What can people in a largely car-dependent country do as they age out of driving responsibly? Instead of fighting bike lanes, we should be investing in micromobility lanes so there is a safe place for e-bikes and e-trikes. lloydalter.substack.com/p/we-may-soo...

Design your streets for the traffic you want!

Our I Can Bike There campaign aims to educate the public and encourage them to use their bikes for everyday trips and explore new routes, while celebrating those who already use their bicycle as a practical, sustainable mode of transportation 👏🏻 👏🏽 👏🏿 rideillinois.org/safety/icanb...

Ride Illinois is pleased to partner with the @bikeleague.org to bring a League Cycling Advocate (LCA) Workshop to Illinois this September. The Workshop will take place at the Illinois Medical District in Chicago. Registration will open soon, so stay tuned! bikeleague.org/change-start...

Researchers from Monash University in Australia have found that a cyclist needs 1.5 meters of cycle path to ride comfortably. This matches the clearance profile recommended by CROW for cycle paths with curbs higher than 5 centimeters. Read the full paper here: buff.ly/FkIix6L

Proceed cautiously as you encounter a car wash on a bike or on foot! Do not…We repeat - DO NOT get in the way of drivers waiting to clean their grimy cars and trucks 😱 #carwashnightmare

Sharing some key points related to micromobility from a presentation that @rideillinois.bsky.social has delivered several times during the past 6 months 🚲🛴 Regardless of your mode of travel, please be alert, slow down, and be mindful of the human beings you encounter along the way 🐢🐌

"Our streets are choosing to exclude children"

Research shows that biking is very, very healthy for people 65+. Findings after reviewing 28 prior studies: "Cycling in later life links to improved mobility [and] balance." "Older cyclists often report psychosocial health, life satisfaction, and well-being improvements." doi.org/10.1016/j.jt...

Thanks to Sharon from @chi.streetsblog.org for attending and writing an article about last week’s discussion with Carter Lavin! Carter shared an overview of his book (If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight) and fielded questions. A recording of the discussion is available on our YouTube channel.

New research finds negligible benefit from "minimum passing distance" laws requiring drivers to give cyclists space when overtaking them. Protected bike lanes are far more effective. doi.org/10.1016/j.jc...

Red carpet for bike lane blockers #cyclinglife #urbanbike #blockingthebikelane #whydonttheyrideinthebikelane #justanotherplacetopark www.facebook.com/share/p/14ah...

Ride Illinois was honored to speak at yesterday’s press conference - convened by @ilsecofstate.bsky.social - on the topic of micromobility. We’re pleased to be a partner in crafting legislation centered on that worthwhile objective. www.ilsos.gov/news/2026/ja...

The Grand Illinois Bike Tour returns June 7–12, 2026, with a scenic, fully supported ride through the Metro East area of southwest Illinois. Registration is now open for both the 6-day and 3-day tour options! Info and registration: rideillinois.org/events/2026-grand-illinois-bike-tour/

The annual North Lawndale Racial Justice Ride, hosted by @equiticity.bsky.social , will take place on the Dr. King holiday. Ride Illinois is pleased to assist with planning and spreading the word about this meaningful event ☮️ 👉 Register for free at bit.ly/2026KINGRIDE

If we applied this logic to cars, then nobody should be driving cars in the city for 3 months of the year.

On a similar theme, safe bike/walk education in school should have the same or greater priority as driver’s ed!

Commit to bicycling for transportation in 2026!! The I Can Bike There campaign educates the public and encourage them to use their bikes for everyday trips and explore new routes, while celebrating those who already use their bicycle as a practical, sustainable mode. 👉👉 icanbikethere.org

It’s nearly time to kiss 2025 goodbye. Before 2026 rolls in, it’s worth recapping a busy, impactful, and sometimes challenging year 👏🏿👏🏽👏🏻 Our yearly wrap-up for some highlights of Ride Illinois’ advocacy, education, and awareness efforts.

Advocacy orgs across the US, including Ride Illinois, are voicing strong concern about a reduction in funding for infrastructure for walking, biking, and active transportation. A letter to Congress aims to ensure that our collective message to protect and improve these programs is heard!

All right, Chicago Sustainable Transportation Nation, let's beat the drum on this issue! Active Trans: "Tell Chicago lawmakers: Don’t cut funding for safe streets." 🚶‍♀️ 🧑‍🦽 🚲 🚌 🥁 @atalliance.bsky.social @betterstreetschicago.org @bikegridnow.org @ctaction.org @daniellaspata.bsky.social @stevevance.net

A new book by author Christopher Sweet represents our shared heritage as Illinois cyclists – a heritage that is deeper and richer than anyone knew! 👉 ‘A History of Bicycling in Illinois’ is available from @illinoispress.bsky.social. Code F25UIP saves 30% 👈 www.press.uillinois.edu/books/?id=p0...

Sharing a recent post that offers valid perspective and debunks common beliefs about the school drop-off and pick-up line. “The car line is a truly soul-sucking way to begin and end your day" freddiedeboer.substack.com/p/fear-is-th...

Spreading some Thanksgiving joy to all. May your day be full of joy, family, food, and football! 😊🏠🦃🏈 And if time allows or if you can get to your holiday gathering by bike, a trip on your bicycle is always worthwhile 😉

For a century people being endangered on our roads have been told they are the problem. This from 1927.

An amazing story and an incredible woman!

