If you’ve been reading the emails that Ride Illinois has been sending and following us on social media, you know that there is a lot of activity in spring regarding legislation at the state and federal level. We appreciate everyone who has shared our action alerts, created witness slips, and voiced their support for safe biking in other ways! This update captures the latest information regarding bike-friendly bills and resolutions that are being discussed Springfield and Washington D.C.
We also want to share some terrible, unacceptable, and gut-wrenching information. A recent report from NHTSA states that nearly 32,000 people died on U.S. roadways in the first nine months of 2022. Nationwide in 2022, bicyclist fatalities increased 8% over 2021. Pedestrian and motorcyclist fatalities are also on the rise. Fatalities involving trucks increased over 10%. IDOT reports that 1,269 people died on Illinois roads in 2022, including 33 bicyclists and 36 pedestrians. This is unacceptable!
We didn’t share these startling statistics to scare you but, rather, to inspire you to push for change in your community, in Springfield, and in D.C. Our elected officials and decision makers need to hear from people from all walks of life that the status quo is not OK.
Stay tuned to Ride Illinois for future updates via email and social media.
With assistance from partners, Ride Illinois has been closely watching several bills in the Illinois House and Senate. To learn the latest on these bills, visit ilga.gov or click on the links below.
Over a dozen advocates from Illinois participated in meetings with members of Congress during the National Bike Summit in Washington D.C. at the end of March. The National Bike Summit takes place annually and is organized by the League of American Bicyclists.
The Illinois delegation was led by Dave Simmons and Elizabeth Adamczyk. who served as the state coordinators for Illinois. Six meetings were held on Lobby Day, March 29, and we’re working to schedule meetings with additional members of Congress in the coming weeks. The purpose of these meetings is to voice our support for bills and acts that will make riding a bike safer and easier in communities across the country.
Ride Illinois strongly encourages state and federal elected officials to act swiftly and boldly to drastically reduce crashes and fatalities on our nation’s roads! Our transportation system is in dire need of a transformation.
Legislation and policy rarely move at the pace that advocates are pleased with. Patience and persistence are two of the most effective traits when pushing for change via legislation. That being said, the next couple weeks are a perfect time to contact your state and federal elected officials to make your voice heard!
Visit usa.gov/elected-officials to find contact information for your elected officials. We encourage Illinois residents to make phone calls, send emails, and schedule meetings with elected officials to voice their support for increased safety and better infrastructure for bicyclists, plus pedestrians and other vulnerable road users.
Nearly 120 people are dying on our nation’s roads every day. On average, five people die on Illinois roads every day. We are hopeful that many residents of Illinois will contact their elected officials to demand change.
If Ride Illinois can be of assistance for outreach to elected officials, please contact us at info@rideillinois.org.
