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Project Updates for collection: Bicycle Related Projects

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  1. Weekly Update -- Abandoned Bikes Retrieval & Sales

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

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    All,

    Last week was the conclusion of the bike retrieval period for abandoned bikes.  We got three claims in the 11th hour, which was good. I’ll begin organizing the leftovers this week, with help from my staff. We are critically low on some used parts, so this is fortuitous timing.

    Elsewhere, I have two new staffers starting this week—just in time for October!

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 94
    Sales: $1,319.25
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $100
    Memberships: 24 for $720
    Tires/tubes: 28 for $153

    Thanks!

  2. 9/23/25 Call Recap -- Veo Parking & Gameday

    Associated Project(s): 
    Bike Share with Veo

    From Aaron Madrid:

    Afternoon all,
    Thank you for your time today. I just wanted to recap a few action items and next steps from our call. 
    1. Aaron will reach out to the parent who emailed in and offer to have a conversation and see if we can find some additional solutions for their student.

    2. Aaron will coordinate meeting between geofence team, operations team, and Sarthak to discuss parking locations outside of bike racks in the coming week(s)
    3. Gameday Geofence Activation
        a. Geofence will activate as a "No Parking Zone" 4 hours ahead of kick-off.
        b. Geofence will transition to a "No Ride Zone" 2 hours ahead of kick-off.
        c. Geofence will deactivate 90 minutes after the conclusion of the game.

    I think this will position us to ensure we're maximizing the access for the community to gameday activities while reducing the number of errant vehicles.

    Let me know if there are any questions or concerns regarding the items we discussed on our call today.

  3. Light the Night 2025 Leftover Light Count

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    Light the Night 2025 was a success, students and community members alike biked to various stations on campus to receive free bike lights.

     

    Bike Lights Remaining:

    Location

    Sets Brought

    Red Lights Leftover

    White Lights Leftover

    Green & Lincoln

    150

    37

    36

    Alma Mater

    400

    160

    166

    Hallene Gateway

    250

    95

    92

    Ike

    200

    45

    46

     

  4. Weekly Update -- Light the Night & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Last Wednesday was Bike To Work Day! It was a success. Had good weather and good turn outs at the stations I visited.

    Light The Night is tomorrow evening. Should be good weather—if warm—for that, too!

     

    We are busy but it’s not mayhem anymore—that’s a plus!

     

    We are low on used tires, as is common this time of year. I’ll roll over to the Urbana shop to see if they have any to spare.

    The numbers:

    Sales: $1,735.35
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50

    Memberships: 38 for $1140
    Tires/tubes: 31 for $286

  5. Beautiful Weather and Lots of Station Locations!

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    • Alma Mater Plaza
    • Campus Bike Center
    • Campus Recreation Center East
    • College of Veterinary Medicine – Lot F27
    • Disability Resources and Educational Services
    • I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center – Intersection of First Street and St. Mary's Road
    • Orchard Downs
    • Siebel Center for Computer Science – Intersection of Main Street and Mathews Avenue

    map of campus showing multiple locations for bike welcome stations

  7. CU Bike to Work Day Email For Alma Mater Attendees

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    Alma Mater attendees: Bike to Work Day is TOMORROW MORNING!

     

    C-U Bike to Work Day is tomorrow – Wednesday, September 10!  This is a reminder that you pre-registered to stop at the Alma Mater welcome station (southeast corner of Green & Wright Streets), which will be open from 7-10 AM.  Sarthak Prasad is your station manager.

     

    Tell a friend that they can still register for Bike to Work Day today at cuBikeMonth.org or tomorrow on-site – 16 welcome stations will be open across Champaign County!

     

    The weather looks great – dry, and temperatures between 60-75F.  Tag any photos with us on Facebook at “C-U Bike Month.”  Enjoy the ride!

  8. September 2025 CU Bike Announcements

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night
    Evaluation & Planning for Bicycles

    Email from Gabe Lewis:

    Happy September!

     

    Our team has these bike-related announcements to share with you:

     

    #1:  Bike to Work (& Class) Day is this Wednesday, September 10

    If you are not pre-registered for Bike to Work Day yet, do so now and tell a friend to do the same!  cuBikeMonth.org

     

    16 stations will be open across Champaign County, with 8 of them being on the University of Illinois campus.  Each station will have free t-shirts (while supplies last), stickers, breakfast snacks, and bike literature!

     

    #2:  Light the Night returns on Tuesday, September 16

    Bring your bike to one of four on-campus stations to get free bike lights!  You can also sign up to be a volunteer for a partial or full shift – no experience needed!