Join Ride Illinois on 12/4 at 7pm for a timely, informative webinar that breaks down everything you need to know this season - from the differences between e-bikes and e-motos to safety tips to the confusing patchwork of local ordinances. Bring questions for Q&A! 🔗 Register here: bit.ly/44gKGWz

Bucking the trend of declining fatalities in other wealthy countries, U.S. crash deaths have spiked to more than 40,000 per year, along with tens of thousands of catastrophic injuries. Speed is a factor in nearly 30% of these crashes. 👉 Please watch and share this important film! powertripfilm.com

Snag your copy of @carterlavin.bsky.social's new book at islandpress.org/books/if-you...

Illinois is #11 on the Bicycle Friendly State ranking and is currently home to: ✴️ 14 Bicycle Friendly Communities ✴️ 25 Bicycle Friendly Businesses ✴️ 11 Bicycle Friendly Universities 👉 Tag or share this post with a community, business, or university that should apply. bikeleague.org/bfa/

"Children have been robbed of childhood by cars"

Sharing a concerning recent quote from Rep Sam Graves, Chair of the House committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, regarding the Transportation Reauthorization bill 😧🗣️ @bikeleague.org is hosting a webinar on Thursday on this topic. Register at bikeleague-org.zoom.us/meeting/regi...

‼️ As the holidays approach, devices with electric motors - including e-motos - are the wish lists of many children and teens. This message is to all parents, grandparents, fun uncles, and others who are buying gifts – DO NOT purchase an e-moto for a child or teen ‼️🚫

Unbelievably tragic piece about all the crossing guards injured or killed on the job in the US. One school district in South Carolina has had 4(!) crossing guards hit or killed on the job. These are people trying to fix the problems caused caused by traffic engineers, and are dying doing it.

Starting the morning on a positive note by reading a bit of the newly-released ‘Life After Cars’ from @thewaroncars.bsky.social and some tasty coffee from Maple Leaf Coffee Roasters - a Bicycle Friendly Business and Ride Illinois Corporate Member 😊 How’s your Friday looking?

"Unlike the vacuum cleaner, the radio, or the bicycle, which retain their use value when everyone has one, the car... is only desirable and useful insofar as the masses don’t have one."

London is proud to host Japan's Grand Sumo Tournament this week - it's fantastic to see the the teams using our cycling infrastructure to get around.

The new book 'If You Want to Win, You’ve Got to Fight: A Guide to Effective Transportation Advocacy' (by carterlavin.bsky.social) provides a roadmap for transforming passion into political power to win transit, bike, and street safety changes for your community islandpress.org/books/if-you...

Our BikeSafetyQuiz Mini-Grant program reached a record number of students in Illinois schools in the 2024-2025 school year: 72,744. Over 344,000 quiz sessions have been completed through the BSQ Mini-Grant program since it launched in 2018 🤩 Learn more at rideillinois.org/safety/bsqgr...

Proud to announce the release of our 2025 Legislative Scorecard. This comprehensive report highlights four years of advocacy (2021–2025), providing a clear record of how Illinois legislators voted on key bills that impact bicycle safety and infrastructure. rideillinois.org/advocacy/leg...

Ride Illinois members received a printed copy of our fall newsletter, Upshift. A digital version is available for lapsed members, and future members, and the public. Dive in to learn more about Ride Illinois and our efforts to make Illinois better through biking! rideillinois.org/newsletters/

Ride Illinois served as a panelist for the Summit on E-Bike/E-Scooter/E-Moto Ordinances hosted by the Northwest Municipal Conference. Ride Illinois has identified the need to clearly differentiate between legal classes of e-bikes and e-motos as a top priority. www.dailyherald.com/20250922/new...

Sharing an article from @peopleforbikes.bsky.social that aligns with the concerns that Ride Illinois has been expressing this year regarding e-motos. Widely varying, overly-restrictive local ordinances are only adding to the problem and the public's confusion. www.peopleforbikes.org/news/the-e-b...

Equiticity's recent "Claiming Our Space" event highlighted the importance of mobility justice issues, and how much the attendees value the nonprofit's crucial advocacy work. @equiticity.bsky.social @peopleforbikes.bsky.social @rideillinois.bsky.social @transitcenter.bsky.social

The new batch of Bike Law Wallet Cards includes the updated Definition of a Bicycle. Ride Illinois advocated for the updated definition with assistance from partner orgs, our members, and others. We appreciate all who voiced support for SB2285 👏🏿👏🏽👏🏻 Request form: rideillinois.org/safety/reque...

Cars 1.35 million!

Sadly, a 76-year old man riding his bicycle was struck and killed by the driver of an SUV on Friday night in Milmine. This case is being investigated by Illinois State Police, the Piatt County Sheriff’s Department and the Piatt County Coroner’s Office. www.wcia.com/news/piatt-c...

The bike bus programs globally are living proof that environmental awareness, public health, and community-building can all be achieved simultaneously. They represent a commitment to cultivating a more sustainable and healthier future for the children ❤️🤟 momentummag.com/how-to-start...

‘Twas a productive weekend as we collaborated with Kindle Point Inc. on a photo shoot to enhance BikeSafetyQuiz content and images 📸😎 Many thanks to Ride Riverside, Cycle Brookfield, and Maywood Rolling Wheels Club for sharing part of their weekend with us as the subject in hundreds of photos ☺️🤗

Sharing info and an invitation to attend some meaningful events, hosted by our friends at @equiticity.bsky.social, on September 12-13. Ride Illinois will be attending the Friday evening session to hear from and learn from several impressive, accomplished individuals. www.equiticity.org/second