ETA is a resident-led advocacy group working for a safer and better connected Evanston by championing pedestrian-oriented streets, bike infrastructure for all ages and abilities, and high-quality public transit.
We weigh in on local transportation-related issues, advocate to stakeholders and elected officials, build community through bike rides and other events, and raise awareness during local elections.
Our work is grounded in a commitment to accessibility, equity, inclusive community engagement, sustainability, and mobility justice.
Safer streets and better transit are important to Evanston.
Evanston commuters walk, bike, or take transit to work.
Evanston households have only one car or none.
the Chicago region’s rate of active travel.
Commute and vehicle figures: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 five-year estimates; regional comparison from the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP).
In the past ten years, at least 897 crashes in Evanston have involved a person walking or biking, with 134 seriously injured and 8 killed. After a brief decline in 2020–22, crashes have climbed back to their highest level since 2015, with cyclists increasingly among those hit.
Near-misses never show up in official data, but they can be just as life-changing. Tell us where you’ve had a near-miss or unsafe experience on an Evanston street.
Source: Illinois Department of Transportation crash data, 2015–2025; City of Evanston ward boundaries. Community-reported stories are unverified and shown at the block level.
Meaningful change rarely happens on its own. A safer and better connected Evanston will take residents willing to show up, speak out, and work together to move good ideas forward. Sign up below to get our advocacy alerts and event updates in your inbox.
Upcoming events
More events coming soon — sign up above to get event updates by email.