chicago •

A day trip using Metra to explore Chicago’s suburban trails, forest preserves, and breweries

Having Metra rail connect the core of Chicago with the broader metropolitan area — including Indiana and Wisconsin — is one of the greatest perks of riding bikes in this region. The commuter railroad offers bike riders the ability to take a quick day trip, plan a weekend bikepacking adventure, or even leave on a more ambitious regional (or national) bicycle tour.

Recently, Metra launched a promotion along its Heritage Corridor — which starts in Union Station and follows the Des Plaines River southwest to Joliet — aimed at cyclists.
Streetsblog Chicago •

Earth Rider Cycling closing in October after five years on Milwaukee Avenue - Streetsblog Chicago

Earth Rider Cycling owner Sharon Kaminecki opened her storefront at 1873 N. Milwaukee in Bucktown five years ago, and will permanently close the door to her shop in mid-October.

The closure comes after a sluggish couple of years of business following the pandemic bike boom and uncertainty about the future of the local bicycle retailing industry, she told Streetsblog. But the 71-year-old shop owner said that she’s also ready to “try retirement,” spend more time with grandchildren, and travel.
Streetsblog Chicago •

CDOT: Leavitt greenway will be an important new low-stress street connection

On Monday evening, Chicago Department of Transportation staff and representatives from the 32nd, 40th, and 47th ward offices presented details for the planned Leavitt Street Neighborhood Greenway project to a virtual audience of roughly 90 people. The project will represent an earnest push towards creating additional “low stress” corridors and improve safety for bicyclists, pedestrians, and drivers, Brad Huff, manager of the Complete Streets program at CDOT told the audience.
Streetsblog Chicago •

Pour one out for Cycle Smithy, which helped create new Chicago bike commuters

When Mark Mattei locked the door to his store Cycle Smithy at 2468½ N. Clark Street for the last time on the evening of September 10th, it was the final bookend of a 49-year run as the owner of a beloved local bike shop. Mattei, now in his seventies, once built custom frames and had an impressive collection of classic bicycles built throughout the last century hanging up around the shop.

And while countless bikes have been sold out of the shop over the decades, Cycle Smithy was also a hub for b
Stre •

How my Chicago Auto Show tweets reignited the debate over unsafe vehicle design

Shortly after entering the Chicago Auto Show this past weekend, I saw a pickup truck that seemed almost comically large, so I asked my friend to take a photo of me standing next to it. As we continued through the show, the very large front ends with massive grilles and headlights on pickups and SUVs were a recurring theme and we took photos of the two of us standing in front of a handful of vehicles from Chevrolet, GMC, Ram, and Ford.

I posted the photos to Twitter, expecting that there would b