Mobility Challenges in the time of COVID-19, Chicago, IL, 2020

The pandemic has shed light on the mobility challenges felt everyday in the City of Chicago, specifically on the South Side of the city. To understand this issue more deeply, Active Trans spoke with 11 community members and elected officials on the South Side. The conversations spoke about three big issues in particular, transit, biking and broader issues around arrested mobility in shared spaces as a result of enforcement or limited accessibility. More specifically, some key points within these issues include bus crowding and lack of transport reliability. This was exacerbated by COVID-19 when frequency of transit was reduced due to stay-at-home orders though reliance on public transportation on the South Side was still relatively high compared to the North side. Additionally, while the cycling business is doing well on the South Side during the pandemic, participants are calling for more resources for other modes of transportation and facilities, such as more Divvy bikeshare bikes, e-scooters, extended bike lanes, and mobility education. Enabling more transportation options on the South Side will increase access to food and health services.