Emily Hugan
@changeurbanlife.bsky.social
chicago urbanist, mediocre triathlete, and baker
https://substack.com/@brickandwheel
https://substack.com/@brickandwheel
Reposted by Emily Hugan
The "bike bus" idea is simple: Once a week, a group of kids and parents bike to school together.
It's an idea being embraced in neighborhoods around Chicago as a way to socialize and push back against car-centric culture, parents say.
It's an idea being embraced in neighborhoods around Chicago as a way to socialize and push back against car-centric culture, parents say.
Instead of driving to school, more kids are taking the 'bike bus'
chicago.suntimes.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:20 PM
The "bike bus" idea is simple: Once a week, a group of kids and parents bike to school together.
It's an idea being embraced in neighborhoods around Chicago as a way to socialize and push back against car-centric culture, parents say.
It's an idea being embraced in neighborhoods around Chicago as a way to socialize and push back against car-centric culture, parents say.
Reposted by Emily Hugan
“Ensuring all buses, in service and not in service alike, have a reliably smooth and fast trip on DLSD has massive ripple benefits for the entire network, unlocking faster, more efficient, and more reliable operations for buses throughout the city.” citythatworks.substack.com/p/view-from-...
View from the wheel: Dedicated bus lanes on Lake Shore Drive matter more than you think
Bus networks do not survive on in-service routes alone
citythatworks.substack.com
September 23, 2026 at 12:35 PM
“Ensuring all buses, in service and not in service alike, have a reliably smooth and fast trip on DLSD has massive ripple benefits for the entire network, unlocking faster, more efficient, and more reliable operations for buses throughout the city.” citythatworks.substack.com/p/view-from-...
Reposted by Emily Hugan
A real transit advocate would call in from the antisocial behavior cockpit at the end of a train car
Update: Rev. Eaddy is remotely attending the CTA board meeting **from the backseat of a car**
September 22, 2026 at 5:52 PM
A real transit advocate would call in from the antisocial behavior cockpit at the end of a train car
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Back to school has been good for ridership! Booming since kids went back. Weekend is at 100% and bus is 95% of prepandemic levels.
Frequent bus network is kicking ass in improving ridership
Frequent bus network is kicking ass in improving ridership
September 22, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Back to school has been good for ridership! Booming since kids went back. Weekend is at 100% and bus is 95% of prepandemic levels.
Frequent bus network is kicking ass in improving ridership
Frequent bus network is kicking ass in improving ridership
Reposted by Emily Hugan
“if you are not from here, you don’t belong here. you’re the reason i can’t find affordable housing. go back to where you came from.”
when republicans say this stuff we call them xenophobic bigots, but increasingly i’m seeing this stuff from people in major cities and i find it a little alarming!
when republicans say this stuff we call them xenophobic bigots, but increasingly i’m seeing this stuff from people in major cities and i find it a little alarming!
September 21, 2026 at 12:46 PM
“if you are not from here, you don’t belong here. you’re the reason i can’t find affordable housing. go back to where you came from.”
when republicans say this stuff we call them xenophobic bigots, but increasingly i’m seeing this stuff from people in major cities and i find it a little alarming!
when republicans say this stuff we call them xenophobic bigots, but increasingly i’m seeing this stuff from people in major cities and i find it a little alarming!
Reposted by Emily Hugan
I truly don’t understand this “transplant” nonsense. The whole THING about NYC is that ppl come here from other places to mutate into New Yorkers! TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE KING OF THE HILL, TOP OF THE HEAP! Imho a rando who moved here a year ago is the MOST NY person. Welcome Ohio rando, have a bagel
September 21, 2026 at 12:58 AM
I truly don’t understand this “transplant” nonsense. The whole THING about NYC is that ppl come here from other places to mutate into New Yorkers! TO SEE IF THEY CAN BE KING OF THE HILL, TOP OF THE HEAP! Imho a rando who moved here a year ago is the MOST NY person. Welcome Ohio rando, have a bagel
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping.
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
September 16, 2026 at 12:26 PM
Paris cycling numbers double in one year thanks to massive investment and it’s not stopping.
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
momentummag.com/paris-cyclin...
Reposted by Emily Hugan
They need a real housewifes of inner lake shore drive
September 16, 2026 at 3:41 PM
They need a real housewifes of inner lake shore drive
Reposted by Emily Hugan
NEW: Drivers who blocked bicycle and bus lanes have racked up nearly $4.5 million in fines since November 2024, when an effort to use automated cameras to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians launched downtown, according to city data unveiled Tuesday. @wttw.bsky.social
Chicago Drivers Caught on Camera Blocking Bus, Bicycle Lanes Hit With $4.5M in Fines: Data
In all, the city has banked $2.6 million in revenue from the tickets, records show.
news.wttw.com
September 16, 2026 at 2:44 PM
NEW: Drivers who blocked bicycle and bus lanes have racked up nearly $4.5 million in fines since November 2024, when an effort to use automated cameras to make streets safer for cyclists and pedestrians launched downtown, according to city data unveiled Tuesday. @wttw.bsky.social
PhD? You mean Pretty Happy Day! Bf moved in and increased % of bikes in household by 100%
September 16, 2026 at 1:14 AM
PhD? You mean Pretty Happy Day! Bf moved in and increased % of bikes in household by 100%
Reposted by Emily Hugan
gimme that $75mil and 24 hours at the downtown bally's and we'll have those meters back in no time
$75M one-time payment
5% share of annual net operating income
2% payment on any future sale price
Changes to true-up payments for street-fest closures
50% minimum in-city workforce
Limitations to usage data sharing with feds
we paid $7.6M in true-ups in 2024, interested to see the details there.
