Matt McCabe
@mmccabe.bsky.social
Working to make things more equitable, peaceful & humane. Nonprofit leader, Prev: AmeriCorps member & teacher, ed leader, Booth MBA Civic Scholar, Obama campaign + appointee.
Usually posting about Chicago education, safe streets / bikes, or #Sixers
Usually posting about Chicago education, safe streets / bikes, or #Sixers
This is the historical Archer Ave performance that some would like to preserve. In the last 10 years...
+ 8200 crashes
+ 2200 hit and run
+ 1500 injuries
+ 9 fatalities.
They want you to believe better isn't possible, or that this is a wedge issue. It's not.
Safer streets now.
+ 8200 crashes
+ 2200 hit and run
+ 1500 injuries
+ 9 fatalities.
They want you to believe better isn't possible, or that this is a wedge issue. It's not.
Safer streets now.
February 9, 2026 at 10:18 PM
This is the historical Archer Ave performance that some would like to preserve. In the last 10 years...
+ 8200 crashes
+ 2200 hit and run
+ 1500 injuries
+ 9 fatalities.
They want you to believe better isn't possible, or that this is a wedge issue. It's not.
Safer streets now.
+ 8200 crashes
+ 2200 hit and run
+ 1500 injuries
+ 9 fatalities.
They want you to believe better isn't possible, or that this is a wedge issue. It's not.
Safer streets now.
All three kids on the bike, blinky lights all over, ringing our large bell, but still nearly got right-hooked again at the Palmer Square racetrack by a woman who sped up, without a turn signal, cell phone in hand trying to hit 40mph on the curve.
February 3, 2026 at 11:53 PM
All three kids on the bike, blinky lights all over, ringing our large bell, but still nearly got right-hooked again at the Palmer Square racetrack by a woman who sped up, without a turn signal, cell phone in hand trying to hit 40mph on the curve.
Hoping we can use some of that sweet sweet new NITA $ for better lighting across all of CTA….
January 27, 2026 at 10:57 PM
Hoping we can use some of that sweet sweet new NITA $ for better lighting across all of CTA….
Nora Leerhsen is crushing it at City Club, she is a loud, unapologetic champion for transit. Talking about removing slow zones on Blue Line, CTA integrating with bike networks and adopting Paris-style reforms for child friendly streets, less emissions, more green spaces.
Very worth a watch/listen!
Very worth a watch/listen!
January 22, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Nora Leerhsen is crushing it at City Club, she is a loud, unapologetic champion for transit. Talking about removing slow zones on Blue Line, CTA integrating with bike networks and adopting Paris-style reforms for child friendly streets, less emissions, more green spaces.
Very worth a watch/listen!
Very worth a watch/listen!
Does anyone know if MBJ took action on the recs of Steve Koch? (in the screenshot, from this article: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/01/19/c...). Or is this yet another missed opportunity to improve the horrific parking deal?
January 21, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Does anyone know if MBJ took action on the recs of Steve Koch? (in the screenshot, from this article: chicago.suntimes.com/2026/01/19/c...). Or is this yet another missed opportunity to improve the horrific parking deal?
It's a Bosch system, and I think there's a way to run a cord into the main stem but I have no electrical skills (and very limited bike skills!) so the idea of opening up the main casing feels daunting...
January 9, 2026 at 5:18 PM
It's a Bosch system, and I think there's a way to run a cord into the main stem but I have no electrical skills (and very limited bike skills!) so the idea of opening up the main casing feels daunting...
This is what the last 10 years looked like on North Ave. 7 fatalities, 912 hit and runs. 3,386 total crashes. Millions and millions in damages.
Seeing this, you'd assume the once-in-a-generation redo from CDOT and IDOT would be a radical redesign, right? How about a few bumpouts instead.
Seeing this, you'd assume the once-in-a-generation redo from CDOT and IDOT would be a radical redesign, right? How about a few bumpouts instead.
January 2, 2026 at 8:16 PM
This is what the last 10 years looked like on North Ave. 7 fatalities, 912 hit and runs. 3,386 total crashes. Millions and millions in damages.
Seeing this, you'd assume the once-in-a-generation redo from CDOT and IDOT would be a radical redesign, right? How about a few bumpouts instead.
Seeing this, you'd assume the once-in-a-generation redo from CDOT and IDOT would be a radical redesign, right? How about a few bumpouts instead.
There were 43 crashes last year alone along Cortland Ave in the 26th ward. This area is proposed for a participatory budgeting greenway project. If you live in the ward, vote here and prioritize project #4! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
(data c/o www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...)
(data c/o www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...)
January 2, 2026 at 7:35 PM
There were 43 crashes last year alone along Cortland Ave in the 26th ward. This area is proposed for a participatory budgeting greenway project. If you live in the ward, vote here and prioritize project #4! docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...
(data c/o www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...)
(data c/o www.strongtownschicago.org/chicago-cras...)
These e-bikes are out of control! Look at what this one did to ITS OWN CHARGING STATION, and now it just sits there like nothing happened. Disgraceful. We need licenses and fees for any type of vehicle that could create this much damage.
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
These e-bikes are out of control! Look at what this one did to ITS OWN CHARGING STATION, and now it just sits there like nothing happened. Disgraceful. We need licenses and fees for any type of vehicle that could create this much damage.
These emails are great, exactly the kind of stuff we want to see more of!
December 15, 2025 at 4:01 PM
These emails are great, exactly the kind of stuff we want to see more of!
