At least here in Illinois rural towns have okay train access and can easily accommodate bike infrastructure. Many rural towns with a university have decent bike networks already. It’s North American suburbs that are more hopelessly designed around private vehicles.

I recommend getting some bright lights. I have a 350 lumens rear light that makes my bike more visible than most vehicles.

I’d really like to see fiber and banking as services at the municipal level that could lilely pay for themselves. However services needing to support themselves encourages short term solutions. Libraries, parks, and schools are unlikely to turn a profit but are critical to providing a minimum quality of life. Public transportation investment pays off over decades not a financial quarter and provides long term tangible benefits to the city beyond the fare box. If it pays for itself it’s a no brainier, but many things that cost more than they make or have long term payoffs that are hard to measure are critically important.

I agree. Let’s keep trying to figure out how to make that a reality in addition to this.

Love to see it but can’t help but be disappointed bigger projects aren’t planned from Chicago. I don’t understand why it will take me twice as long to take the train to New Orleans than drive or why there is only a single running east per day.

Update - https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/08/25/as-neighbors-fight-to-save-damen-silos-mckinley-park-alderwoman-calls-for-demolition-permit-delay/

For anybody who doesn’t know, the company who bought this lot was able to build an asphalt plant next to a park, school, and people’s houses without any notice or public input. Part of their site was rezoned by the previous alder after receiving large donations.

As a workaround bringing your own alcohol is usually permitted on Metra, please remember to act responsibly. https://metra.com/whats-allowed-metra-trains

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How do you calculate she did the correct thing based on data? She pushed to reopen schools during a time with some of the highest case and death counts recorded - https://blockclubchicago.org/2021/12/30/cps-will-return-to-in-person-learning-monday-despite-covid-surge-officials-say/

I agree with a lot of people that suggest voting and holding your representatives accountable and the mass pollutors responsible will be the most important part but I also think there’s no reason not to lead by example in this situation. Reduce your carbon usage when you can by buying fewer consumer goods, eating less meat, avoiding single use products, and more frequently using public transportation, walking and cycling to get around.

There is ideological diversity within the democratic party, especially at the local level. As part of a representative democracy, the electorate needs to be engaged with their representatives. You should start looking closely at your most local representatives.

Roads aren’t funded by fares, why should public transit?

The Johnson transition team recommends 20mph for through roads and 10mph for residential. Traffic enforcement is low but these speed limit adjustments would raise the amount of drivers being considered criminal drivers with serious consequences. Right now you can be going 55 mph on a city street and still only be considered for a trivial fine despite creating violent and dangerous situations. The signs indicate the maximum speed you are supposed to go but most drivers treat it as a minimum. It’s almost like people consider driving a right. It’s a privilege and you should have to strictly follow the rules of the road of you want to keep a license.

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I used to think automated cars might be a good thing because I expect them to behave more predictably than unqualified human drivers. Over time I’ve changed my mind. In the USA we currently have no way to stop harm from major companies like the ones investing in electric cars. A situation that feels incredibly likely will be that instead of facing jail time like an individual would, companies will receive trivial fines that they will price into the cost of the vehicle for harm caused by their fleets. This will prevent any sort of accountability for vehicles causing harm to living things.