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Greetings
Happy Halloween, John,
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisps, we’re grateful for another incredible year of advocacy and progress. This month’s newsletter brings you updates and opportunities to stay engaged—on and off your bike.
Generous contributions make everything we do possible. As 2025 winds down, please join, renew, or donate to keep this important work moving forward. Together, we’re creating a more bike-friendly Illinois!
Ride Illinois earned a 2025 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency – the third year in a row we've received this distinct recognition 👏👏👏
Ride Illinois shares financial information with Candid so current and future members know that their donations are used wisely and ethically. You're encouraged to visit our Candid profile to learn more.
Legislation & Policy
The Latest from Springfield
Ride Illinois continues to work diligently with our lobbyist and partners to advocate for bike-friendly legislation in Springfield 🤝
Ride Illinois recently met with the Secretary of State and other stakeholders to discuss legislation to clearly distinguish between e-motos/motor drive cycles and legal classes of e-bikes. All stakeholders expressed some desire to regulate high-speed motor driven cycles. Ride Illinois collaborated with Rep. Barbara Hernandez to create the draft bill that was the focus of this discussion.
In addition, several priorities remain at the top of our list for the 2026 legislative session: enhanced bike/walk education in schools, recognizing bicyclists as permitted and intended user of Illinois roads, and reining in superspeeders. Stay tuned to Ride Illinois for updates 👈
Education & Safety
BikeSafetyQuiz 2.0 Rolls out to Schools
Major improvements to our BikeSafetyQuiz has been rolled out to Illinois schools through our BSQ Mini-Grant program. To date, nearly 275 schools have applied to participate. Enhancements include:
Colorful photos and graphics
New questions related to e-bikes and infrastructure
More relatable scenarios, not just a focus on Illinois law
Public-facing versions of BikeSafetyQuiz (in English and Spanish) will launch in spring 2026.
AARP Safe Driver Program
Be part of the safe driving solution. Are you ready to give back? Make a real impact in your community as an AARP Driver Safety volunteer. Find lasting fulfillment by helping drivers become safer and more confident behind the wheel.
The World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims is a global event held every third Sunday of November to honor those who have lost their lives or been impacted by roadway crashes. This year on November 16, communities across the globe, including several dozen in the United States, will gather together to demand actions towards improving roadway safety and to uplift proven strategies, including redesigning dangerous roads, reducing speed limits, and improving vehicle design.
Click here to learn more, including tips to organize an event
November 16: Power Trip Film Screening
Power Trip is a film that examines the media culture around high-risk driving, including movies, video games and car commercials that glamorize speed and aggression. The film will be screened on November 16 at 1:30pm in Chicago followed by a Q&A with the film’s writer and director, Myron Levin. Ride Illinois is helping to spread the word about this insightful film.
Largest Infrastructure Program in Illinois History
Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) joined state and local leaders, labor and transportation stakeholders to announce the largest multi-year program to build and repair infrastructure in state history: $50.6 billion over six years, continuing an unprecedented investment in safety, mobility and quality of life made possible by the Governor’s Rebuild Illinois capital program.
The new program, spread across all modes of transportation and touching every Illinois county, also includes $400 million to support 223 local projects. These projects, ranging from street and transit upgrades to bike and pedestrian improvements, are based on priorities submitted by counties, cities, townships, transit districts and other local agencies.
Recommendation: If You Want to Win, You've Got to Fight
Your transit and street safety dreams are within your reach. While challenging our dangerous car-centric systems can feel daunting, you can win, and this book is here to help. In If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight, transportation activist and advocacy consultant Carter Lavin provides a roadmap for transforming passion into political power.
Accessible and inspirational, If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight will be a game-changer for people who want our communities to prioritize people over cars.
💡What bike-related books or podcasts do you recommend? From epic adventures to practical advice, to the benefits of biking, there are plenty of options! Send your suggestions to info@rideIllinois.org.
Generosity
Affiliated Clubs & Community Organizations
Ride Illinois is grateful to the bicycle clubs and community organizations that support our work. Their efforts at the local level are a critical component to progress at the state level.
Click here to learn about generous clubs and organizations.
Corporate Members
We’re extremely grateful to have the continued support of our corporate members. This month, we’re pleased to have Christopher B. Burke Engineering, LTD and Wally’s Printing renew their corporate membership - supporting bike education, advocacy, and awareness for another year. Businesses and corporations that believe in Ride Illinois’ mission are invited to join as a Corporate Member. Learn more and explore options at rideillinois.org/corporate-membership.Click here to learn more about our generous Corporate Members.
Grants & Other Opportunities
Metro East Park and Recreation District (MEPRD)
The FY2026 Grant Cycle offers four unique funding opportunities for qualifying applicants in Madison and St. Clair Counties, IL. Each grant opportunity is listed below by program name and status. Eligible applicants can receive up to one MEPRD award per grant program, per fiscal year. Application deadline is May 29, 2026.
Events Calendar
🗓 Ride Illinois is pleased to promote the rides and event offered by affiliated bike clubs and community organizations, plus other impactful organizations.
Below are some rides and events we think you'll appreciate:
Ride Illinois recently attended the Little Grassy Get Down in Makanda and offered guided bike rides for adults and children (L) and was a vendor at Lincolnwood's Oaktoberfest where we chatted with attendees about our advocacy, education, and awareness efforts (R).
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