Ride IllinoisRide Illinois
05/07/2018

2018 Illinois Bike Summit

Thanks to all that joined us for the 2018 Illinois Bike Summit! Our next summit will be held in 2020. Slides from the breakout sessions are available under Program & Session Topics below, and linked to speakers’ names.

Join us on Monday, May 7 at the University of Illinois at Chicago for a day of learning and networking with over 300 bicycle advocates, planners, engineers, transportation agency staff, and other from around the state. With a range of session topics – from bikeway design and tips to advocacy and community engagement – the summit offers strategies to help you make progress in your town.

We’re pleased to announce that Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld and Illinois Transportation Secretary Randy Blankenhorn will participate as keynote speakers. IDOT is also tentatively scheduled to announce the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program grant winners at the Summit.

The Summit features keynote speakers, breakout sessions organized in three tracks, coffee talks, mobile workshops, lunch, advocacy awards, and a networking reception. Continuing education credits will also be available for professional planners and engineers. Explore session topics, speakers, and event details by clicking on the plus signs below or our take a look at our Summit schedule-at-a-glance here and our full Summit Program here.

Registration Rates

Early Bird Registration Rates – Extended through February 28

Non-member: $65
Member: $50
Student: $30

Regular Registration Rates – Beginning March 1
Non-member: $99
Member: $65
Student: $40

Day of Summit Rate – May 7
Non-member, Member, & Student – $100

Registration includes the full day program, buffet lunch, and a networking reception immediately following the summit program.

Join Ride Illinois to be eligible for a members’ discount. An annual membership starts at $30. If you’re unsure of your membership status, email us at [email protected].

If the summit cost is an obstacle to your attendance, contact
[email protected] to apply for a scholarship or reduced fee.

Location & Time

Monday, May 7, 2018
8:30 am – 9:15 am – Coffee Talks
9:30 am – 3:30 pm – Summit Program
3:30 pm – 5:00 pm – Networking Reception

University of Illinois at Chicago
Student Center East
3rd Floor Conference Center
750 S. Halsted Street
Chicago, Illinois 60607

Paid Parking is available at the Halsted/Taylor Parking Structure across the street from Student Center East building. Enter the parking garage at 760 W. Taylor St.

The second closest university parking lot is located at 1135 S. Morgan St.

Program & Session Topics

Slides from the breakout sessions are linked to speakers’ names below.

See the schedule-at-a-glance or full Summit program

Opening Plenary – Keynote by Chicago DOT Commissioner Rebekah Scheinfeld

Lunch Plenary – Keynote by IDOT Secretary Randy Blankenhorn including announcement of Illinois Transportation Enhancements grant winners; Ride Illinois Awards Presentation

Breakout Sessions – 3 Tracks
Session topics and speakers, as follows:


Infrastructure Track

Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks Guide – An Introductory LookTim Gustafson, Consultant and NACTO-certified trainer

Chicago’s Innovative Bicycle Infrastructure – Brad Huff, Senior Transportation Planner, TY Lin International

Bike-Friendly Road Projects:  From Small-Scale Improvements to Complete Street Corridors – Ed Barsotti, Chief Programs Officer, Ride Illinois; Eric Hanss, Principal Pedestrian Planner, Chicago DOT

Closing Difficult Gaps in the Trail Network: A Case Study of the Riverview Bridge in ChicagoGreg Osborne, Director of Civil Engineering, Epstein; Lubka Benak, Project Director Livable Streets Program, Chicago DOT

Mobile Workshop: Chicago’s Bicycle Infrastructure – Chicago DOT staff


Advocacy Track

Bike Walk Every Town Advocacy TrainingMaggie Melin, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance

Get Involved: Engaging in Election Advocacy in Your CommunityMaggie Melin, Advocacy Manager, Active Transportation Alliance

Flipping the Script: Giving Drivers the Legal Burden to Prove Due Care Following a Collision – Brendan Kevenides, Partner, Freeman Kevenides Law Firm

Advocating for Trail DevelopmentSteve Simmons and Matt Gomez, Trail Advocacy Managers, Active Transportation Alliance; Brendan Lynch, Bike and Hike Charleston


