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! Members support our advocacy efforts and receive discounts on events like our Grand Illinois Bike Tour!Learn about the ways to 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.
2024 Fall Newsletter: Upshift
Learn about the latest in bicycle advocacy, awareness, education, bike friendly communities, and events are n this newsletter. The Upshift newsletter includes articles about important, relevant topics. Learn about the ways you can get involved with Ride Illinois.
Generosity
Ride Illinois Affiliated Club News
Ride Illinois is grateful to the bicycle clubs and community organizations that support our mission – through collaborations with us, promoting safety and education and donations. Many thanks to the Downers Grove Bicycle Club for their continued support of our work! Learn more about Affiliated Clubs & Community Organizations on our website.
Ride Illinois Corporate Member News
Many thanks to Wally’s Printing on renewing their Ride Illinois Corporate Membership! Wally's Printing specializes in commercial printing and creative design. Wally’s prints nearly all of our materials and we appreciate their excellent service. Click here to learn more about our generous Corporate Members from a variety of industries!
Community
Book Suggestion
Looking for a book about bicycling to read? Check out The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings, edited by Jim Joyce. The book, deemed a celebration of the bicycle by people who love to ride, features 32 articles and scattered throughout the book is a collection of 43 cartoons from artists whose work has appeared in a wide array of magazines.
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.
Article: Streets Used to be Full of Kids Playing
Marketplace recently published an interview about how kids being able to safely play in streets benefits their parents as well and how it has changed from being normal to a rarity. Roads and highways are the connective tissue of our economy, one could argue. But it’s worth asking: Who are roads for? Read the piece here.
Education & Safety
Congratulations to the New League Cycling Instructors!
Nine people became League Cycling Instructors (LCI) at a seminar hosted in Normal on October 4th to 6th! Ride Illinois organized this seminar with assistance from the Town of Normal and local advocates. We’re excited to collaborate with the new LCIs to offer classes through our Ride Illinois Safely program to residents in central and southern Illinois. Future opportunities to become an LCI will be offered in 2025. In the meantime, click here for more information on becoming an LCI.
Collaboration with UIC on Pop-up Education Event
In collaboration with the Planning, Sustainability and Project Management departmentat UIC, Ride Illinois will be hosting a pop-up event on campus in late October for students and faculty. We’ll share info, swag, and resources with all who stop by. Demos include fix-a-flat and helmet fitting. Discussion about Ride Illinois Safely classes and Smart Cycling tips will be included. This event resulted from Ride Illinois’ intentional outreach to colleges and universities in Illinois to strengthen connections with young adults. We intend to collaborate with more colleges and universities in the near future.
Environment & Awareness
Bike Lanes Are Beneficial for More than Just Cyclists
Sure, bike lanes (particularly, protected bike lanes) are great for people who ride bikes. However, narrowing lanes for motorized traffic has a calming effect making the roads safer for everyone. Streetsblog USA recently published “Should We Stop Calling Bike Lanes ‘Bike Lanes’?” Read the full discussion here.
Advocacy & Legislation
Bicycle Infrastructure Conversation on Illinois Public Media
Ride Illinois board member, Cynthia Hoyle, recently spoke on the increase in fatal crashes involving bicyclists and the developments in bicycle infrastructure within the past few years. Hoyle, who is a transportation consultant and is also the co-chair of the C-U Safe Routes to School Project, spoke with Brian Mackey about e-bikes, narrow lanes, separated infrastructure and more. “Bicycling is the most efficient form of transportation for trips under five to ten miles; and it can be very enjoyable, as well,” Hoyle said. Listen to the episode here.
Summer Social Media Campaign Recap
With support from an IDOT grant, Ride Illinois developed and ran a campaign on social media between mid-May and mid-September. The campaign intended to increase awareness of bicyclists and humanize bicyclist-motorist interactions. The campaign totaled nearly 3.5 million impressions on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn – a 54% increase over our 2023 campaign. We’re pleased at the results, but know there is work to be done to increase safety and respect amongst all road users. Click here to check out and share the assets developed for our safety campaigns.
Grants & Other Opportunities
Bicycle Friendly Business Applications Due Oct. 30
Applications for the next round of Bicycle Friendly Business designations are due Oct. 30. The League of American Bicyclists award the designations through their Bicycle Friendly America Program. Read more about the Bicycle Friendly Business application and process here.Illinois has a total of 26 Bicycle Friendly Businesses, 15 Bicycle Friendly Communities and 12 Bicycle Friendly Universities. Learn more about the program, and how Ride Illinois can be a resource for entities seeking bicycle friendly recognition, as well as local advocates. Read morehere.
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:
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