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Project Updates for collection: Living Lab Facilities / Programs

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  1. Weekly Digest: repair stand mats, bikes for sale

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Things are picking up here and will likely only get busier as we are fully into August now. We’ve still got around 20 bikes available and a few more in the queue. B-a-Bs are similar numbers. We received some non-slip mats for under the repair stands, which I will install this week.


    The numbers:
    Sales: $471.65

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $160
    Memberships: 4 for $120
    Tires/tubes: 2 for $10

    Jacob Benjamin

    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  2. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,
    We’ve been working through some old stock of used parts that are too rusty/damaged to be worth keeping and scrapping them—mostly wheels and a few frames. Getting our stock of sale bikes up into the 20s, which is good but won’t be close to meeting demand. We have almost the same number of bikes available for our Build-a-Bike program, so hopefully folks will take advantage of that when our refurbished bikes sell out.

    Last Friday morning F&S workers were finishing up repairing the outdoor bike pump—news I’m happy to report. On Friday, we also sold the kid’s bikes we had refurbished. In the high bike season, probably good to have a few of those fixed up, something we can quickly remedy this week.

    This evening is the Bike Project Monthly Member Meeting, which I will attend. 

    The numbers:
    Visitors: 19
    Sales: $611.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $175
    Memberships: 8 for $240
    Tires/tubes: 16 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  3. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    Pretty slow week, except for the last hour on Friday—fittingly enough. We’re working through scrapping the remaining low-quality bikes that are only good for the occasional component here and there.

    We had staff in on Tue/Thurs to help ramp up for sale production and we’ve made some headway there. We’ll continue the trend this week. Total for sale bikes is, I think, 15-20 with more in the queue.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $316
    Membership: 1  for $30
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $129

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

     

  5. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,

    To my mind, a bit of a slow week. Sold some bikes and prepped more for B-a-B/sale bikes.

    This week I’ll be bringing staff in extra hours to help build more bikes for the inevitable Beginning Of Semester rush. We’re still hovering around 20 for sale now but are building a good inventory of fully-prepped B-a-Bs for when we sell out of our refurbed bikes. We are paring down our inventory of old/bad wheels that are taking up valuable space and creating safety hazards, which will make way for our more valuable and useful parts/bikes.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 16
    Sales: $499
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Memberships: 6 for $180

    Tires/tubes: 12 for $78

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center
     

  6. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Pretty uneventful week on the whole. Highlight was an 11-year-old coming in with his mom to fix up his beat-up bike. At 11 he had great tool instincts and was excited about getting his hands dirty. Good times!

    Our “For Sale” bike numbers are steadily in the low double digits, but next month we’ll focus on building more, in hopes of staying ahead of the crush of returning students.

    This evening is the Bike Project member’s meeting, which I will attend.

    The numbers:

    Visitors:
    Sales: $970.75
    Bikes (refurb): 3 for $590
    Memberships: 7 for $210
    Tires/tubes: 3 for $20

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center
     

  8. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    All,
    The heat is upon us! The high temps have kept us less busy than we might have otherwise been. Still had some folks in and had a Build-a-Bike completed—which is always especially rewarding. Our new door has been working swimmingly, as folks have been able to enter/exit without wrestling with the door and their bike at the same time.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 15
    Sales: $525.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $200
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $93

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  11. Weekly Update: Training new staff, Donated bikes

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Been slow but good here, as we’re in a lull between spring semester and summer sessions. Slow times allow us to provide better service to the folks that do come through, so that’s a positive.

    Training up new staff and trying to keep on top of builds/donations as the spring and summer clean outs have netted us a good amount of bikes. But of course no matter how many bikes we have for sale, we’ll sell out come August. A good problem to have, I suppose.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 31
    Sales: $841
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $335
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $72

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

  12. F&S departmental bike repaired

    Associated Project(s): 
    Departmental Bike Sharing
    Campus Bike Center

    One of the F&S departmental bike share bikes was repaired by Sarthak Prasad and Jake Benjamin at the Campus Bike Center on May 22, 2025. There is one more F&S departmental bike share bicycle that will repaired sometime next week.

    F&S is also looking to purchase a small frame bicycle to add to their departmental bike share.

