Ed Barsotti, Executive Director of The League of Illinois Bicyclists

Say hi to Ed here!

1) How/when did you get into cycling as a profession?
From paper routes to college to commuting to work, I had always loved bicycling and seen its societal benefits. A 1993 direct mail letter motivated me to join a local DuPage trails advocacy group, in hopes of bringing that same joy to others. My volunteer bike advocacy work grew for the next seven years, including a 1997 invitation to join the board of the League of Illinois Bicyclists. In 2000, LIB’s volunteer Executive Director Al Sturges stepped down. My wife Laurie encouraged me to follow my passion and apply to become LIB’s first paid staffer. After a late 2000 “internship” with Randy Neufeld and CBF, I became LIB’s Executive Director in 2001. I’ve had the tremendous honor and satisfaction to serve in that role since then.

2) How does your organization directly benefit cyclists?
LIB is heavily involved all around the state in our goal to improve bicycling conditions, through more bike-friendly road designs, more trails and funding, education of cyclists and motorists, local bike planning, legislation, and more. We serve as a liaison between bicyclists and government in many ways, from representing cyclists at state-level meetings, to guiding local cyclists’ efforts to make their towns more bike-friendly. Some recent highlights include detailed work with IDOT on implementation of the state’s Complete Streets law, training of 500 municipal road designers and planners on bicycle accommodations and planning, the three-foot law and a new Share the Road license plate, training driver ed instructors on use of our Share the Road lesson plan and video, bike safety info distribution to over 200,000 Illinois 4th graders, our “(In)Complete Streets” report critiquing 46 Chicago-area road designs, and much more.

3) Do you specialize in a certain type of cycling?
LIB advocates for all Illinois bicyclists, recreational or utilitarian, on-road or off. I personally ride a road bike for recreation and longer transportation trips, and a hybrid for shorter rides, averaging about 3000 miles per year since 1988.

4) What are your "must-have" items for cycling (this could be a tool, an accessory, a food, etc.)
With my LIB hat on, I’d say that “must-haves” include knowledge of traffic skills and techniques to bicycle more safely – plus the recognition that each of our actions affect public perception of bicycling. We’re our own worst enemies when we don’t do our part to Share the Road properly. From a personal standpoint, a long ride “must-have” is the location of a Dairy Queen and a cookie dough blizzard.

5) What do you see as the biggest area of opportunity in your niche market?
If bicycling is considered as that “niche market”, then I see huge opportunity in mainstreaming “our little secret”: that bicycling is a very feasible way to save some money, reduce our environmental impact, stay young and fit, squeeze physical activity time into our overburdened schedules, better know our communities – and have fun!! Bicycling is one part of the solution to many issues faced by individuals and by society, and there is a great opportunity to open people’s eyes to that.

6) How do you think the cycling community has changed in the last year or two?
Lots more bicyclists! This leads to a “safety in numbers” effect that can multiply the increase. Also, bicycling seems to be overcoming some of the nerdy portrayals in the media and gaining more social acceptance.

AND FINALLY......

7) If you could go on a bike ride with anyone (living or dead), who would it be?
My dad and my 17-year-old son, both of whom bike at almost my speed. Almost.