Illinois Bike Transportation Plan

The Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) is proud to release the Illinois Bike Transportation Plan (Plan), the first state-wide bicycle plan in Illinois history. The Plan serves as the transportation alternatives chapter of the 2012 Illinois State Long Range Transportation Plan and follows the long range plan’s theme of Transforming Transportation for Tomorrow. It provides the Department with policies, best practices and strategic direction for implementing a sustainable, multimodal transportation system in Illinois.

The Plan provides over 200 recommendations and action items designed to enhance IDOT’s ability to provide safe and cost-effective accommodations for cyclists across Illinois. The recommendations address a variety of topics including facility design and maintenance, network gaps, grant funding programs, safety education and enforcement, and internal governance and coordination. In addition, the plan includes performance measures designed to evaluate progress towards implementation.

Some of the issues addressed in the plan include: a statewide and regional analysis of current accommodations, policies, and planning documents; an evaluation of IDOT’s Complete Streets policy and other bicycling-related statutes; a review of national bicycling trends, best practices and their applicability in the Illinois transportation context. Over 4000 individuals, 60 local agencies, 50 non-profits, and 11 educational institutions provided input via in-person meetings, webinars, social media, and online surveys. The input received from these stakeholders helped inform final recommendations and establish a framework for future collaboration.