Is there a road near you that you think needs to be made safer for bicycling? Is there a hazard on your daily commute? Did you know that we have an online form where you can tell us about these issues?

Many of our members have already used the form to submit information about problem areas in their town, and Ride Illinois has begun communications with the relevant agencies.

A range of issues have been raised so far, including:

• Difficult crossings, on roads and trails
• Poor pavement conditions
• Major roads that are difficult to bike along and across
• Criticism of laws and policies, including some of Ride Illinois’ stances—it’s OK, we can take it!
• Dissatisfaction with overall biking and driving interactions.

Sometimes our next step is clear, such as asking a road agency to install a signal that can be activated by people on bikes. Sometimes more research is needed to better understand the problem and identify who can help. While we can’t solve all problems (especially in the short term), every piece of information we receive from you helps us demonstrate the need for better biking conditions.

We would love to hear from all areas of the state! Our goal by the end of this month is to have at least 3 requests from each of IDOT’s nine districts. Help us spread the word in your town and invite others to submit their biking issues.