By John Walker
Special to Inside
This March, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is offering a two-day conference on ways to improve bicycling and walking conditions in Chicagoland for transportation professionals, public officials and advocates. In addition, a Chicago bike lane tour and the fourth annual Bike Town Bash will take place in conjunction with the conference.
The conference offers more than 25 educational sessions with topics ranging from creating safe and dedicated places to ride to partnering with healthcare organizations on ways to build physical activity.
Officials confirm to speak include state Rep. Elaine Nekritz, Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) Secretary Timothy Martin, Ald. Shirley Coleman (16th), Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT) Commissioner Miguel D’Escoto, CDOT Bicycle Program Coordinator Ben Gomberg, and Arlington Heights Mayor Arlene Mulder.
The Bike Lane Tour travels through downtown Chicago Thursday, March 18, 2 to 5 p.m.
The Conference takes place at the University of Illinois-Chicago, Chicago Illini Union, 828 S. Wolcott Ave., Friday, March 19, 7:30 a.m. – 4 p.m., and Saturday, March 20, 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
The Bike Town Bash is planned for the Chicago Cultural Center, G.A.R. Hall & Rotunda, 77 E. Randolph St., Friday, March 19, 7 p.m. to midnight.
The conference is designed to provide attendees with strategies for effectively working with the Illinois Department of Transportation and local government agencies; cutting-edge ideas and tactics for project funding, planning, and design; and ways to best work with local officials to enhance advocacy efforts.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation was founded in 1985 to improve the bicycling environment in the seven-county region. The Federation promotes bicycle safety, education and facilities, and encourages the use of the bicycle as an energy efficient, economical and nonpolluting form of transportation and as a healthful and enjoyable form of recreation.
For Chicagoland Bicycle Federation Conference information, visit biketraffic.org/conference. |
