FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 24, 2025

Contact Information:
Ride Illinois
Dave Simmons, executive director
(630) 216-9282
dave@rideillinois.org
 

 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit coming to Springfield
 

Creating Connected Livable Thriving communities:
Illinois Bike & Walk Summit Fosters Learning and Lobbying Among Advocates and Practitioners

Ride Illinois and its partner organizations are pleased to announce the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. Three hundred advocates, professionals, and public officials will gather in Springfield (May 7-8, 2025) for an important conference to help shape the future of biking and walking across the state. The conference will take place over two days in Springfield.

Day One - May 7
       ● A welcome from Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher
       ● Breakout sessions with topics including:
               ○ Completing the Great American Rail Trail
               ○ Developing Low-Stress Bike Networks
               ○ Bike/walk legislation at the state and federal level: 2025 and beyond
       ● Keynote Speaker: Tom Flood
               ○ A bold and visionary advocate who uses striking design and messaging to challenge car-centric culture, and a champion spokesman of safer streets for all.
               ○ Flood's Presentation Topic: Reframing Road Safety. This presentation will highlight his work and its importance in challenging the narrative around active transportation and road safety.

             
Day Two - May 8
       ● Lobby Day
       ● Workshops focused on:
               ○ Advocacy training
               ○ Trail development
               ○ Best practices for the planning, design, and incorporation of complete streets into transportation projects.
               ○ CM and PDH credits available.

Dave Simmons, executive director of Ride Illinois, emphasized the new format of lobbying and advocacy: “It’s important that elected officials hear from their constituents. Lobby Day is an opportunity for Illinois residents to voice their concerns related to biking and walking in their community.” The legislative goals of Lobby Day include advocating for bills that will increase safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Springfield Mayor Misty Buscher shared, “I am honored to greet attendees to the 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit. I look forward to the summit and also look forward to making Springfield a more bike/walk friendly community.”  

With a strong foundation built on the educational and empowering sessions of day one, the day of lobbying will bring a buzz to Springfield with the hope of creating safer, more accessible active transportation options for all ages and backgrounds. The end goal being that active transportation becomes a viable and welcoming choice for everyone.

Conference Details
       ● Illinois Bike & Walk Summit to convene in Springfield, May 7-8 with a focus on creating connected, livable, thriving communities.
       ● Highlights of the event include:
               ○ Keynote speaker Tom Flood
               ○ Inaugural lobby day
               ○ Breakout sessions
               ○ Workshops
               ○ Networking opportunities
       ● The 2025 Illinois Bike & Walk Summit will take place at the Wyndham Springfield City Center, conveniently located in the heart of Illinois’ state capital.
       ● Registration for the conference starts at the affordable price of $20!
       ● For more information and to register for this event, visit IllinoisBikeWalkSummit.org.