Illinois bicyclists on a roll

May 5th, 2009 at 07:53am Wally Haas

Dean Schott and Ed Barsotti of the League of Illinois Bicyclists wrote the article below in response to my question about the state of bicycling in this state.

Illinois has been experiencing a real two-wheeled revolution.

In little ways in little places to big ways in big places, bicycling has rolled into the 21st century with a vitality that gives us huge hope for the future.

In a survey released last fall by the League of American Bicyclists, Illinois ranked a respectable 8th in the nation as bike friendly and 3rd in the Midwest behind Wisconsin and Minnesota.

It’s not just one designation, but a series of developments across this state that have made the revolution a reality.
The League of Illinois Bicyclists just concluded its most ambitious effort ever to train adults to teach children about bike safety.  Nearly 400 adults will now teach thousands of young people and their parents on the joys of safe bicycling.
The classes are a part of a statewide effort to promote the national Safe Routes to Schools initiative to get children out of their parents’ cars to bicycle and walk to school. Thousands of local officials, educators and volunteers have been working together for months in cities and towns to implement and promote the program.

Later this month, 20,000 bicyclists will renew Chicago’s Bike the Drive, the annual ride along scenic Lake Shore Drive without cars – just bicycles.  It’s one of the largest, most successful rides in the nation.

Another indication of bicycling’s popularity is that the league’s week-long Grand Illinois Trails and Parks Ride in June reached its full enrollment exceptionally fast this year.

In Rockford, progress is being marked by the expansion of nearly10 miles of bike routes and lanes this year to go with two miles added last year along stretches of Morsay, Huffman and Rockton.

There’s no one person leading the revolution, but literally thousands from bicycle enthusiasts and advocates, to bike shop owners and bike club officers to bicycling supporters at all levels of government.

Illinois now has three new leaders in significant places who can help roll the revolution forward:  President Barack Obama, Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, all bicycling advocates.

LaHood of Peoria recently wrote: “When I told the League of American Bicyclists National Bike Summit that ‘Cyclists are important users of America’s transportation systems,’ I meant it. And, when I wrote that, ‘With DOT, bicyclists have a full partner in working toward livable communities,’ I meant that as well.”

New laws have buttressed bicycling in Illinois. It took the General Assembly’s override of a governor’s veto in 2007, but state law now requires the Department of Transportation to improve safety and accessibility for bicyclists in all new urban construction projects.  A 2008 law requires motorists to afford at least three feet of space when passing bicyclists.

Consider this state will receive $28 million under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 for expanding bicycling opportunities, and one conclusion is inescapable: Illinois bicycling has realized unprecedented momentum.

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