5% share of annual net operating income
2% payment on any future sale price
Changes to true-up payments for street-fest closures
50% minimum in-city workforce
Limitations to usage data sharing with feds
we paid $7.6M in true-ups in 2024, interested to see the details there.
BREAKING: A deal has been reached that will allow Chicago’s parking meters to be sold to a New York-based investment firm, which has agreed to sell an airline that has been carrying out deportations for the Trump administration, 5 Chicago City Council members announced Tuesday. @wttw.bsky.social
September 15, 2026 at 8:46 PM
gimme that $75mil and 24 hours at the downtown bally's and we'll have those meters back in no time
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Today, the Tribune published an op-ed by me and three of my colleagues on the immediate actions we must take to prevent further traffic fatalities on our road. Read it below. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/15/o...
Aldermen: Riley O’Neil died a preventable death. We can’t cut funding for safe streets.
The number of fatal crashes on Chicago roadways remain stubbornly high because of a lack of committed action.
www.chicagotribune.com
September 15, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Today, the Tribune published an op-ed by me and three of my colleagues on the immediate actions we must take to prevent further traffic fatalities on our road. Read it below. www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/15/o...
They are increasing the number of cameras for the Smart Streets pilot from 6 to 52 by the end of the month!
September 15, 2026 at 4:02 PM
They are increasing the number of cameras for the Smart Streets pilot from 6 to 52 by the end of the month!
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Very excited folks receiving SNAP benefits will be eligible for reduced fares on @chicagocta.bsky.social & Pace!
🔔 News Release: NITA Board of Directors holds first meeting, names new agency leadership, and expands reduced fare programs. https://nita.illinois.gov/about-rta/press-releases/nita-board-of-directors-holds-first-meeting-names-new-agency-leadership-and-expands-reduced-fare-programs
Northern Illinois Transit Authority | NITA Board of Directors holds first meeting, names new agency leadership, and expands reduced fare programs
Tom Kotarac elected NITA Board Chair; Jamie Rhee named NITA Interim Executive Director; Board launches national search for permanent Executive Director;…
nita.illinois.gov
September 14, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Very excited folks receiving SNAP benefits will be eligible for reduced fares on @chicagocta.bsky.social & Pace!
Reposted by Emily Hugan
To the evil urbanist who keeps cursing me:
I just woke up from a nightmare where drivers had to beg transit riders for street space. That was terrifying, but you're not getting BRT on Western.
I just woke up from a nightmare where drivers had to beg transit riders for street space. That was terrifying, but you're not getting BRT on Western.
September 14, 2026 at 3:43 PM
To the evil urbanist who keeps cursing me:
I just woke up from a nightmare where drivers had to beg transit riders for street space. That was terrifying, but you're not getting BRT on Western.
I just woke up from a nightmare where drivers had to beg transit riders for street space. That was terrifying, but you're not getting BRT on Western.
Reposted by Emily Hugan
The 48th Ward has submitted an ordinance to reduce the default speed limit on many of its residential streets. They cited the high cut-through rate on these streets.
September 13, 2026 at 3:15 PM
The 48th Ward has submitted an ordinance to reduce the default speed limit on many of its residential streets. They cited the high cut-through rate on these streets.
Englewood - 63rd and Halsted vs Now
September 10, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Englewood - 63rd and Halsted vs Now
CDOT should just save the bajillion dollars it will take to repair Cortland and keep it a bike bridge. All resources directed to the four other bridges.
September 10, 2026 at 2:27 PM
CDOT should just save the bajillion dollars it will take to repair Cortland and keep it a bike bridge. All resources directed to the four other bridges.
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Nearly 260,000 affordable rental homes are needed in Illinois. Without action, housing insecurity and affordability challenges will continue to impact families and communities across the state.
Learn about the lessons we can learn from California: impactforequity.org/report/build...
Learn about the lessons we can learn from California: impactforequity.org/report/build...
September 9, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Nearly 260,000 affordable rental homes are needed in Illinois. Without action, housing insecurity and affordability challenges will continue to impact families and communities across the state.
Learn about the lessons we can learn from California: impactforequity.org/report/build...
Learn about the lessons we can learn from California: impactforequity.org/report/build...
Want this to happen so badly - that area deserves a better connection to the lakefront
Could the Bronzeville trail be the next big civic project on the southside? The 1.5 mile route would use an abandoned elevated rail corridor to create a dedicated path, connecting the neighborhood and lakefront
September 9, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Want this to happen so badly - that area deserves a better connection to the lakefront
Reposted by Emily Hugan
Things that would make Bike the Drive an actual city-wide event that everyone looks forward to and provide a vision for active transportation:
September 7, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Things that would make Bike the Drive an actual city-wide event that everyone looks forward to and provide a vision for active transportation:
Reposted by Emily Hugan
seems like chicago still functions well with no major issues during bike the drive so we should just do it all day every day forever
September 6, 2026 at 2:42 PM
seems like chicago still functions well with no major issues during bike the drive so we should just do it all day every day forever
Reposted by Emily Hugan
woke up early to slam 9 beers before bike the drive
September 6, 2026 at 11:27 AM
woke up early to slam 9 beers before bike the drive