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Permalink Reply by Spencer "Thunderball" Thayer! on September 7, 2010 at 6:58am

For those who are lazy and don't want to click...

“Share the Road” License Plate Design Contest

Submit your design by October 1, for Illinois’ newest specialty license plate

On July 5, 2010, Gov. Pat Quinn signed a bill establishing a year-round license plate promoting safe and courteous sharing of the roads by both bicyclists and motorists.  Proceeds from the incremental plate costs will fund education programs of the League of Illinois Bicyclists (LIB).

LIB is sponsoring a design contest through October 1, 2010.  The winner will receive a $500 monetary award, publicity on our website and newsletter – and their design on thousands of cars around Illinois!  College design students and any others are encouraged to participate.

Resources for your design include:  plate design specifications from the Secretary of State, samples of other Illinois specialty plates, and samples of other states’ Share the Road license plates.  In addition, LIB’s content requirements and preferences are:

• Share the Road sign with car and bicyclist.  Required.  The left side of the plate is the most likely location.  [Download sign EPS or JPEG]
• The phrase “Same Rights, Same Rules”.  Required.  The bottom of the plate, below the numbers, is the most likely location.  (We want this to be very readable.)
• A background design of a bicycle (with or without cyclist) is preferred.   
• Attractive color scheme strongly preferred.

Also required is signed agreement with our contest rules. 

Should you have any further questions, please email Laura Kuhlman, contest chair. 

Designers, artists, friends pick up your tools and let the contest begin!

Related links:  license plate request/order page (later), and page with further license plate program info and history

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 24, 2010 at 7:27am

Only one week left for the "Share the Road" license plate design contest! Don't miss your chance to have your design on license plates around Illinois in addition to $500! (from LIB)

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 24, 2010 at 8:49am

"The phrase “Same Rights, Same Rules”. Required. The bottom of the plate, below the numbers, is the most likely location. (We want this to be very readable.)"

Does that mean we aren't going to be able to park on the sidewalks any more -or that the cars can now do so?

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Permalink Reply by David on September 24, 2010 at 9:17am

I'll admit that the "Same Rights, Same Rules" phrase always makes me wince. I find it not only to be obviously false, but also an undesirable goal and largely counter-productive as an organizing slogan. LIB seems to focus on rural areas, though, and I'll admit that the phrase makes a little more sense away from the city (although even there I don't believe for a second that LIB members stop their road bikes at every stop sign on rural back roads). Inside Chicago, though, I want dedicated bike infrastructure, not the same rules.

I could rant a bit, but on the scale of things that bug me this one is way down on the list. LIB has been around a long time and they obviously try to do good work; the fact that their slogan rubs me the wrong way is a fairly minor thing.


James Baum said:

"The phrase “Same Rights, Same Rules”. Required. The bottom of the plate, below the numbers, is the most likely location. (We want this to be very readable.)"

Does that mean we aren't going to be able to park on the sidewalks any more -or that the cars can now do so?

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Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on September 24, 2010 at 9:57am

David,

I feel the need to go on a little bit more about this.

I agree with most everything you said and the slogan more than rubs me the wrong way. It is totally out of touch with the urban biker but I differ in that I feel that it is very counter-productive to the urban biker as well. LIB is against Idaho-Stop legislation which is a huge mistake IMHO. If bicyclists continue to support this "Same Rights -Same Rules" it is going to bite us in the end. Eventually we're going to have bicycle registration/licensing with Redlight cameras -just like the cars have. "Same Rights -Same Rules" Right? I don't feel that if stopping at stop signs is enforced that bicycling will take off nearly as fast as it has been with the current system that CPD has of "looking the other way" at us rolling stops. If we had to stop at every block (especially as we ride down back streets were there are stopsigns at EVERY block) it's going to push people out onto the main feeder roads with the cars where many riders are less comfortable -and it will take us twice as long to get anywhere and use much more energy to stop/start all the time.

But LIB doesn't care as they are NOT urban bikers and don't care about the issues we face as urban bikers.

And this is why I can't get behind LIB. I think they are not operating in our best interests. I'd like to hear more about what they ARE doing that isn't hurting us (like this "Same Rights - Same Rules" campaign) to change my mind on that.

