All, Pretty standard week. Busy with some wait time on stands/repairs most days. Had a Build-a-Bike completed—always a good thing. My team and I did Light the Night on Tuesday at the Ikenberry Quad area. First time in a new location always gets us some looks and questions. Not as busy as we hoped but again, it’s not yet familiar to folks. No word yet on numbers. 

We were dangerously overloaded on scrap by Friday, but Todd pick it up over the weekend—always appreciated.

This week I’ll do inventory of the abandoned bikes to see what’s worth keeping. Of note: Easily the fewest abandoned bikes in my tenure. I think my first year there were over 500 bikes left over. Maybe bike shares are really helping that issue (and maybe creating others)?

This week I’ll have two new staffers start. It’s apparently midterms, so reinforcements are paramount.

The numbers:

Visitors: 62
Sales: $1,122.50
Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
Memberships: 20 for $600
Tires/tubes: 26 for $192

Thanks!

Jacob Benjamin
Coordinator -- Campus Bike Center

An invite was sent to 12 students to register to participate in the first ever "Learn How to Ride" class. See the email below:

Hello,

Hope you are doing well. We have rescheduled the Learn How to Ride a bike class to October 7, 2023! Please respond to this email or register before Friday, September 29, 2023!

Thank you for filling out the Bike Class Form on the Bike at Illinois website. You had mentioned that you would like to take a “Learn How to Ride” class. The University of Illinois is organizing a “Learn How to Ride” class on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Please register to participate in this class: https://shorturl.at/gyBQX

This is the first time we are going to organize a class such as this, so please make sure to arrive on time if you are able to participate. This class will be available to you free of cost. The University is covering the cost for contracting the two local League Cycling Instructors to teach this class, the equipment, and logistics to organize this class.

The class will take place at the basketball courts adjacent to the Volleyball courts at the intersection of Stadium Dr and Oak St (opposite to the Nuclear Physics Laboratory). We will provide bicycles for this class, but if you already have a bicycle, please bring it for fitting.

Please fill out the form at your earliest convenience, and let me know if you have any questions. Thank you,
Sarthak

All, I was out sick all last week with some combination of flu/cold/sinus infection. My staff handled operations in my absence. However, there were some issues tracking visit numbers, unfortunately.

Last Thursday was Bike To Work Day. Some very awesome people stepped up and filled in for me. Sounds like it was a banner year! Congrats to all involved.

Tomorrow evening is Light The Night. We’ll be hosting at a different location this year. Should be a better spot for folks to get their lights.

We were inundated with donations last week. I’ll bring in staff off-hours to help scrap the junk bikes and reorganize this week. Hopefully we’ll have our space in better shape by our open hours on Wednesday.

The numbers:

Visitors: 8*
Sales: $1,242.50
Bikes (refurb): 2 for $215
Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $40
Memberships: 17 for $510
Tires/tubes: 9 for $55

*See above issue with visit numbers.

Jacob Benjamin
Campus Bike Center Coordinator

On September 11, 2023, Bike at Illinois reached out to 29 users, who had won the Bike Registration Raffle. Eight winners were from May 2023 to August 2023, and the remaining were from the previous periods for which the original winners had relinquished their prizes.

Join the Others in the Community at Bike to Work and Light the Night Events

Bike at Illinois strives to offer resources, education, and engagement for a safer, more comfortable, and more enjoyable biking experience on the Urbana campus. As the university celebrates C-U Bike Month, please join students, faculty, and staff in upcoming events and learn more about bicycle registration, safety tips, rules of the road, bike infrastructure, and how to participate in sustainability initiatives.

Bike to Work Day
Ride your bike to campus on Thursday, September 14, and get a free T-shirt! Welcome stations featuring drinks and snacks will be available from 7 to 10 a.m., at eight university locations. You must preregister at https://go.fs.illinois.edu/BiketoWorkDay and bring your bicycle to get the shirt.

Volunteers can also help provide more information about the benefits of registering your bike with 529 Garage’s national database (https://go.illinois.edu/RegisterYourBike). Once registered, owners will get a 529 Shield (registration decal) to help as a theft deter

Light the Night – Free Bike Light Giveaway

The 16th annual LTN is Tuesday, September 19, from 4 to 7 p.m., at Alma Mater Plaza, Hallene Gateway, and the Campus Bike Center (51 E. Gregory Drive). You MUST bring your bike to get a light set. Approximately 1,100 bike light sets will be available this year.

Remember, bike lights are required by Illinois law when riding at night. Volunteers are still needed for the event.

Attached is a detailed metrics report for total Veo rides taken on campus for the month of July 2023.  

Attached is a detailed metrics report for total Veo rides taken on campus for the month of May 2023.  

Attached is a detailed metrics report for total Veo rides taken on campus for the month of March 2023.