Training suburban residents to be advocates for better walking and biking

For immediate release

October 13, 2017

Media Contact: 

Ted Villaire
Active Transportation Alliance
Communications Director 
O: (312) 216-0484
C: (312) 563-1118
ted@activetrans.org

New program trains suburban residents to be advocates for better walking and biking 
Upcoming sessions will be held in NW and South Chicagoland

Chicago, Ill: October 13, 2017 — In most suburban communities, getting around on a bicycle and on foot is often difficult and sometimes treacherous. As a result, many people who would like to bike and walk more often tend to avoid doing so. The good news is that we can change this.

We can create suburban communities that have high-quality bike lanes, sidewalks and multi-use trails that could connect you to local shops, work, school and neighboring communities.

These communities can become places where you feel safe and comfortable getting to any destination you chose by bike or by foot. But it'll take some work. 

To help us get there, the Active Transportation Alliance recently launched Bike Walk Every Town, a new advocacy training program for people in suburban communities who want to see cleaner and healthier transportation options.

Bike Walk Every Town is designed to mobilize and support grassroots leaders from across the region. It will give residents the tools and access to resources they need to improve biking, walking and transit in their community. 

The program began in late-September with an advocacy training summit in the North Shore followed by a training in the Western Suburbs in early October. The summits have thus far drawn participants from nearly 30 villages and cities across the region. 

Two more summits will be offered in October – one in the Northwest Suburbs and one in the South Suburbs. 

These summits will offer tools to help residents develop an advocacy campaign, direction and assistance in advocating for better walking and biking policies, and opportunities to network with other like-minded individuals in the region.

Residents are invited to register for one of the following in-person trainings to be held at the end of October. The summits are free to attend and include lunch:

•Saturday, October 21, 11 a.m. in Schaumburg

•Saturday, October 28, 11:30 a.m. in Flossmoor

To register or to learn more, visit activetrans.org/BikeWalkEveryTown or email Maggie Melin at Maggie@activetrans.org. 

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About the Active Transportation Alliance

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that advocates for walking, bicycling, and public transit to create healthy, sustainable and equitable communities. The organization works to build a movement around active transportation, encourage physical activity, increase safety and build a world-class transportation network. The Active Transportation Alliance is supported by more than 7,000 members and 1,000 volunteers. For more information about the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.