Chicago apparently has a job opening for Transportation Commissioner. The Sun-Times reports today that Daley is replacing Streets and Sanitation Commissioner Michael Picardi with Transportation Commissioner Thomas Byrne, which leaves me wondering who our new Transportation Commissioner will be. What are the chances we'll actually get someone progressive for this post, or even someone who knows anything about transportation? It's exciting to think about what a good person in this position could do for Chicago. We need someone who understands that transportation is about enabling a thriving city by helping people get around -- it's not just about moving cars through the city more quickly.

PSSST, Mayor Daley, please steal this woman for the job!

A friend forwarded me this email newsletter message from Chicago Northside Toyota promoting one of the great advantages of transit. What does it mean when car dealerships start catering to the growing "car-lite" population?

Why Fight for Parking?

There's so much going on in our wonderful city right now - like the Taste of Chicago. But oh, the nightmare of the parking meters!

Why fight for parking when you visit the events, when you could drop your Prius off for service or repair at Chicago Northside Toyota - and take public transportation?

Chicago Northside Toyota is right on the Red Line's Bryn Mawr stop.
How much more convenient can you get?

You may have noticed posters and ads around town for the Chicago Park District's Movies in the Park 2009 season. These are great events celebrating our city's public space and our fervent love of summer. This year there was an ambitious schedule of more than 170 movies in neighborhood parks across the city. If you've never been to one, you still have 154 opportunities left before the summer is up! It's a great excuse for a nice walk or bike ride to your local park and an evening outside with your neighbors. Check out the Chicago Park District Movies in the Park Schedule for a full listing.

The Sun-Times reports that the new section of the Chicago Riverwalk under Michigan Ave. opened yesterday. If you've ever tried to cross Michigan Ave. from the Riverwalk, you'll know this is a huge improvement over climbing the stairs up to street level, crossing the street three times (since there's no crosswalk going west), and going back down the stairs to the river. The underpass is also sure to provide much greater exposure for the Bridgehouse Museum, a little-noticed gem of a museum that was hidden on the Riverwalk on the west side of Michigan Ave. Be sure to go downtown to check it out.

Blair Kamin has given some much needed attention in the Tribune to the street design issues outside the new Modern Wing of the Art Institute: Art Institute's Modern Wing: Getting there can be risky. He points out the increase in jaywalking on Monroe as visitors from Millennium Park try to find the shortest route to the Modern Wing, and he suggests a mid-block crosswalk to remedy the problem. What's troubling is the City's response:

"Perhaps, as Steele says, the city can treat the problem crossing as effectively as it handled the successful, but sometimes troublesome, 2004 opening of Millennium Park.