Thousands expected to choose the healthier, greener commute

 

Commuters throughout Chicagoland are choosing the healthier, greener way to work in honor of the 2011 Bike to Work Week June 11-17.

The weeklong event–hosted by the Active Transportation Alliance, the City of Chicago, and numerous municipalities and government organizations across Chicagoland–celebrates the two-wheeled commute and encourages newcomers to put their mettle to the pedal.   

Bike Pit Stops along popular bike routes in Chicago and at suburban Metra stations give bike commuters a much-deserved pat on the back with free coffee and goodies. The full schedule of Bike Pit Stops is listed below and can be found here www.activetrans.org/bikepitstops.

Bike after Work parties at area cafes and restaurants are perfect spots to end the workday, car-free. See below for details on the Bike after Work parties.

“This is a chance to make your commute the highlight of your day,” said Melody Geraci, Active Transportation Alliance deputy executive director. “With increased awareness of commuting options and higher gas prices, we expect more people than ever to participate in the weeklong event that celebrates the two-wheeled commute.”

Meanwhile, more than 400 Chicagoland companies will go helmet-to-helmet to see who can get the highest percentage of employees to bike to work next week. This year’s competition includes the likes of Google, Orbitz, Groupon, The Office of Sen. Dick Durbin, CTA and WXRT. See a list of all the companies online at www.activetrans.org/bikecommuterchallenge. Winners will be announced at the Bike to Work Week luncheon for Team Leaders on July 12 at the Fairmont Hotel.

“Making a workplace bicycle-friendly is one of the best things an office can do to improve morale and create a happy and healthy workforce,” Geraci said.

2011 Bike to Work Week celebration details.

Thursday, June 9

Chicago

Bike Chic, Commuter Fashion Show: 12pm at Daley Plaza

Saturday, June 11

Suburbs

Pop Up Bike Shop: 10:00am – 2:00pm, 12840 Western Avenue, Blue Island, co-hosted by Cal Sag Cycles

Saturday June 11 – Friday June 17

Chicago & Suburbs

Free showers: during business hours at five select Fitness Formula Clubs throughout Chicago and Oak Park (conditions apply, for complete listing of participating clubs, visit: www.activetrans.org/bikepitstops)

Monday June 13 – Friday June 17

Suburbs

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30AM each day, 120 E. Railroad Avenue, Bartlett, IL, co-hosted by Spindoctor Cyclewerks and Tazza Coffee

Monday, June 13

Chicago

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9 a.m. at 1337 N. Wells (Wells at Evergreen), co-hosted by Village Cycle Center 
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9 a.m. at Roosevelt & Blue Island (SE Corner), co-hosted by Rapid Transit University Village and Po Campo
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at 2457 West Division (Wells at Campbell, SE corner), hosted by Ciclo Urbano
“Biking the Boulevards” Viewing Party: 6pm at 1800 N. Clybourn, Goose Island Brewpub

Suburbs

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Highland Park Metra, co-hosted by Alberto’s

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Naperville Metra (downtown), co-hosted by City of Naperville

Bike to the Bolts! From: 6:15pm at Food 4 Less, 5559 159th St, Oak Forest; To: Standard Bank Stadium, 14011 S Kenton Ave, Crestwood, 7:05 game time, co-hosted by the Windy City Thunderbolts

 

Tuesday, June 14

Chicago

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at North Shore Channel Trail at Foster, co-hosted by On the Route Cycles and Swedish Covenant
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at Clybourn/Halsted/Weed, co-hosted by REI and Chainlink
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at 3201 S. Halsted (Bridgeport), co-hosted by Blue City Cycles and Nana Restaurant
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at 1520 E 57th St, hosted by Café 57, University of Chicago, and Blackstone Bicycle Works
Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at 2313 North Milwaukee Avenue, hosted by Café Mustache and Boulevard Bikes
“Bike it Everywhere, Chicago” with Greg Borzo: 12pm at Chicago Cultural Center, Claudia Cassidy Theater, 78 E. Washington St – meet the author of Where to Bike Chicago
Bike after Work: 5-8pm at 2016 West Roscoe and 2055 West Roscoe, hosted by Roscoe Village Bikes, The Village Tap, and Goose Island Brewery – special for bikers with special for bikers with helmet, lock key, or Bike Commuter Challenge team card

 

Suburbs

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at the Wilmette Metra, co-hosted by the Wilmette Bike Task Force
Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Glencoe Metra, co-hosted by Green Bay Cycles
Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at the Wheaton Metra, co-hosted by the Environmental Improvement Commission
Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at the Elmhurst Metra, co-hosted by the Elmhurst Bicycle Club

Wednesday, June 15

 

Chicago

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at the Polish Triangle, co-hosted by Copenhagen Cyclery, Rapid Transit Cycles, WPBC, CNT, and I-GO

 

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at Lincoln/Clark/Wells (near Green City Market), co-hosted by Dutch Bikes, Orbitz, CLIF Bar, and Coldwell Banker

Bike after Work: 5-8pm at 3420 West Grace Street (@Elston), hosted by The Abbey Pub, Get a Grip Cycles, and Goose Island Brewery – special for bikers with helmet, lock key, or Bike Commuter Challenge team card

Loop Bike Tour: 6pm check-in at Buckingham Fountain, ride begins at 6:30pm (RSVP required. Visit www.bikechicago.us for more details and to RSVP)

Suburbs

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Northbrook Metra, co-hosted by George Garner Cyclery

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Hubbard Woods Metra, co-hosted by Green Bay Cycles

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Des Plaines Metra, co-hosted by City of Des Plaines

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Arlington Heights Metra, co-hosted by A.H. Bicycle Advisory Commission

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Downers Grove Metra, co-hosted by Village of Downers Grove

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Palatine Metra, co-hosted by Greater Palatine Bike Task Force

Thursday, June 16

Chicago

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at South Lakefront Trail at the Field Museum, co-hosted by The Trek Store, the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adler Planetarium

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30-9am at North Lakefront Trail/Fullerton Ave, co-hosted by Performance Bike, Nature Museum, and CLIF 2Mile Challenge

Bike Pit Stop: 6:00-9:00am at 1534 N. Wells St., Chicago. Free smoothie samples and bananas. Enter to win dinner cruise for two. Sponsored by Entertainment Cruises and Fresh Choice Chicago.

Movies in the Park, Breaking Away: dusk at Grant Park (Columbus and Balbo)

Suburbs

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6-8:30am at Libertyville Metra, co-hosted by Libertyville Cyclery

Bike to Metra Pit Stop; 6:30-8:30am at Villa Park Metra, co-hosted by Bike VP

Bike after Work Party & Cruise: 5pm-7pm at12947 Western Ave, Blue Island (Restaurante Tenochtitlan), Blue Island bike cruise at 7pm-8pm

Friday, June 17

Chicago

Bike to Work Day Rally: 7:30-9:30am at Daley Plaza

Bike to Work Tweetups: 7am at four Caribou Coffee locations, 7:30am ride to Rally in Daley Plaza:

• 3240 N. Ashland
• 811 W.  Maxwell
• 3025 N. Clark St.
• 600 N. Kingsbury

Get a free medium coffee with purchase of a breakfast item, 7am -10am, at any Chicago Caribou Coffee location when you show your helmet, lock key, or Bike Commuter Challenge team card; follow @activetrans on twitter during Bike to Work Week for more details on the tweetup group rides

Bike after Work: 5:30-8pm at ING Direct Café, 21 E. Chestnut, co-hosted by ING Direct and Goose Island Brewery

Suburbs

Bike Pit Stop: 6:30am-8:30am at Evanston (Fountain Square), co-hosted by Turin Bicycle

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 6:30-8:30am at Elmhurst Metra, co-hosted by Elmhurst Bicycle Club          

Bike to Metra Pit Stop: 7am-9am at 95th St. Metra (Oak Lawn), co-hosted by Oak Lawn Bike Psychos

Bike after Work: 5:30-7pm at Splish-Splash Pool, 4518 W. 150th Street, co-hosted by Village of Midlothian and Midlothian Park District

The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.