‘Open Streets’ group wants Mag Mile car-free

Dearborn Street and/or Clark Street, too

(Above) Michigan and Chicago Avenues, seen from John Hancock Center.

12-Feb-14 – The transportation advocacy organization behind “Open Streets” wants to expand their one-day events to all year round.

Active Transportation Alliance has released a list of 20 streets and locations in Chicago that, they say, deserve serious consideration for conversion into vehicle-free space. The list includes Michigan Avenue’s “Magnificent Mile” from the Chicago River north to Oak Street, Dearborn Street and/or Clark Street from River North to the South Loop.

Making these streets car-free can help, said the group on Wednesday, “make communities more attractive places to live and shop, generate more biking and walking and thus improve mobility and health, and reduce traffic crashes.”

“Nearly a quarter of Chicago’s [234 square mile] land mass falls within a public right-of-way, but most of that space is dominated by cars,” said Executive Director Ron Burke. “Let’s give Chicagoans more car-free zones to walk, bike, shop, socialize, or just relax.”

Streets could be closed at least partially to traffic year-round, spring through fall, or just evenings and weekends. Exceptions could be made, such as delivery vehicles.

Formerly known as Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit organization of 7,000 members who promote public transit, bicycling, and walking. An Open Streets event in 2012 closed seven blocks of State Street to vehicles for a day.