andrew

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.

Mapping is hard. My city is close to a perfect grid so mapping apps generally do pretty well here. My biggest frustration with Google Maps recently is how deceptive it's estimated times are.

For walking, cycling, and transit Google calculates the entire trip. Unfortunately for driving directions it only tells you the optimal time not including parking, getting settled in your vehicle, or getting to your final destination from your parking spot. People see these ridiculous estimations and assume driving is always faster but at the end of the day its faster to take one of the alternatives most of the time in my city.

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

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.