CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Chicago’s growing cycling community and the many cycling and safe streets advocacy organizations believe they’re a political force to be reckoned with and they believe they’re getting the ears of those in power.
Nate Hutcheson and Rony Islam with the group, “Chicago, Bike Grid Now," spoke to WBBM. Their goal is to get the city to create a network of connected bike-friendly streets.
"We're talking mostly residential streets, just some traffic calming devices, lower speed limit 10 miles an hour, and bikes have the right away," said Hutcheson.
One thing they’re doing is called the “bike jam,” getting a group of cyclists to ride together in front of traffic.
"We'd like to think direct action and get the goods there. It really does," said Islam. "When we make our streets safer for folks who bike or folks who want to walk, we make our streets safer for everyone."
The group is getting attention from city leaders and organizing with other groups as well, according to Hutcheson and Islam.
"This isn't just like a simple transportation issue." Hutcheson emphasized. "It's economic development. It's quality of life. It's so many things."
He also said “they’re giving us crumbs" in regards to the city. They concede the city is adding bike infrastructure.
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