     

    Attached Files: 

  13. Funding Status Update

    Associated Project(s): 
    Green Research Committee

    The Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation Susan Martinis, the Interim Vice Chancellor for Administration and Operations Lowa Mwilambwe, the Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of Facilities & Services Jeff Angiel, the Director of the Institute for Sustainability, Energy, and Environment Madhu Khanna, and the iSEE Associate Director for Campus Sustainability Jennifer Fraterrigo met on May 15, 2025 to discuss the status of the Green Research program and the staffing request.

    While everyone agreed that the program and coordinator position are important, the group felt that the timing is not right to ask for a new position given the current economic climate and impending budget recission for F&S. The VCRI suggested we brief the Sustainability Council next fall to inform Provost Coleman and the future chancellor about this effort. Everyone deeply appreciates the committee’s work on this topic and remains enthusiastic about implementing the program once we are in a better financial position. 

  14. EV Infrastructure Study at Peer Universities

    Associated Project(s): 
    Electric Vehicle (EV) Task Force
    Use Electric Vehicles (EV)
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations

    Check out our new report on EV infrastructure, based on a survey of peer universities. The study examines how institutions across the country are planning, funding, and implementing EV charging solutions to support campus sustainability and evolving transportation needs.

    The insights gathered will inform our campus’s approach to EV infrastructure development and long-term mobility planning.

    Attached Files: 

  15. CTAC spring 2025: meeting recording and presentation

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC)
    Bike at Illinois Website and Campaign
    Install Public Use Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging Stations
    Support Mobility Innovation (Fliss)
    University Bicycle Ordinance
    2024 Campus Bike Plan
    Reduce Emissions from Business Travel
    Offset Emissions from Plane Trips
    Reduce Driving on Campus
    Bike Share with Veo

    The Campus Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC) met on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 from 1 - 2:30 p.m.. Following was the agenda for the meeting:

    • Introduction – Morgan White (5 minutes)
    • Old Business
      • F&S TDM Status Update – Stacey DeLorenzo and Sarthak Prasad (25 minutes)
      • Lincoln Ave Corridor Study (North of Florida Ave) – CCRPC (15 minutes)
      • Bike Share Updates– Sarthak Prasad (5 minutes)
    • New Business
      • EV infrastructure research – Bhagyashree (10 minutes)
      • E-bike research – Bhagyashree (10 minutes)
      • Air Travel Emissions research – Karina Jang (10 minutes)
      • 2025 Transportation Survey – Sepideh Azizi (10 minutes)
    • Community Updates – (5 minutes) 

    Please see attached the slides from meeting. To view the recording, please go to https://uofi.box.com/s/f9vq8w52a4tjmu154ecuspfyfjqb9784.

    Attached Files: 

  16. Illini Lights Out 5/2/2025

    Associated Project(s): 
    Illini Lights Out

    At our last Lights Out event of the semester, 2711 light bulbs were shut off that otherwise would have been left on all weekend, saving $412.47 in energy costs. This also prevented 4.045 metric tons of CO2 equivalent from entering the atmosphere, which is equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions from 397 gallons of gasoline being consumed. That's a great impact and thank you all for a great semester!

  19. Potential Rooftop Solar for Krannert Art Museum

    Associated Project(s): 
    Energy iCAP Team
    Rooftop Solar Potential
    Solar Power on Campus

    In February, Paul Foote investigated the potential for rooftop solar on Krannert Art Museum. Individuals from F&S and the museum expressed interest in exploring this project.

    Attached is the findings for the potential solar output of the rooftop. 

    Currently, the project is being explored as Krannert Art Museum wraps up renovations and leadership changes occur. 

    Attached Files: 

  20. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center


    Friday was a busy day. First up was the quad event, which despite the rainy weather earlier in the day, ended up being a dry time and quite popular. We’ve had 2 – 3 people come by CBC after having been at the Quad event, so it’s definitely getting some new folks aware of our space. Our open hours were not crazy busy on the bike side of things, but our gear rental partners were positively slammed, which created some logjams at the entrance—nothing we couldn’t handle!

    This week we have our last Instructional Class of the semester, and unfortunately the lead staffer for that program is graduating. Replicating that staffer’s expertise and enthusiasm for the work will be a tall order.

    Tonight is the Bike Project Members’ Meeting, which I’ll be attending.

    Warm weather this week, so we’ll likely be busy.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 60
    Sales: $1,005.25
    Memberships: 9 for $270
    Bikes (refurb): 2 for $360
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 14 for $111

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