Bicycles are NOT cars. We are totally different -that's the WHOLE point. When I can accelerate to 30MPH is 3 seconds, have a top speed greater than the speed limit, brake with anti-lock brakes and 200 square inches of contact patch, have a force-field shield around me and airbags and other safety restraints, and be seen and perceived like a car then I might feel that i have the same rights and responsibilities as a car.

Oh, and I'm not using but 1% or less of the resources a car uses per passenger mile either...

No, not "Same Rights - Same Laws" -I feel that is a REALLY bad idea.

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Permalink Reply by Gina Kenny on September 28, 2010 at 7:55am

LIB is a statewide organization that advocates for all bicyclists – rural as well as urban and suburban. It turns out that the vast majority of our efforts do focus on metropolitan, urbanized areas.

The “Same Rights, Same Rules” phrase is meant to convey that bicycles have a right to ride on roads, the same as vehicles. Yes, it also conveys that bicyclists should follow the rules of the road, especially in taking our proper turn when others are present at intersections. This is nothing new as, by state law, bicyclists already have to abide by laws such as stopping at stop signs. We believe that taking a balanced stance and educational approach not only improves safety but also resonates with more of the population who might otherwise dismiss our “Share the Road” message.

The idea and goal of the plate is to raise awareness that bicyclists have the right to ride on the road, should be passed as passing a car and basically shown the same respect and courtesy as motorized vehicles. Does this mean that bikes can no longer be parked on the sidewalk? No, that is extremely unlikely. There obviously is not room on the plate for every qualifier or reasonable exception. My personal hope is that the plates will be a type of driver education, like a lot of mini-billboards, and that the frequency will decrease that a driver yells I should be riding on the sidewalk or that a car buzzes past me.

As far as what other projects LIB has been working on, I am finishing up the distribution of a bicycle educational sheet to every fourth grade class in the state. The front side has information geared towards fourth grade students while the back side has information for the parents.
Early this year and spring, LIB did a series of 10 seminars to municipal officials, engineers and planners on how to provide better bicycling conditions through planning. This fall, LIB is speaking at the 10 statewide workshops for driver education teachers, so they may use our lesson plan to instruct new motorists on avoiding common mistakes around bicyclists. You can learn a lot more about these programs as well as the many other programs LIB is involved in by checking out our website, www.bikeLIB.org. Myself and LIB executive director Ed Barsotti would also be more than happy to discuss any other concerns or questions with you. Contact information is on our website as well.

Lastly, I am sorry for the somewhat tardy delay in replying to your concerns. LIB is a statewide organization but does have a small staff. Like quite a few Chicago-area bicyclists, I was racing and cheering at the USGP cyclocross races near Madison. Again, please feel free to contact me with any questions or concerns or feel free to stop and say hi to me at any of the Chicago Cross Cup races.

-Gina Kenny, project assistant, League of Illinois Bicyclists

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on September 28, 2010 at 8:16am

Thanks Gina. I recommend any cyclist complaining that LIB/Active Trans or any other bike related org aren't doing enough/are doing the wrong things should:

A) Visit Detroit or Miami and then you will see what these orgs have done (Chicago was ranked top 10 bicycle friendly city in the US)

B) Volunteer with these organizations and/or talk to them at events

C) Really read their website/ join their listserves to learn about what projects they are involved in

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Permalink Reply by Gin on September 28, 2010 at 8:45am

Another word for LIB--a lot of what orgs like LIB and Active Trans do is behind the scenes, working hard to educate planners and engineers about design options for cyclists while also working to build political and grassroots support for improvements. So much of what we take for granted as good ideas are still hard sells in many situations.

One of my favorite LIB projects has been its ruthless effort to hold IDOT accountable for making state roads/state funded projects bicycle friendly. Even after the Complete Streets bill was passed, IDOT was slow to respond. LIB published a report, Incomplete Streets, showing the results of this inaction and worked to get IDOT to finally revise its design guidelines. Learn more here: http://www.bikelib.org/other-advocacy/idot-complete-streets-law/

Also, full disclosure--I used to work with Ed Barsotti, the ED, a lot when I was a planner at a public agency and am now doing some contract work for him. I can attest to what a great person he is and also to his city biking "cred." I would love to see more Chicago cyclists support LIB *and* Active Trans.

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Permalink Reply by Gina Kenny on November 18, 2010 at 10:37am

Congratulations to Bryan Werner, of Collinsville, who was the winner of the design contest! More information on the plates, including how to order and the winning design, is on LIB's website.

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