A lotttta red on the NW side
December 2, 2025 at 11:01 PM
A lotttta red on the NW side
Coyote pups playing and howling along the Chicago river as seen and heard from the delightfully quiet Cortland bridge.
October 30, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Coyote pups playing and howling along the Chicago river as seen and heard from the delightfully quiet Cortland bridge.
Don’t mess with Chicago.
October 18, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Don’t mess with Chicago.
It seems I am not original in having suggested this 😅
September 16, 2025 at 9:58 PM
It seems I am not original in having suggested this 😅
West end of the 606! (especially with it being at the YMCA new greenways/low stress routes on Avers and Hamlin and new Encuentro Sq development).
September 16, 2025 at 9:57 PM
West end of the 606! (especially with it being at the YMCA new greenways/low stress routes on Avers and Hamlin and new Encuentro Sq development).
I don't understand why we can't put one of these at each stop sign line.
August 5, 2025 at 7:45 PM
I don't understand why we can't put one of these at each stop sign line.
This statement got me. How much of speeding / cut through traffic on residential streets is a result of Google Maps, Waze etc? Rather than place the burden on cities to install thousands of speed humps, diverters, bump outs etc - could ordinances require through traffic to be mapped to arterials?
August 5, 2025 at 3:06 PM
This statement got me. How much of speeding / cut through traffic on residential streets is a result of Google Maps, Waze etc? Rather than place the burden on cities to install thousands of speed humps, diverters, bump outs etc - could ordinances require through traffic to be mapped to arterials?
Historical Analysis of Property Tax Spikes (2021-2023) | Cook County Assessor's Office buff.ly/HQ8WK1v
Rough math says ~30% of properties in the 26th ward saw spikes of more than 25%. Meanwhile, some intentionally keep land vacant for YEARS and see a tax *decrease*.
Rough math says ~30% of properties in the 26th ward saw spikes of more than 25%. Meanwhile, some intentionally keep land vacant for YEARS and see a tax *decrease*.
June 17, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Historical Analysis of Property Tax Spikes (2021-2023) | Cook County Assessor's Office buff.ly/HQ8WK1v
Rough math says ~30% of properties in the 26th ward saw spikes of more than 25%. Meanwhile, some intentionally keep land vacant for YEARS and see a tax *decrease*.
Rough math says ~30% of properties in the 26th ward saw spikes of more than 25%. Meanwhile, some intentionally keep land vacant for YEARS and see a tax *decrease*.
Why are Chicago high schoolers missing so much school? buff.ly/EQO8gBU
I cannot stress how often this happens in education, systems *pre-lower* expectations in fear of potential harm and as a result massively increase harm on far more students.
Whole article is worth reading #chieducation #chied
I cannot stress how often this happens in education, systems *pre-lower* expectations in fear of potential harm and as a result massively increase harm on far more students.
Whole article is worth reading #chieducation #chied
May 20, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Why are Chicago high schoolers missing so much school? buff.ly/EQO8gBU
I cannot stress how often this happens in education, systems *pre-lower* expectations in fear of potential harm and as a result massively increase harm on far more students.
Whole article is worth reading #chieducation #chied
I cannot stress how often this happens in education, systems *pre-lower* expectations in fear of potential harm and as a result massively increase harm on far more students.
Whole article is worth reading #chieducation #chied
There’s a lot of things we need to improve in the city, but Chicago’s 311 system is awesome. I put a graffiti removal request in for a utility pole near us and in less than an hour someone had already come out and blasted it away.
February 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
There’s a lot of things we need to improve in the city, but Chicago’s 311 system is awesome. I put a graffiti removal request in for a utility pole near us and in less than an hour someone had already come out and blasted it away.
Welch and Harmon squash expectations on most big Chicago-related asks (Updated) https://buff.ly/4gp5rDh
Sen. Harmon with one of my favorite metaphors for the challenge state or local leaders often face.
Sen. Harmon with one of my favorite metaphors for the challenge state or local leaders often face.
December 10, 2024 at 11:26 PM
Welch and Harmon squash expectations on most big Chicago-related asks (Updated) https://buff.ly/4gp5rDh
Sen. Harmon with one of my favorite metaphors for the challenge state or local leaders often face.
Sen. Harmon with one of my favorite metaphors for the challenge state or local leaders often face.
For the past few months I've had a todoist reminder to look at my in-person meetings from the prior two weeks and request bike racks wherever they weren't present: bikeparking-chicago.hub.arcgis.com
My little civic gift to my #Chicago #bikechi bike friends - many have been approved now!
My little civic gift to my #Chicago #bikechi bike friends - many have been approved now!
December 10, 2024 at 3:39 AM
For the past few months I've had a todoist reminder to look at my in-person meetings from the prior two weeks and request bike racks wherever they weren't present: bikeparking-chicago.hub.arcgis.com
My little civic gift to my #Chicago #bikechi bike friends - many have been approved now!
My little civic gift to my #Chicago #bikechi bike friends - many have been approved now!
PSA: Preferences —> pick your pref
November 29, 2024 at 9:23 PM
PSA: Preferences —> pick your pref
That felt (feels?) like a big tipping point for our neighborhood in Chi - 2 kids + groceries or 3 kids heading to sports/school. I feel like I can see parents’ wheels turning when they see us roll by.
November 24, 2024 at 3:42 AM
That felt (feels?) like a big tipping point for our neighborhood in Chi - 2 kids + groceries or 3 kids heading to sports/school. I feel like I can see parents’ wheels turning when they see us roll by.