Bikes & Transit
Committee Greenlights Citizen Parking Enforcement
The Committee on Pedestrian and Traffic Safety voted Monday to advance an ordinance that would let Chicagoans use cellphones to document vehicles illegally parked in bus lanes, bike lanes, and crosswalks.
The measure, championed by committee chair Ald. Daniel La Spata (1st), rolls out in two phases. First, the Department of Finance will create a "Street Operations Task Force" of parking enforcement aides focused on bus, bike lane, and crosswalk violations outside the existing Smart Streets camera zone. Second—by December 31, 2026—the city will develop a dispatch system allowing 311 complaints to be routed directly to nearby enforcement aides who can respond immediately and issue tickets.
For now, the program applies only to commercial vehicles. Specifics will be refined through department rulemaking.
Business groups raised concerns that drivers sometimes have no legal loading zone and could face a wave of citizen-triggered tickets. La Spata countered that the revised ordinance will "lead to greater safety for all Chicagoans, and in a way that is really responsible and collaborative."
The full Council must still approve the measure. Departments are expected to report on Phase One progress by July.
Housing
ADU Countdown: 49 Days
Chicago's citywide ADU ordinance takes effect April 1—now 49 days away. Permit applications open the same day.
Quick refresher: properties with 1-4 units can add one coach house (detached, up to 450 sq ft) or one conversion unit (attic/basement in buildings 20+ years old). Aldermanic opt-in is required for single-family zones. Full details here.
Vegan
Bloom's Last Week
Bloom Plant Based Kitchen in Wicker Park enters its final ten days of service. The restaurant, led by James Beard–nominated chef Rodolfo Cuadros, will close permanently after February 21.
Cuadros told VegNews that the closure is "not an easy decision," but hinted the concept may evolve into something new. Bloom joins a string of Chicago vegan closures—including Kitchen 17, Native Foods, and Chicago Raw—that have shuttered since late 2025. Rising costs, seasonal foot traffic, and shifting consumer habits have all been cited as factors.
City Council meets tomorrow, February 12. Black Restaurant Week continues through February 22.