In 2012, Chicago’s Bicycling Ambassadors celebrated their 11th anniversary as the leading force in bicycle safety education and outreach in Chicago by educating more than 63,500 people through face-to-face programs.

The Ambassadors are a team of community outreach specialists who promote Chicago as a world-class cycling city and focus their efforts on three primary goals:

• Increasing the number of trips made by bicycle
• Reducing the number of bicycling-related injuries and fatalities
• Helping cyclists, motorists and pedestrians better share the roads and off-street trails

“The Chicago Bicycle Ambassadors play a key role in making Chicago a safer place for cyclists, motorists and pedestrians,” said Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein.  “I applaud their tireless efforts to remind Chicagoans how to share the road and reduce crashes on the street.”

This year’s team was comprised of nine Bicycling Ambassadors and 17 Junior Ambassadors.  The team appeared at events all over the city conducting face-to-face outreach in order to reach as many Chicagoans as possible.  Outreach events included public education at libraries, schools, community festivals, businesses, athletic competitions and Chicago Park District Day Camps.

At every event, the ambassador team provided bike safety information to the public through conversation and educational literature.  This literature focuses on topics such as proper helmet use, bicycling with family, using the bike lanes properly, sharing the road with motorists and commuting to work.

The City of Chicago’s Bicycling Ambassadors reached more people in 2012 than ever before.   Between March and October the Ambassadors:

• Attended 515 events throughout the city
• Directly educated nearly 63,500 people through face to face education.
• Properly fit 1,235 helmets on adult and youth cyclists.
• Directly educated more than 15,000 people about dangerous cyclist and motorist behaviors at 91 “Share the Road” events
• Led 27 Lakefront Trail Outreach events at various locations from Hollywood to 71st Street, educating 12,000 people.