Dutch experts weigh in on bike-ability of Milwaukee Ave., Randolph St.

Dutch and Chicago transportation specialists will look at how to improve the bike-ability of Milwaukee Avenue and Randolph Street at this month’s ThinkBike workshop in Chicago.

Guests during the two-day event include the Dutch ambassador to the United States, Rudolf Bekink, and Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein.

Both will make opening remarks on Thursday, Sep. 26, when Dutch bike experts will survey areas of the city by bike with city officials.

Friday will feature proposed solutions starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Chicago Cultural Center, 78 E. Washington St.

Members of the public are invited to attend the opening and closing sessions of the ThinkBike Workshops. They should register for the free sessions through the Active Transportation Alliance at the following link:

http://activetrans.org/thinkbike

Media Advisory is below:

September 18, 2013

Chicago Hosts the Return of the ThinkBike Workshops with the Chicago Consulate General and the Dutch Cycling Embassy, Sept. 26 and 27 #ThinkBikeChicago

WHAT: In September 2010, the City of Chicago partnered with the Chicago Consulate General of the Netherlands, the Royal Netherlands Embassy and Fietsberaad International to host the ThinkBike Workshops to develop ways the city could become more bike-friendly. Two teams of Dutch and Chicago transportation specialists and planners surveyed neighborhoods of the city by bike.

This year, ThinkBike returns to Chicago with the Dutch Cycling Embassy in the lead to look at improving the bike-ability on Milwaukee Avenue (Division Street to North Avenue) and Randolph Street (Morgan Street to Desplaines Street).

WHO: Chicago Department of Transportation Commissioner Gabe Klein, Dutch Ambassador to the United States Rudolf Bekink, and Dutch transportation experts Tom Godefrooij, Dick van Veen and Sjors van Duren, and Active Transportation Alliance Executive Director Ron Burke

WHEN: Sept. 26: Opening Session at Collaboraction, 1579 N. Milwaukee Ave. (Room 300 Theater) at 9 a.m., including welcome remarks by Commissioner Klein and Ambassador Rudolf Bekink

Following the opening session, the two teams of bike experts comprised of city transportation officials and planners will survey areas of the city by bike. The teams will then return for a closed-door session. Members of the media are invited to cover the entire ThinkBike workshop.

CONTACTS: MyriavanRaemdonck,ChicagoConsulateGeneraloftheNetherlands, 1-312-780-1307 or myria-van.raemdonck@minbuza.nl

Pete Scales, Chicago Department of Transportation 1-312-744-0707 or peter.scales@cityofchicago.org

REGISTRATION: Members of the public are invited to attend the opening and

closing sessions of the ThinkBike Workshops. Please register for either of the

free sessions through the Active Transportation Alliance at the following link:

http://activetrans.org/thinkbike