Education, Encouragement, and Equity Track

From Divvy to Dockless: A Comparison of Bike Share Models – Mercy Davison, Town Planner, Town of Normal; Alex Hanson, Transportation Planner, Sam Schwartz; Amanda Woodall, Program Director, Chicago DOT; Dave Reed, Expansion Manager, Zagster

Education and Outreach Programs in Chicago and IllinoisSean Wiedel, Asst. Commissioner, and Lauren Crabtree, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Program Manager, Chicago DOT; Ed Barsotti, Chief Programs Officer, Ride Illinois

An Academic and Advocacy Look at Bike Equity in Chicago – Katherine P Nickele, Research Coordinator, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children; Dan Black, Director of Community Engagement, Slow Roll Chicago; Lynda Lopez, Reporter, Streetsblog Chicago

Over a Century as a Hub: The History of Cycling in ChicagoChris McAuliffe, Author of Cycling in Chicago


Coffee Talks - Early Morning Session

All attendees are welcome to Coffee Talks will be held at 8:30 am – 9:15 am at the conference site before the Summit program officially begins. These are casual, small group discussions on the topics listed below. Talk descriptions are available in the Summit program.

Coffee Talks 

Bike 2 Campus Week Promotion – Kate Yoshida, Office of Sustainability, University of Illinois-Chicago; Tania Sebastian & Elizabeth Adamczyk, Ride Illinois

Bike Advocacy and Climate Change – Wharton Sinkler, Des Plaines Bike/Ped Advisory Committee, volunteer for Citizen’s Climate Lobby

Electric Bikes:  New Illinois Law, Potential for Intrastructure, and Promotion – Randy Neufeld, SRAM Cycling Fund

From A to Z: Creative Marketing for Bicycle Events – Rick Brooks, Z Tour and YouAreHereMidwest Partners

Illinois Bicycle Touring Routes – Gary Gilbert, Arlington Heights Bicycle Club; Ed Barsotti, Ride Illinois

Nonprofit Community Bike Shops and Youth Programs – Alex Wilson, West Town Bikes

Normal’s Zagster Bike Sharing Program – Mercy Davison, Town of Normal

 

Mobile Workshop Sessions

Summit attendees can sign up to explore Chicago bike infrastructure by bicycle in our mobile workshops. A morning session (20 participants max) and an afternoon session (40 participants max, broken into 2 groups) will be led by Chicago Department of Transportation experts. Participants will ride Divvy bicycles supplied by the Chicago Department of Transportation.

The demand has already exceeded capacity. However, if you are interested in participating in one of the mobile workshops, you may still select a preference on the registration form. Confirmation of your spot in a workshop will be emailed to you closer to the event date.

Attendees Ride & Reception
Sunday, May 6
Bike Ride 3 – 4:30 pm

Reception 4:30 – 6 pm

Join us the day before the Illinois Bike Summit for our Attendees Bike Ride and Reception. The ride will kick off from the Crown Plaza Hotel West Loop at 3pm and we’ll ride the Lakefront Path south to either 31st St. Beach (10 miles roundtrip) or 57th St. Beach (17 miles roundtrip) to showcase the city’s most scenic bike route.

A reception will follow at Federales Tacos, 180 N. Morgan St., from 4:30 – 6 pm. We’ll enjoy cold drinks, delish tacos, and fresh guacamole and salsa.

This event is open only to registered attendees of the Illinois Bike Summit and RSVP is required. Please email [email protected] to RSVP.

Special thanks to our Attendees Ride & Reception sponsor:

Continuing Education Credits

Many of the summit’s breakout sessions will likely be approved for planners’ CM credits. A technical track of breakout sessions will also offer 4 hours of PDH credits. We will post detailed continuing education credits info as we finalize all of our program sessions and topics.

Contact us at [email protected] if you have any questions.

Hotel Block

A block of rooms have been reserved at the Crowne Plaza Chicago West Loop. The hotel is located a short walking distance – about a half mile – from both the Summit at the UIC Student Center East and Union Station. The discounted nightly rate is $165 and available until April 14th.

Crowne Plaza West Loop
733 West Madison, Chicago

Reservations must be made online here or by phone at 312.829.5000. Please mention Group Code FB8 when making reservations online or by phone.

(Unfortunately group booking links are not mobile friendly)