Steven Vance – Page 57

Vote on the best apps for metro Chicago

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The Grand Challenge of the Apps for Metro Chicago Contest starts today. Everyone will have the opportunity to vote for the best apps that take Chicagoland data and make it more useful, interesting, or engaging. Apps can be for the web, or specific smartphone operating systems. Winners get recognition and cash prizes.

I’ve re-submitted the Bikes on Metra app my friend and I worked on. We weren’t finalists in the first round, about transportation, and I didn’t make any changes in the re-submission because I’m working on so many projects (book club being the latest).

So browse the gallery and leave your votes at 4 PM. Voting ends Monday, December 12, at 4 PM. I hope things go better this time around than in the first round, after the rules changed and the first batch of votes were invalidated. Continue reading Vote on the best apps for metro Chicago

Grid Shots: The CTA’s holiday train

The Chicago Transit Authority’s holiday train began service the day after Thanksgiving last month and continues through December 22, 2011. You pay the same CTA fare to ride it; find where it will run next on the holiday train webpage. The next run is Wednesday, December 7, 2011, on the Pink Line (see the detailed schedule). All photos are from frequent Grid Chicago contributor, Jeff Zoline.

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The holiday train at 63rd/Ashland on the Green Line East/63rd branch. Continue reading Grid Shots: The CTA’s holiday train

Parking meter lease: 72 years more to go

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Bike Walk Lincoln Park in their latest post gives a summary of how the parking meter lease was devised and approved in 2008. Then they point out how a majority if the revenue has been spent, including over half of a “rainy day fund” (as former Mayor Daley called it). But Bike Walk Lincoln Park mentions a report issued by the same company the Daley administration hired to advise it through the parking meter privatization process: Continue reading Parking meter lease: 72 years more to go

Streetfilms publishes their Kinzie cycle track video, and bike lane updates

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In this video published by New York City-based Streetfilms and producer Elizabeth Press, you’ll hear from me, Gabe Klein, David Gleason, Bradley Topol, Brandon Gobel, Alderman Solis, and Lorena Cupcake. We’re all talking about the coolness of Chicago’s first protected bike lane. Continue reading Streetfilms publishes their Kinzie cycle track video, and bike lane updates

Comment of the day: There is no war on cars

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People just want to travel safely. Does that mean there’s a war?

This isn’t gonna be a feature, but as I was reading through and responding to reader comments on my article Breaking down the battle John McCarron wants to start, I was pleased to find a protest to the usage of “war” as a way to describe the evolution of Chicago’s transportation system.

I really find the violent “war” terminology appalling. If there is a war between cars and people biking/walking, only one side is fighting and inflicting casualties — with aggressive, reckless and distracted driving. The rest of us are just trying to get to work in one piece.

It’s from the people at Carfree Chicago.