Relevant news, updates, and encouragement from Ride Illinois to your inbox!
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Greetings
The beginning of the year marks the start of the spring legislative session. Ride Illinois has been meeting with our lobbyist regarding our 2025 legislative priorities. We'll share an update soon to keep you in the loop.
Holiday Wishes
With the holidays fast approaching, we'll take this opportunity to wish you and yours a healthy, happy, and festive end to 2024 🤗
Generosity
Affiliated Clubs & Community Organizations
Ride Illinois is grateful to the bicycle clubs and community organizations that make generous contributions. Their efforts at the local level are a critical component to progress at the state level. Thanks to the following:
Arlington Heights Bicycle Club has something for you: leisurely to advanced-paced rides, social functions, a commitment to safe riding.
Folks on Spokes provides members with opportunities to ride with cyclists of similar riding abilities on a variety of weekly routes from 15 to 100 miles in length.
Park Ridge Cycling invites you to join them for the camaraderie and fun of bike rides throughout the year.
Corporate Members
Ride Illinois appreciates the support of businesses, foundations, and organizations for their generosity. Click here to learn more about our generous Corporate Members from a variety of industries.Freeman Kevenides Law Firm is a personal injury law firm representing & advocating for bicyclists, pedestrians and vulnerable road users. Thanks to FK Law for their support!
Education & Safety
Request for Proposals for 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit
Proposals are being accepted for breakout sessions, on-site workshops, and mobile workshops at the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Submitted topics must be relevant to the theme (Creating Connected, Livable, Thriving Communities) and enhance attendees’ collective understanding of ways to improve conditions and increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Click here to learn more and submit a proposal.
Taller Vehicles are More Dangerous
A study of real-world crash data released Tuesday by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) shows that higher speeds are more likely to cause serious injuries in pedestrian crashes, regardless of vehicle height. The findings suggest that the 25 mph speed limit commonly used in residential neighborhoods in the U.S. may be too high for bustling city centers or other areas with large numbers of pedestrians.
Environment & Awareness
New Bicycle Friendly State Rankings
League of American Bicyclists releases Bicycle Friendly State rankings every two years. In the latest round, Illinois' ranking improved from #15 to #11. Click here to review Illinois' 2024 report card.
Ride Illinois has a goal to become a top-5 BFS. While we're pleased that the state is ranked higher in 2024, we're not satisfied. Not already a member?! Please join Ride Illinois to support our advocacy, education, and awareness work.
Cold Weather Biking Tips
Ask and you shall receive! A recent social media post asked followers for their tips for biking in cold weather. Thanks to all who chimed in. Below is a selection of our favorites.
Bar mitts changed my life for cold weather riding – Evan S
I wear a one-piece suit. One piece of everything I own – Bill L
Keep head, ears, and fingers warm. Once those get cold it's all over – Michael H
Ski helmet & goggles (when gets really cold) with baklava to cover up those cheeks and your nose – Troy G
Merino wool is great as socks, shirts, under shirts, anything you wear in the cold – Tom P
Don’t overdress. If you sweat, you get colder – Shannon H
Ride Illinois and partners will be contacting new IDOT Secretary Biagi in the near future to congratulate her on the new role and, more importantly, to discuss priorities. A world-class transportation system for Illinois must include safe, accessible, connected infrastructure for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non-motorized road users.
At Climate Day at the Capitol, you’ll have the opportunity to rally in the rotunda of the Capitol Building and meet with your legislators to urge them to support critical climate legislation. If you’ve never joined a lobby day or talked to your elected officials before, have no fear! The entire event is designed for first-timers and seasoned advocates alike. Click here to reserve your spot!
Grants & Other Opportunities
Park Tool Community Grant
Park Tool is proud to offer the Park Tool Community Tool Grant, designed to help local nonprofit cycling organizations get the repair and maintenance equipment they need. This program is open to all nonprofit organizations worldwide. Each of the ten grant recipients will receive over $1,600 in Park Tool products. Deadline is December 31, 2024.
T-Mobile Hometown Grant
Every quarter, T-Mobile awards up to $50,000 for shovel-ready projects. The grant funds projects that foster local connections, like technology upgrades, outdoor spaces, the arts, and community centers. Elected officials, town managers/employees, tribal leaders, or nonprofit community leaders from small towns with population less than 50,000 can apply. Deadline is December 31, 2024.
Community
Book Suggestion
AASHTO released the 5th edition of the Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. Developed by the AASHTO Committee on Design and the Technical Committee on Non-Motorized Transportation and based on extensive research, this new edition provides the preeminent engineering design guidance on the physical infrastructure needed to support bicycling. Encourage the planners and engineers in your community to consult the new guide when planning bike/ped projects.
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.
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:
Ride Illinois recently hosted a pop-up event and met with trail users in Morton Grove (L) and met with the Office of Sustainability at Joliet Junior College (R).
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