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Opening streets to create space for socially-distanced transportation and recreation during the pandemic is becoming mainstream. It& #39;s disappointing that Chicago& #39;s leading transportation advocacy group has pretty much said it& #39;s not going to support this. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/11/us/coronavirus-street-closures.html">https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/1...
Here are statements from ATA on open streets. They& #39;ve declined to discuss this on the record with SBC. They raise legit points about resources and policing, but the cheap, non-policed Oakland model addresses them. The& #39;re also right about the need for input from POC communities.
It& #39;s notable that a sustainable transportation org is arguing against making more room for safe socially-distanced walking and biking. "Open streets does not align with... the need to stay home as much as possible" and +/- "at the moment we must do a lot less walking and biking."
ATA& #39;s position that people should avoid leaving their homes during the pandemic and do less walking and biking than usual, and that we shouldn& #39;t make more space for these modes with social distance through open streets (they haven& #39;t ruled out widening sidewalks) is misguided.
This position doesn& #39;t reflect what we know about how the virus is spread. It doesn& #39;t reflect the fact that transit should be a last resort during the pandemic, which means we should be walking and biking *more*.
ATA& #39;s position doesn& #39;t reflect that socially-distanced outdoor activity is a key for maintaining physical & mental health during a multi-month Stay at Home order. And it doesn& #39;t reflect the fact that Illinois& #39; SAH order calls walking, running & biking "essential activities."
ATA& #39;s position *does* reflect Mayor Lightfoot& #39;s narrow interpretation of the SAH order: "You cannot go on long bike rides... Outside is for a brief respite, not for 5Ks." No explanation from the mayor for why a socially-distanced "long" bike ride or 3.1-mile run is problematic.
Maybe it& #39;s a coincidence that ATA and the mayor have similar POVs on what& #39;s safe during COVID-19. But it& #39;s worth noting ATA has a closer relationship with the city than many peer orgs, including doing consulting work for the city, and it& #39;s rare for them to contradict the mayor.
Again ATA has raised some valid concerns about open streets, and it& #39;s a great org overall. We value the work they& #39;ve done during the pandemic advocating for transit funding, transit safety, and to keep bike shops open and safe. We& #39;re generally on the same page w/ them on issues.
But this is a rare situation where we feel that ATA has seriously dropped the ball on an issue. Former ATA employees tell us they feel the same way. While input and buy-in is needed from communities hit hardest by C-19 is needed, open streets could benefit all Chicagoans.
