One of the more pervasive ways we are helping to create a bike-friendly Illinois is to educate the decision-makers and professionals that are influencing roadway projects and design throughout Illinois. On May 24th, Ride Illinois partnered with the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, the Chicago Metro Section of the American Planning Association, and T.Y. Lin International to present a day-long tutorial around the NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide. The guide provide state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists. The sold-out training served as a comprehensive tutorial for transportation planners, engineers, and advocates petitioning to make their communities more bike-friendly. Participants represented more than 30 agencies, including: the Illinois Department of Transportation, Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways, Active Transportation Alliance, University of Illinois, and AECOM, to name a few.

The hands-on training incorporated classroom-style learning and in-field education, which included a DIVVY-sponsored tour of some of the Chicago Loop’s most dynamic, bike-friendly infrastructure. Expert presenters detailed various design barriers and solutions, shared when and where to use the different kinds of bike lanes, and exemplified the importance of being opportunistic with road and bike improvements. Our ultimate goal in this training was to give designers and advocates the tools and knowledge needed to create low-stress and comfortable bikeways that will benefit every kind of cyclist in their own towns.

The next NACTO Bikeway Design training will be held on September 20, the day after the Illinois Bike Summit in Normal, IL. Registration is limited to 45 participants. Learn more or register here.