Ride Illinois new name for bicycle advocacy league

The League of Illinois Bicyclists, a nonprofit bicycle advocacy organization, announced the rebranding of its organization to Ride Illinois at the fourth annual Illinois Bike Summit on Oct. 28. The organization also unveiled its new name, logo and website, www.rideillinois.org, the same day.

The rebranding reflects the growing popularity of bicycling and the organization's commitment to reach and represent the broad spectrum of people who ride bikes in Illinois.

Since 1992, the nonprofit organization has been dedicated to one mission - to improve bicycling conditions throughout the state so that more people can safely and easily ride in Illinois. Over the years, the organization has evolved from a state chapter of the League of American Bicyclists to an independent organization with a strong advocacy voice in Springfield and municipalities all around the state. In that time, its membership has increased from a few hundred people to more than 2,200 Illinois residents.

"We are committed to expanding our membership and influence even farther," said Frank Brummer, Ride Illinois board president. "Our organization made a bold decision to seek out a new name that would appeal to a wide audience and align them with our mission - a name that would inspire everyone to get on a bike and Ride Illinois."

Without changing the mission of the organization, the board initiated the strategic rebranding project with the goal of adopting a new name and brand that would appeal to more bicyclists and position the organization for greater membership support and future organizational growth.

"With broader appeal and greater awareness of our organization, our voice in our advocacy, outreach, and municipal bike planning work throughout the state grows more powerful," said Ed Barsotti, Ride Illinois executive director. "Our work extends to all corners of the state and we want to better connect with members of those communities and gain their support."

The result of the rebranding is a simplified name that demonstrates what happens when the organization's mission succeeds and bicycling becomes safer and more accessible across the state - more people Ride Illinois. The logo prominently features a bicycle in motion against the distant backdrop of one of our state's bike friendly cities. More importantly, our new website, www.rideillinois.org, features a mobile friendly design that visually showcases how people throughout our state Ride Illinois.

"We have a strong desire and responsibility to engage all types of cyclists - from individuals and families that ride recreationally or to commute, to those that ride for exercise and sport. Our new name Ride Illinois is equally inspiring to all riders, from the most experienced cyclists to those just beginning," said Tania Sebastian, Ride Illinois marketing director. "We want them all to know we are working on their behalf in cities, towns, and rural areas throughout the state."

Ride Illinois' mission remains the same, and the organization will continue to work for bike friendly roads and trails, favorable policies and legislation, and education on sharing our roads safely.

Over recent years, the organization has achieved a number of accomplishments at the local and state level including:

• 3-Foot Passing Law - Ride Illinois wrote and successfully lobbied for the passage of the 2007 state law amending the Illinois Vehicle Code by specifying a minimum 3-foot passing clearance for motorists passing bicyclists.

• Creating bike plans for 17 towns in Illinois including Springfield, Bloomington, Kankakee, Effingham, Buffalo Grove, and Ottawa, most recently, and providing assistance in dozens more. Currently, Ride Illinois is consulting on Carbondale's bike planning efforts.

• Development of over 40 metro area and local bike maps, longer-distance route guides, and other bicyclist resources.

• Providing bike safety education through our online learning tool, BikeSafetyQuiz.com, used by over 40,000 motorists and bicyclists.

• Offering trainings statewide for hundreds of drivers' education teachers, road planners and engineers, and law enforcement.

• Collaborating on the Illinois Department of Transportation's State Bike Transportation Plan released in 2014.

• Leading Illinois delegation in Washington, D.C., to save federal funds for trails and bikeways, while preserving over $20 million of these funds at the state level.

• Coordinating the annual Grand Illinois Trail and Parks Bike Tour, Illinois' top weeklong supported ride since 2003.

• Co-hosting the annual Illinois Bike Summit that attracts nearly 300 bike advocates, municipal and private sector planners and civil engineers, government officials and staff for a day of learning and networking on the positive impact of bicycling in Illinois.

Someoddpilot, a branding and design agency in Chicago, was contracted to lead the organization through the renaming process and development the new brand identity and website. They have worked with a variety of nonprofit and corporate clients including Chicago's public radio station WBEZ 91.5, The Second City, and Pitchfork Media.

Ride Illinois is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving bicycling conditions throughout the state. It is the advocate for all Illinois bicyclists, promoting bicycle access, education, and safety. For more information, visit www.rideillinois.org.