Margo O'Hara

TO GET ON YOUR SIDE Don’t be surprised when you see more chickens crossing the road as the Active Transportation Alliance broadens its mission.

When the spoke folks and gutter bunnies gather for the annual Bike Town Bash Saturday 6, they’ll notice their favorite cycling advocacy group has undergone a face-lift. What was the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has increased its scope and mission to include working on pedestrian and transit issues (as well as continuing its core mission of cycling advocacy). That also includes a name change to the Active Transportation Alliance. We sat down with spokeswoman Margo O’Hara to get a better idea of what changes are in store.

Time Out Chicago: Why the change after nearly 25 years as the CBF?
Margo O’Hara: We see where bicycling can go, and ways to strengthen our bicycling advocacy rely on looking at the overall transportation system. Even before this expansion, our work was talking about pedestrians, talking about driver behavior. It was a natural segue. We are working on a project with the Logan Square community to talk about street design, traffic speeds and other ways to make that area safer for walking and bicycling.

TOC: Is cycling still the top priority?
Margo O’Hara: Bikes will continue to be our core. Our membership is bicyclists; our staff, for the most part, is bicyclists. I think people will see that all this other work that we start to take on is going to support their priorities—like making sure there are bike lanes and letting drivers know that they need to share the road.

TOC: Are you worried about a biker backlash?
Margo O’Hara: I am confident that bicyclists will see the value in looking at the way we get around from an overall perspective. What is good for bicyclists—stricter laws, more bike lanes, fewer cars on the road—is good for pedestrians. What is good for transit riders—more funding, more access to transit—is good for bicyclists. By opening the dialogue up and looking at how bicycling fits into an overall picture, we grow a stronger base that will get us all more wins. Bicyclists will always be key. They have been the reason why we have been so successful for nearly 25 years. We rely on them, so of course our work is going to be in their interest. This change in no way takes away from bicycle advocacy; it only adds to it.

TOC: Are you hoping for an increase in funding?
Margo O’Hara: Yes, that’s definitely a piece of the process, especially when you talk to sponsors or funders. A lot of our funding comes through private foundations. A lot of people aren’t understanding bicycling the way that we do—they think, “Oh you’re a bike club. Do we really want to fund that?” Once you start talking about healthy and active transportation, and bicycling being a major component of that, you start to…have a better conversation with people.

TOC: Are our favorite rides going to be around in 2009?
Margo O’Hara: Yes! Bike the Drive, of course. Boulevard Lakefront Tour, we just celebrated the 20th anniversary, we’ll see that again. We’re talking with the city to have Sunday Parkways happen a few more times next year. And we’ll also have a few more suburban rides.

TOC: Will you be putting on 5K walks and the like?
Margo O’Hara: I’m not sure. And that’s something we’re asking members to be patient [about] as we figure out what that looks like. We have this 20-year strategic plan, and right now that’s obviously focused on bikes. So we’re seeing how walking and transit fits into that. We do have tentative plans to hold town-hallish meetings around the area with members. Hopefully we’ll be scheduling those soon.

TOC: Does the impending Obama presidency affect the Alliance?
Margo O’Hara: We’ll be interested to see what kind of transportation plan or people he has. I’ve heard a few names being thrown around, [Oregon Rep. Earl] Blumenauer, which would be cool. It’s exciting to have a little bit more direct ties. Even if he wasn’t from Chicago, having someone in the White House that seems to want more sustainable transportation is a positive switch.

TOC: Locally, what are some of the groups you hope to align with?
Margo O’Hara: Transit Riders’ Alliance here in Chicago. We did something with them on the state capital bill. There’s also Metro Seniors in Action. A lot of what they’re talking about is senior mobility and being able to walk places. Also, a lot of school districts in the suburbs, talking about safe routes to school. I think we’ll see more partnerships with them.

TOC: Has the change affected plans for the Bike Town Bash?
Margo O’Hara: It’s still going to be the same. It’s a fun party. Everyone gets dressed up, and there’s going to be silent and live auctions—some really fun bike-part giveaways. As a staff, we’re all looking forward to it.

Get a handle on the Alliance’s new mission at the Bike Town Bash Sat 6.