Suburban Advocacy Summit with Jim Merrell and Maggie Melin Thank - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Suburban Advocacy Summit with Jim Merrell and Maggie Melin

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Thank you to our sponsors!

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Agenda

• Background
• Bike Walk Every Town Platform
• Campaign Action Plan
• Regional Priorities & Resources
• Next Steps

* We will be recording this webinar

Our Mission To advocate for walking, bicycling and public transit to create healthy, sustainable and equitable communities.

• Member-based not-for-profit organization
• Serves Chicagoland region
• Founded 1985 as Chicagoland Bicycle Federation
• 7,000 members and 20,000+ supporters
• 16 full-time staff, plus part-time and seasonal

Our Mission

To advocate for walking, bicycling, and public transit to create healthy, sustainable, equitable communities.

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Summit Recap

Regional Summits

• North Shore (Sept 23, 2017)
• West Suburbs (Oct 7, 2017)
• Northwest Suburbs (Oct 21, 2017)
• South Suburbs (Oct 28, 2017)
• Live Online Summit (Nov 16, 2017)

65 advocates 44 cities and villages

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• 1. Learn about Bike Walk Every Town and how to get involved
• 2. Create your own local Bike Walk Every Town campaign action plan
• 3. Connect and network with fellow advocates in the region

Algonquin Barrington Batavia Brookfield

Buffalo Grove

Countryside Des Plaines Evanston Hazel Crest

Highland Park

Berwyn Elgin Braidwood Oak Forest Norridge

Palos Heights

Park Forest Park Ridge Portage Romeoville

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Materials

Visit: activetrans.org/bikewalkeverytown

• Campaign Building Worksheets
• Bike Walk Every Town Policy

Platforms

• Campaign Building Tip Sheets
• Case Studies
• Additional Resources

Online Poll

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town – Creatin ing Change

Policy Projects You

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

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Bik ike Walk lk Every ry Town - Local l Policy Pla latform

• Complete Streets Policy
• Active Transportation Plan
• Funding
• Implementation
• Advisory Council
• Vision Zero
• Resolution

Model Resolution: Commitment to pursue appropriate policy platform goals.

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Leadership wit ith a plan creates change …

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Policy Assessment

Gather information about your community to inform your campaign strategy.

Checklist and sample letter available at: activetrans.org/bikewalkeverytown

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 1: Define your goal STEP 2: Who is your target? STEP 3: Who is your base? STEP 4: Assess your capacity STEP 5: Plan your tactics STEP 6: Create your action plan benchmarks

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

CHOOSE TWO:

• Priority projects such as a

new protected bike lane or a connected trail network.

STEP 1: Define your goal

CHOOSE TWO: Bike Walk Every Town Resolution* Active Transportation Plan* Complete Streets Policy* Funding Implementation Advisory Council Vision Zero

Group Poll!

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 1: Define your goal

Every Town, Illinois example:

Policy Goals:

• Bike Walk Every Town Resolution
• Active Transportation Plan

Priority Project(s):

• Connect 2 mile gap in trail

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 2: Who is your target?

Ideas:

• City council member
• Mayor
• Village Manager
• Trustee
• Alderman
• Engineer
• Public works person
• Planner

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 2: Who is your target?

Every Town, Illinois example:

Campaign targets:

• Village council member, John Ivy
• Mayor, Mary Green

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 3: Who is your base?

• Influential residents
• Organizations
• Businesses
• Other

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 3: Who is your base?

Power Mapping

• Consider who influences your

target as your brainstorm your base.

Image credit: Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 3: Who is your base? How to engage them?

CHOOSE TWO:

• Regular meetings
• Event
• Flyer or fact sheet
• Petition
• Short video
• Presentation
• Other

*see Base Building Tip Sheet

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 3: Who is your base?

Every Town, Illinois example:

Residents

• Neighbors, friends, parents at child’s school,

festival attendees, trail users Organizations

• Parents group, hiking club, bike club, senior

group, chamber of commerce, local hospital Businesses

• Main street shops, non-profits, library

Engagement:

• Hold monthly meetings at local

coffee shop

• Start a petition about

connecting the trail gap

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 4: Assess your capacity

• Availability
• Strengths
• Skill development
• Needs

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 4: Assess your capacity

Every Town, Illinois example:

• Availability: 5 hours per month
• Strengths: Passion, determination,

knowledge of trail system, social media

• Skill development: Writing skills,

expand business network

• Needs: Spreading the word

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 5: Plan your tactics

Communication – PICK TWO:

• Traditional media
• Social media
• Email/e-newsletter
• Active Trans blog
• Press conference/town hall
• Other

*see Communications, Target Engagement, and Petition Writing Tip Sheets

Engagement – PICK TWO:

• Write a petition
• Write, email, or call elected official
• Meet elected official
• Testify before elected officials
• Other

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 5: Plan your tactics

Every Town, Illinois example:

Communication:

• Collect names/emails and invite residents

to Facebook page

• Write a blog article about initiative for the

Active Trans blog and other local media Engagement:

• Write a campaign letter about

need for Active Transportation Plan

• Schedule a meeting with target

about adopting the resolution

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 6: Create your action plan benchmarks

• Short-term (1 week to 2 months)
• Medium-term (3 months to 8 months)
• Long-term (8 months to 1+ years)

HINT: Benchmarks are SMART - Specific, Measurable, Ambitious, Realistic, and Time-limited

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Campaign Actio ion Pla lan

STEP 6: Create your action plan benchmarks

Every Town, Illinois example:

Short-term:

• Collect 100 emails/names of supportive residents and businesses, start a Facebook page within 2 months.
• Write a petition for the trail gap and get at least 50 signatures.

Medium-term:

• Begin holding monthly meetings with residents at local café.
• Write a campaign letter about adopting an Active Transportation Plan (ATP), send to target within 6 months.
• Schedule a meeting with mayor and village council member to introduce the idea of the resolution.
• Write a blog article about the initiative and the progress made in last 8 months.

Long-term

• Work with the village council about getting the resolution passed within 1 year.
• Organize a free family bike ride by next summer and involve at least 2 local businesses. Collect participant’s

feedback about desired biking and walking infrastructure for ATP.

STEPS 4 & 5 STEPS 1, 3 & 4 STEP 3 STEPS 1, 4 & 5 STEPS 1 & 5 STEP 5 STEPS 1 & 4 STEPS 1 & 5

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Regional Priorities

Tiny events can disrupt a pattern.

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Upcoming Webinar Serie ies - Ele levator Pit itch

Format

• Introduce yourself
• Explain your campaign (problem, solution)
• Request action

27-9-3 rule

• 27 words
• 9 seconds
• 3 points

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Rid ide Il Illinois

Resources

• Provide design input on

(priority) upcoming road projects

• Partner to request 3-foot

law signs

• Bike safety quiz stipend

www.bikesafetyquiz.com

Ed Barsotti Ride Illinois 630-978-0583 ed@rideillinois.org

www.rideillinois.org info@rideillinois.org

Working Statewide for Better Bicycling

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Next xt Steps

• How can Active Trans support

you?

• Webinars
• Active Transportation Councils
• Google groups
• Advocate connections
• Spreading the word
• One-on-one guidance
• Resource bank
• Regional/state advocacy
• Logos

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Thank you!

Jim Merrell Advocacy Director jim@activetrans.org Maggie Melin Advocacy Manager maggie@activetrans.org