     

    #3:  Active Transportation Plan (ATP) survey is OPEN

    Calling all bicyclists, pedestrians, and park visitors:  we want to hear your thoughts via this survey and/or comment map on your experiences – good or bad! 

     

    Completing this survey will help the Regional Planning Commission (RPC) develop the Champaign County Active Transportation Plan (ATP).  RPC staff will also be at various events this fall – including Light the Night – with tablets for people to complete this survey.  We want to hear from everyone to work on making Champaign-Urbana a better place to walk and bike!

     

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    #4:  More Bike Month events

    The cuBikeMonth.org calendar has several bike events listed for September and October, including Saturday’s FREE Moonlight Bike Ride from Meadowbrook Park to the Sidney Dairy Barn!  You can also keep up with C-U Bike Month announcements on our Facebook page.

  9. Notes following the Bike Month Planning meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    Here are the assigned roles for Light the Night 2025:

     

     

    Station Name/Location

    Station Manager(s)

    RPC ATP Staff Person

    1

    Alma Mater

    Sarthak Prasad

    JD McClanahan

    2

    Ikenberry Quad

    Jake Benjamin

    Gaby Harpel

    3

    Hallene Gateway

    Kevin Garcia & Gabe Lewis

    Gabe Lewis

    4

    Green & Lincoln

    Abby Kipping & Qiushi Huang

    TBD

     

    Station Notes:

    • Green & Lincoln will also be the MTD Bike on Bus Rack Demonstration Site
    • All stations will have some Project 529 Bike Registration Forms and Stickers

     

    Timeline & Tasks:

    • Event Date:  Tuesday, September 16
      • Rain Date:  Wednesday, September 17
    • U of I personnel will deliver lights, tables, chairs, lawn signs, and sandwich boards to each station.
    • Station Managers should be at their stations by 3:15 PM.
    • First shift volunteers will arrive at 3:30 PM, and second shift volunteers will arrive at 5:15 PM.  Make sure they have a Bike Month t-shirt and light set if they want/need them.  They will also need a brief verbal training on the following:
      • Orientation of the station (where people enter and exit)
      • How to install lights
      • Brief recap of Rules of the Road
        • Ride with traffic
        • Stop at stoplights (and stop signs)
        • USE YOUR LIGHTS AT NIGHT – that’s why we’re installing them!  It is legal and safe.
      • Sending people to take the ATP survey
      • Directing people to other resources
    • Tear down at 7 PM
      • Leave tables and chairs for U of I personnel to pick up
      • Remaining lights, lawn signs, sandwich boards, and Bike Month & ATP materials need to be returned to Sarthak/F&S

  10. Help Celebrate CU Bike Month at Light the Night

    Associated Project(s): 
    Light the Night

    Light the Night - Tuesday, September 16 between 4 and 7 p.m.

    Help Celebrate CU Bike Month at Light the Night
    		 
     

     

    Light the Night is Tuesday, September 16, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Alma Mater Plaza, Hallene Gateway, the Ikenberry Commons Quad, and at the intersection of Green Street and Lincoln Avenue. You MUST bring your bike to get a free light set. Approximately 1,000 bike light sets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. 

    Remember, Illinois law requires a front light along with a rear reflector/light when riding at night. If your bike is without these items, please take this opportunity to become compliant and enhance your visibility and safety during evening hours.

    Also, volunteers are needed, and no experience is necessary. Individuals will be quickly trained to install the light sets. In case of severe weather, the event will be rescheduled for September 17. 

    Loading Your Bike on the Bus

    In Lot D9 (adjacent to the Green/Lincoln location), there will also be a demonstration of how to load bicycles onto MTD buses, as well as an opportunity for attendees to practice this activity with their own bikes.

     

     

    Register Your Bike
    		 
     
    Keep Your Bike Safe - register it and join the 529 Community
     

    According to the University Bicycle Ordinance, bicycle registration is mandatory for all bicycles parked or operated on campus and owned by students, staff, faculty, university departments, community members, and bike share vendors. Protect your bike by adding a theft deterrent identification shield for $10.

    The U. of I. joined 529 Garage's national database registration system in 2020 to help improve safety and aid in the recovery of stolen bicycles. 

    Volunteers will be able to assist with bike registration at Light the Night, including issuing the 529 Shields (decals). 

    Also, remember to sign up for the upcoming Bike to Work Day on Wednesday, September 10. More information about bike programming will be available there and at other events throughout the semester.

     

    Link to open the newsletter online

  12. Weekly Update -- Build-a-Bike, Staffing Updates, and Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Busy as all get out. Sold all but one small bike for sale and moving Build-a-Bikes as fast as we can. Hope to have a few more prepped this week as demand for those is always high once we sell out of the refurbs.

    More staff will be available this week, which should help with the craziness.

     

    Returning abandoned bikes and getting some business out of that, which is welcomed. Plenty of folks that are retrieving their bikes are unaware of our space/offerings.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 234
    Sales: $1882.45

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $250

    Bikes (B-a-B): 2 for $100
    Memberships: 23 for $690
    Tires/tubes: 48 for $351

  13. Celebrate C-U Bike Month by Riding to Work!

    Associated Project(s): 
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Bike to Work Day - September 10 from 7 to 10 a.m.
     

     
    Celebrate CU Bike Month by Riding to Work!
    		 
     

    Ride your bike to campus on Wednesday, September 10, between 7 and 10 a.m., and get a free T-shirt! Welcome stations featuring drinks and snacks will be available in 16 Champaign County locations. First-time riders are encouraged to join returning participants and learn more about the local bike community. You must preregister and bring your bicycle to get this year's shirt.

    The locations of campus stops can be viewed on the official Bike to Work map. The event will be rescheduled for September 11 should inclement weather arise. 

    Campus Welcome Stations

    • Alma Mater Plaza
    • Campus Bike Center
    • Campus Recreation Center East
    • College of Veterinary Medicine – Lot F27
    • Disability Resources and Educational Services
    • I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center – Intersection of First Street and St. Mary's Road
    • Orchard Downs
    • Siebel Center for Computer Science – Intersection of Main Street and Mathews Avenue

    Bike to Work Day Newsletter Link 

  16. Campus Transportation Survey 2025: Commute Mode Share

    Associated Project(s): 
    Reduce Driving on Campus

    The results of the Campus Transportation Survey conducted earlier this spring have been analyzed to find the mode share of students and faculty/staff on their commute from residence to campus. The findings are detailed below:

    • Of the 272 student respondents:
      • 35% take the bus
      • 8% drive alone
      • 21% bike
      • 33% walk/roll
      • 1% carpool/vanpool
      • 1% use other micromobility devices
    • Of the 524 faculty/staff respondents:
      • 10% take the bus
      • 71% drive alone
      • 2% are dropped off
      • 9% bike
      • 5% walk/roll
      • 3% carpool/vanpool

  17. Update on Eco-Counters' Status

    Associated Project(s): 
    Pedestrian and Bicycle Counts

    Today, Sarthak met with a technical support staff from Eco-Counter to diagnose and address several malfunctioning counters around campus. They found the following:

    • Wright St and Healey St East Side
      • Problem: Flashing red light, counter could not detect sensors, corrosion on one of the connections between logger and sensors
      • Analysis: Corrosion caused a short circuit that depleted external battery and impacted logger's internal battery
      • Recommendation: Replace system with MULTI Evo post
    • First and Windsor
      • Problem: pedestrian counter counting randomly
      • Analysis: Electromagnetic interference or issue with sensor
      • Recommendation: Wrap sensor in aluminium foil to mitigate interference. Inspect sensor and replace if needed
    • Illini Uninon North Side
      • Problem: bicycle counter not counting
      • Solution: Adjusted settings of bicycle counter to resolve this issue
    • Main Quad East - Bevier Hall
      • Problem: pedestrian counter was counting erratically and counting ghosts
      • Analysis: Nearby vegetation and spiderweb inside counter was moving in front of sensor and causing false counts
      • Recommendation: monitor counts to see if they have returned to normal

  18. Phase 4: Bicycle Retrieval

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

    Phase 4, bicycle retrieval, of the abandoned bicycles project will begin soon. Individuals whose bicycle has been impounded during the summer round-up and who wish to retrieve their bike will be able to do so at the Campus Bike Center. In order to do so, information identifying your bicycle (e.g. where it was parked, color, registration number) must be provided to bike@illinois.edu and a $40 impound fee must be paid upon pick up.

  20. Weekly Digest

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Not as busy as expecting but that gave us some time to fix up more bikes. We’re currently at capacity in the front lobby area and rearranged things in the back to accommodate some of the For Sale bikes back there.

    Got a count of the incoming collection of abandoned bikes, so once those are released to us, we’ll have a good plan for how to handle the influx.

    Interviewing for a couple positions and waiting to hear back from a few returning staff this week. And, of course, turning out bikes for the rush.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 11
    Sales: $179.50
    Memberships: 3 for $90
    Tires/tubes: 8 for $44

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