Lobby Days & Summits
2026 Bike & Trail Lobby Day
Event Details & Schedule
Ride Illinois’ 2026 Bike & Trail Lobby Day offers participants a unique opportunity to advocate for safer, more accessible biking and trail infrastructure across the state. Attendees will gather in Springfield to meet directly with legislators and key staff, sharing their voices in support of policies that make Illinois better for people who bike, walk, and roll.
Whether you're a seasoned advocate or new to the process, this day is designed to equip you with the tools, connections, and confidence to make an impact. You can register by clicking the button below!
Location
Lobby Day Headquarters + Lunch Venue
Illinois State Library Atrium
300 S. 2nd St.
Springfield, IL 62701
The State Library Atrium will serve as your home base throughout the day - check in here, connect with fellow participants, and return for updates and wrap-up.
Schedule
10:00 – 10:30 AM | Arrival & Welcome
Check in at the Illinois State Library Atrium, grab materials, and get oriented for the day ahead.
10:30 – 11:00 AM | Lunch & Team Meet-Up
Connect with fellow constituents over lunch and meet your assigned lobby captain, who will help guide your group throughout the day.
11:00 AM – 3:30 PM | Lobbying at the Capitol
Head to the Illinois State Capitol to meet with legislators and staff. Share your experiences, advocate for key biking and trail priorities, and help move important legislation forward.
3:45 PM | Wrap-Up & Thank You
Return to the State Library Atrium to debrief, share highlights from your meetings, and celebrate the collective impact of the day.
2026 Lobby Day Asks
SB 3336: Motor Driven Cycles and Micromobility Devices
Support Illinois Trails
2026 Lobby Day Training Materials
To help you feel confident and prepared heading into your meetings, we’ve put together a set of Lobby Day training materials. These resources, including a recording of our training session, will walk you through what to expect, how to effectively share your story, and key talking points to keep in mind when speaking with legislators and their staff. Reviewing these materials ahead of time will ensure you’re ready to make the most of your day at the Capitol!
2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit
The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit (ILBWS25) occurred on May 7-8, 2025 at the Bank of Springfield Center in Springfield, IL.
ILBWS25 is the state’s most important conference related to biking and walking. Professionals, advocates, and individuals from communities of all sizes attended the conference to learn, collaborate, and identify creative solutions related to biking and walking in their community.
The theme for ILBWS25 was Creating Connected, Livable, Thriving Communities. Nearly 250 people interested in making it easier and safer to move about their community on foot and on bike were in attendance.
Agenda
The agenda for Wednesday, May 7th included speakers, breakout sessions, and workshops focused on safety, accessibility, and connectivity for pedestrians and bicyclists.
The agenda for Thursday, May 8th included a technical training session for planners, engineers, and municipal staff on best practices for developing bikeable, walkable communities. Advocates and individuals chose between an advocacy training or trail development workshop in the morning, then lobbied for safer biking and walking in the afternoon.
Sponsors
The following, generous businesses sponsored ILBWS25 and we’re grateful for their support.
Platinum Level: Christoper B. Burke Engineering, Ltd.
Gold Level: HNTB, Keating Law Offices
Silver Level: AAA, Freeman Kevenides Law Firm, Illinois Department of Transportation
Bronze Level: Civiltech, CMT, Eco Counter, Epstein, Farnsworth Group, Illinois Main Street, Lochmueller Group, Play Design Scapes, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy
Photos
A professional photographer, Victoria Messina, captured a wide variety of photos throughout the two-day conference. Click the photo below to view the complete photo album.
