Relevant news, updates, and encouragement from Ride Illinois to your inbox!
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Greetings
Thanks for your interest in Ride Illinois and our efforts to make Illinois better through biking! Individual contributions fund our important advocacy, education and awareness efforts. Learn about the ways you can support Ride Illinois at rideillinois.org/join-support.
Not sure of your Ride Illinois membership status? Click here to log into your account. Once you’re logged in, you also can check your status, view your giving history, plus update your profile.
Ride Illinois Summer Membership Appeal
Your membership matters!During our Summer Membership Appeal, we’re asking you to support our important work by joining Ride Illinois for as little as $15. Your generous donation will fund our advocacy, education, and awareness efforts in 2024 and beyond. Click the button below to join today! Already a member? Consider encouraging your friends and family to join or giving a gift membership!
We are grateful to the bicycle clubs that support our mission – through collaborations with us, helping us promote safety and education and through donations. We want to thank Illinois Valley Wheelm'n, Prairie Cycle Club and Velo Club Roubaix for their support of our statewide work! Learn more about Affiliated Clubs & Community Organizations on our website.
Corporate Member News
Many thanks to Illinois Trail Shuttle on renewing their Ride Illinois Corporate Membership! We want to also thank Boulevard Bikes for becoming a corporate member! Click hereto learn more about our generous Corporate Members from a variety of industries.
Community
Book Suggestion
Looking for a book to read on rainy days? Check out Killed by a Traffic Engineer: Shattering the Delusion that Science Underlies our Transportation System, by Wes Marshall. A civil engineering professor, Marshall shines a spotlight on how little science there is behind the way that our streets are engineered, which leaves safety as an afterthought. The book is ultimately hopeful about what is possible once we shift our thinking and demand streets engineered for the safety of people, both outside and inside of cars.
What bike-related books do you recommend? From epic adventures to practical advice, to the benefits of biking, there are lots of books about bikes out there! Send your suggestions to info@rideIllinois.org and we may include it in a future newsletter.
Advocate for bicyclist safety when you drive! The Share the Road license plates deliver a key message and raise money for Ride Illinois’ education programs via the state’s Share the Road Fund. Most of the incremental fee for these state-approved specialty license plates fund our education offerings – BikeSafetyQuiz, useful materials and resources, and the Ride Illinois Safely program. Read more on our Share the Road Specialty License Plates webpage.
Environment & Awareness
In Praise of Bikes
Probably everyone reading this newsletter knows the many benefits of riding a bike; but, it is always nice when the mainstream media seems to know it as well. Forbes recently published "Shift Happens: Two Wheels Are Booming Are Cities Keeping Up?" talks about the many benefits of bikes, what cities can do and talks about cities leading the way. Momentum Magazine recently published an article on the growth of biking in Chicago.
Advocacy & Legislation
$9.8 Million Awarded for Safe Routes to Schools
The Illinois Department of Transportation recently announced $9.8 million in Safe Routes to School grants for 47 communities across our state. Chicago Heights, Greenville, Litchfield and Moline each received grants of $250,000. You can read more about the grants and read the full list of communities here.
Kane County E-bike Speed Reduction Program
E-bikes have many benefits but the speeds reached with them can cause safety concerns. The Forest Preserve District plans to launch an E-bike speed reduction program this summer, including the use of digital speed signs similar to those used for cars. The initiative will focus on Class E-3 bicycles, which can exceed posted speed limits. (Class E-2 and E-1 bikes are currently the only classes of E-bikes allowed on trails maintained by Kane County.) You can read more about the program here.
Events Calendar
Ride Illinois helps to promote the organized rides of affiliated bike clubs and supporting organizations. Below are some events we think you will appreciate:
