bikers vs. mosquitos

Today the Daily Illini featured an article about two UIUC students working as "mosquito abatement bikers" for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District:

As mosquito abatement bikers for the Champaign-Urbana Public Health District (CUPHD), Kathleen Doran, recent graduate of ACES and Claire Keating, a senior in Fine and Applied Arts and Illini Media employee, travel around Champaign County to spread mosquito larvicide to help prevent the coming of West Nile Virus, a disease of the brain transmitted through infected mosquitoes. The CUPHD hired the two students as part of the district’s special program to reduce Culex mosquitos, the insects that cause the disease, said Jim Roberts, director of environmental health for the CUPHD.

Doran and Keating bike around C-U dumping larvacide into stagnant water, thus totally refudiating moquito breeding grounds and helping to fight mosquito-borne diseases like West Nile Virus.  Check out the article!

urbana & champaign producing a bicycle safety video

At Smile Politely, Joel splogged (it's a special form of blogging) about a News-Gazette article about a bicycle safety video our fair twin cities are jointly producing:

The cities of Champaign and Urbana are collaborating on a bicycle safety video that will provide information to both cyclists and drivers on the proper ways to deal with various traffic scenarios.

They are working with a bicycle safety consultant with the League of Illinois Bicyclists, Donnie Miller, who has done bicycle safety training in Champaign-Urbana before. The cost of making the video is about $1,200.

Let's hope it includes something capable of teaching grumpy men in the passenger seats of Toyota Corollas not to curse at me for taking the lane beneath a bridge on Springfield as their young daughters watch everything from the backseat!  We are traffic, &c....

c-u fruit map

I already wrote about this here yesterday, but in an article about tomorrow's Tour de Fruit, Smile Politely featured a really great Champaign-Urbana fruit map, made collaboratively using Google Maps.  Here's what it looks like:

Here's a link to the interactive, reality-augmenting C-U Fruit Map.  Even if you can't make Saturday's group ride, the map's a good guide for other, well, fruitful bike rides around town!

weekend bike events?

We've got some!

First, the Art Gallery Bicycle Tour, which was rained out last weekend, will take place rain or shine this Saturday, 12 June.  It's a self-paced ride around town, punctuated by visits to some of C-U's art galleries.  Entry fee is a $10 and you'll get a discount on food at some participating restaurants. Check out the Champaign Cycles page for more details.  (And read a preview I wrote for last fall's iteration of the Tour.)

This weekend Champaign will also host Taste of C-U in West Side Park.  Some Bike Project volunteers will be volunteering at the bike corral and if you get there by bicycle, you'll get a free drink ticket good at one of the Pepsi tents.  The Champaign Park District website has more info.

(And if you'd like to see some live theater, the U-C IMC's hosting a "woven collage of music, theater, and dance" called Aquatown: A Future Hydrohistory.)

The Bike Project's also got a bunch of open hours this weekend if you'd like to stop by our shops.  The U-C IMC shop will be open 2-5pm on Saturday and Sunday; the Campus Bike Project from 5-9pm on Sunday.

Hope to see you out and about!

Campus Bike Project Update - June 7

Some of you reading this may not realize that The Bike Project recently opened a second location, known as the Campus Bike Project. It's located at 608 E. Pennsylvania in Champaign, which is bordered by the Law Building to the west, the Natural Resources Building to the north, the Stock Pavilion to the east, and that huge cemetery to the south. Hopefullly, that'll be easier to get to for some of you. Anyhow, I'll be chiming in each Monday on this here blog to let you know what's new at the CBP. Today was a big day, so I'd better get started:

THANKS

I'll try to start each week with a big thank-you to someone who's helped the Campus Bike Project. This week I'd like to thank Don Rudder and Tina Demoss and the rest of the employees of the U of I's Parking department. Don and Tina have the thankless task of cutting off the locks and collecting all the abandoned bikes after classes end in the summer (as well as impounding illegally-parked bikes throughout the year). Don and Tina get a lot of grief from people just in the course of doing their job, and that would make a lot of people grouchy, but they're always very friendly and helpful. In fact, last week they noticed that their pile of cut locks was getting pretty tall, and they contacted me to pick the locks up and take them to the scrap yard before someone else grabbed them.

As you may or may not know, in 2008 the U of I decided to discontinue their bike auction and donate all the impounded/abandoned bikes to The Bike Project after students and staff have a chance to claim them. That's been a huge benefit to our organization, and we greatly appreciate the help. The legwork to make that happen on the University's side falls on Parking, and they have been great to work with. Don and Tina are who we deal with face-to-face, but working behind the scenes are: Michelle Winters, Tom Skaggs, Stacey Rudolph, Mike Fitzgerald, Gary Williamson, Anita Gardner, and several others.

So, the next time you get a parking ticket or hear about someone getting towed, remember that they're just doing their job. Thanks guys, for all your help!

ON THE TEE-VEE

I see that Kelly already mentioned it, but the fine folks at WCIA Channel 3's The Morning Show (Nichole and her cameraman Scott) interviewed Emma and I this morning about all things Bike Project, at the Campus Bike Project:


Part 1 (3 minutes): http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=153265

Part 2 (4 minutes): http://illinoishomepage.net/fulltext/?nxd_id=153275

Hey, it could have gone more smoothly, but at least no one got hurt. We've been getting some great media coverage lately, as a News-Gazette photog showed up later in the morning (I'll post a link when and if anything comes of that), and Tom Cyrs wrote this nice article about recycling bikes in Smile Politely last week.


BIKES FOR SALE

I intended to take some pictures, but descriptions will have to suffice for this week. We have several ready-to-ride used bicycles for sale, all of which come with a one-year membership to TBP and CBP (and if you're already a member, then it'll be extended for a year). Sizing is approximate, and stock changes on a daily basis.

• Trek 820 Single Track Men's Mountain Bike, dark green, probably would fit someone in the 5'8" to 6'0" range -- $140
• Randor Women's Mountain Bike from the '80s, white and blue, for someone 5'4" to 5'8", $80
• Schwinn "Women Inspired" Mountain Bike, nearly new, pink and black, for someone 5'4" to 5'8", $120
• Schwinn Frontier Women's Mountain Bike, burgundy and white, for someone 4'10" to 5'2", $100
• Huffy Women's Cruiser Bike, nearly new, neon green and black, for someone 5'2" to 5'6", $60

BUILD-A-BIKES

Summer's a great time to work on a build-a-bike project. Come in and check out what we have in the back and get started on an inexpensive bike that you can call your own. You can repair a bike yourself and purchase it for just half the price of what it would be for an already-repaired bike. Including a student membership, that's usually around $50.

VOLUNTEER

People are starting to find out about CBP, and we are getting busier all the time. We have several fantastic volunteers that have helped to get the Campus shop off the ground (thanks a bunch Carl, Gillian, Hasib, Jen, and Kelly! As well as the core volunteers at the Urbana location), but we could always use more help. Here are some areas where volunteers could provide assistance:

• Assisting members and walk-ins with repairs during open hours. This is our biggest area of need, especially heading into fall. Your mechanical skills don't need to be that advanced - the main thing is that you want to help people learn how to fix their own bikes.
• Greeting visitors during open hours. Don't feel comfortable working with bikes but want to help out when the shop is open? This is super-valuable, and something that anyone can do with a friendly attitude and a little training. Especially when the shop's busy, having a greeter (or even two) is invaluable. You'll help visitors and members sign in, give a little spiel to first-time visitors about what we do, and sell used bikes and new parts.
• Scrap old bikes for parts. Some bikes are too far gone to be repaired, or they have frame damage that makes them unsafe. So, we strip off what's usable and take the rest to the scrap yard. Need a break from intense mental work? Patching tubes, scavenging spokes and nipples off old wheels, or just tearing down crummy bikes can be a great way to relax and blow off some steam.
• Publicity. Want to visit residence halls and hand out fliers about CBP or give a presentation to campus groups? We get a lot of requests for this kind of thing, and it's a great way to share your enthusiasm for The Bike Project.
• Art projects. One of the coolest things about bike collectives (and one of the great things about the IMC location) is that they often are able to combine the practical with the beautiful, with a bike-centric theme. Gillian is off to a great start with our sandwich-board sign and some other signage for around the shop, but there's room for others to help, too. What about a coat tree welded out of old scrap frames, or a table made from old chainrings? Let your imagination run wild, and let us know what you have in mind.

If you're interested in any of these volunteer opportunities (or just want to help in general), email Joel at campusbikeproject@gmail.com.

tomorrow: ride of silence

Tomorrow night -- 19 May at 7pm to be precise! -- C-U will play host to the annual Ride of Silence.  The Ride of Silence aims both to honor cyclists who have been hurt or killed and to raise awareness that cyclists are by-right users of the roads, or, as the slogan goes, that "we are traffic!"

Here's some details from an email to The Bike Project's member listserv:

We start at the parking lot near the assembly hall at First and St. Mary's. The route will be N on first to Stadium Drive, then across 45 (Neil Street) to Randolph and through downtown Champaign, then South on First and then down Green Street, then a bit North on Busey to Main and through downtown Urbana, then South on Vine to ILlinois, then Goodwin, then Pennsylvania, Fourth and back to the lot. It's about 9 miles and we'll be going less than 12 MPH and regrouping whenever we get spread out.  (Note:  this is pending me looking at this on the map -- it's changed a tad from last year so we can ride a little on new bike lanes on Goodwin).

In the past we've had about 35 riders; if riders wear black armbands (a garbage bag cut into strips works) or have a sign on bikes indicating who they're riding for, then it communicates what we're doing to passersby.

The purpose of this ride is

• To HONOR those who have been injured or killed
• To RAISE AWARENESS that we are here
• To ask that we all SHARE THE ROAD; that drivers recognize that there’s room for all of us out here, and that a bicyclist may be around the next corner and has every right to be. 

We are looking for respect, not retaliation; for visibility, not vengeance. Let us show how to share the road by a positive example. Please follow the rules of the road. Ride as you would in a funeral procession; ride predictably.

Point out potholes and road hazards; signal turns and if you slow down. Momentary inattention is the number one cause of accidents -Be aware of what is in front of and BEHIND you, watch your line, and keep your hands near your brakes. 

We are riding as a group, silently but use your judgement regarding both. Allow for breaks in the group when it makes sense.

tuesday, 4 may: c-u's very own bike to work day

If you're not already biking to work -- and, really, it's been so nice out that you should be -- next week's C-U Bike to Work Day might be just the motivation you need to get started.  Next Tuesday, 4 May, a generous group of sponsors (including The Bike Project) will hold our micro-urban shangri-la's celebration of car- and carbon-free commuting.

From 7-10am, C-U Bike to Work Day will have four stations set up around town featuring coffee and other treats for old and new bike commuters.  The stations will be located at

• Downtown Champaign - Neil Street & Main Street
• Downtown Urbana - Main Street & Vine Street
• University of Illinois - Engineering Plaza (Green Street across from the Illini Union)
• Savoy - Savoy Recreation Center (Prospect Avenue and Graham)

You can register for C-U Bike to Work Day here.  You can find out about the third and last in a series of classes on Bike Commuting 101 here.  And if you'd like to volunteer to help staff one of the Bike to Work Day stations, you can sign-up here.

...and you can click here for a great website all about commuting by bicycle!

c-u community used bike sale

On Saturday, 24 April and Sunday, 25 April, Champaign Cycle will be hosting the first annual Community Used Bike Sale in part to benefit Habitat for Humanity.  It looks like a fun sale and it's for a good cause, so check it out!  From an email from Champaign Cycle, here's the details:

COMMUNITY USED BIKE SALE
Hosted by Champaign Cycle
Sat. April 24, 10-5      Sun. April 25, Noon-4
506 S Country Fair Dr., Champaign, IL 61821

Sell your old bike.  Help Habitat for Humanity

Do you have an old bike in your garage that you no longer want?  Bring it to Champaign Cycle to be included in the 1st Annual Community Used Bike Sale.  If the bike sells you receive the sale price minus a 10% consignment fee.  If the bike doesn't sell you can either pick it up or you can donate the bike to Habitat for Humanity .  If you donate the bike you will receive a receipt for a tax deductible contribution, you will have more room in your garage, and you'll have the satisfaction of helping a local charity.  In addition, the profit from the consignment fee will go to Habitat for Humanity.  Champaign Cycle will receive no money from the sale.

Do you want to buy a good used bike?  Come to Champaign Cycle during the sale for a good used bike.  We will inspect all the bikes and they will be in good operating condition.  We will have a checklist detailing the condition of the bike hanging from the handlebars.  Since the owner, not Champaign Cycle, will be selling the bike there is no warranty from Champaign Cycle.  However, we will do our best to honestly represent the condition of the bike and answer questions about the bike.  So please stop by during the 2 day sale to inspect the bikes.

PLEASE TELL YOUR FRIENDS ABOUT THIS USED BIKE SALE.
 _______________________________________________________

Attention used bike owners who want to sell their bike:

 1.  Your bike must be in safe operating condition to be included in the sale.  We will inspect all bikes when you bring them in.  The tires must hold air, and brakes and gears must work.  If you wash the bike and inflate the tires before bringing it you will have a better chance of selling it.  We will fill out a checklist which will be on the bike during the sale listing the condition of major elements of the bike.  If the bike needs repair to be in safe operating condition you can repair the bike or we will repair the bike for you at our normal repair rates.  If the bike sells we will deduct the repair cost from your sale price.  If your bike does not sell and you donate it to Habitat we will remove the labor portion of your repair bill, which will be a further donation to Habitat from Champaign Cycle.  For the sale to be a success for both the seller and the buyer we must present the bikes in good condition.

We will respectfully decline any bikes for the sale which are not in safe operating condition.

2.  You will set the price you want to receive for your bicycle.  We will give you our opinion on what is a reasonable price for your bike but it's your bike and you set the price.  We will suggest prices which are fair for both you and the buyer and which will make it likely that the bike will sell.

3.  We will accept used bikes for the sale Wed. April 14 through Wed. April 21
during normal business hours.  Click on the link for hours and location.

4.  Please email us if you want to sell your bike at the Community Used Bike Sale.  Since this is a new idea for us it would be a great help if you would email us before you bring in your bike so that we can plan better for this event.  We will reply to you to confirm and will inform you of any changes or additional information. 

Email us at usedbikesale@champaigncycle.com to reserve space at the used bike sale.