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Projects Updates for place: Campus Bike Center

  2. Weekly Update: Strong Towns, Bike Summit, Working Bikes

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

    All, Big week of events! On Tuesday, Chuck Marohn of Strong Towns is speaking at the Illinois Terminal and I’ll attend to see how our work as bike advocates and a non-profit can help bolster a strong and vibrant community. And Wednesday is the Illinois Bike Summit at the I-hotel. I’ll be there all day and reducing hours at the Bike Center to account for that. Accordingly, we’ll be open 4 – 6p on that day. I never fail to learn something at this yearly event and am happy to see it back here on campus.

    I’ll be counting/organizing bikes for donation as well this week. Hope to have the Donation Day set by end of the week and so we can begin rallying for some support/help. WB has already agreed to pay for Manolo’s!

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 51

    Sales: $1,214.50

    Memberships: 17 for $510
    Tire/tubes: 8 for $94

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  3. Weekly Update: Slower times, Business Hours, Sorting abandoned bicycles

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

    All, Slower times here at the Bike Center (in terms of visitors). We’re almost slow enough that we can reinstate the First Visit Free policy. Not quite there, as we’ll have lulls but pick back up again.

    It was discovered that the CBC Google Business hours were not updated when we moved to M – F, which explains why we we’ve been so slow on Tues/Thurs. That has since been corrected so we’ll see if that impacts visit numbers this week.

    Last week I started sorting bikes at the warehouse for shipment/donation. We’ll be saving even more bikes than usual as we’re critically low on consumable parts like tires.

    We managed to rehab a Huffy to an acceptable degree. The frame was in good shape and we piloted a new freewheel system that should hopefully help keep those types of bikes rideable for longer. That bike sold in about 20 minutes. Demand for cheap bikes is evergreen.

    This week I’ll do more sorting at the warehouse and coordinating the donation, an interview or two, and otherwise business-as-usual.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 78
    Sales: $479.50
    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $70
    Memberships: 5 for $150
    Tires/tubes: 9 for $58

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  4. Weekly Update: iSEE interview, Replenishing bike stock, Working Bikes

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

    All, With the onset of cooler weather, we have seen a decrease in visitor numbers. But that has also correlated with a decrease in available for sale bikes.

    Last week I had an iSEE student come by to interview me and talk all things bikes, so I’ll be sure to keep an eye out for that story. All publicity is good publicity!

    This week I’ll start counting/sorting bikes for the Working Bikes donation—actual date TBD—including moving some of the keeper bikes to the Bike Center to replenish our stock of B-a-Bs and For Sales.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 72
    Sales: $958.25

    Bikes (refurb): 1 for $135
    Memberships: 14 for $420
    Tires/tubes: 15 for $70

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  5. Final numbers from Bike to Work Day and Light the Night

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

    The Bike Month Planning team organized Bike to Work Day on September 14, 2022 from 7 - 10 am at 16 Champaign County locations, including eight on-campus. There were 893 registered to attend before the event this year and nearly 150 people registered on-site during the event! Champaign County Bikes were also present at Alma Mater and Hallene Gateway during Light the Night event as well as Bike to Market Day on September 17, 2022, to meet attendees who could not attend the Bike to Work Day event. The final number of pre-registered attendees (prior to Bike to Market) was 921, which is a new record for this event!

    Light the Night was organized on September 15, 2022, from 4 - 7 pm at three campus locations - Alma Mater, Hallene Gateway, and Campus Bike Center. This year, we used Planet Bike blinky lights with silicone straps. We distributed and installed nearly 800 bike light sets during this event! Alma Mater was, by far, the most popular location, where nearly 575 lights were distributed.

    Following the event, the Bike Month Plannign team discussed options for next year.

  7. Weekly Update: BTWD, LTN, Build-a-Bike, very busy this week

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    C-U Bike to Work Day
    Light the Night
    Collection and Donation of Abandoned Bicycles

    All, Real busy times last week. Shop was manageably busy, but we had BTWD and LTN on consecutive days. Both events went well. I spent more time at the DRES stop than the Bike Center station, which was a new experience. Lots of folks on that route, and I was able to talk route-planning and commuting strategy with some people new to commuting. Weather cooperated swimmingly.

    We had a deluge of completed B-a-Bs last week. Always good to see the smiling faces of rewarded effort. Marketing folks came by and updated some of our filing cabinets and bins with printed (legible) labels and photos of contents to better help people find and identify parts. We’re still slower on Tue/Thurs as we work to get the word out that we’re now open those days as well.

    We’ll work this week on a couple shop builds we’ve been too busy to finish, prep for the abandoned bike giveaway, and clean shop as we’ve been too busy to do much of any of that in the last two weeks.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 86
    Sales: $1,084.30
    Bikes (B-a-B): 3 for $150

    Memberships: 17 for $510
    Tires/tubes: 10 for $59

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  8. Video: Highlights from Bike to Work Day and information on Light the Night

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

    Mark Herman from iSEE created a timelapse video showcasing the Alma Mater station during the Bike to Work Day event on September 14, 2022. This video gives a highlight of the event as well as promote Light the Night event on September 15, 2022.

    Watch the video here: https://icap.sustainability.illinois.edu/video/highlights-bike-work-day-...

  9. BTWD follow up with Stations Managers

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

    Following email was sent to all BTWD station managers the day after the event on September 15, 2022.

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    Hi Bike to Work Day station managers,

    I hope you had a good BTWD yesterday!  Here are the last 3 reminders/requests for you:

    1. Return your leftover materials to Charlie’s house (805 S. Coler Ave., Urbana) by Friday, if you haven’t already done so.
      1. This includes your box with the registration list, registration forms, the donation can, t-shirts, handouts, and the yard sign.
    2. Complete this short survey by Friday (if you can) to tell us how BTWD 2022 went for you:  https://forms.gle/yJ6LSevkt8zoSDSr8
    3. Send me photos from your station if you haven’t already done so, or label & drop them in this Google Drive folder.

    No Pictures Yet from these Stations:

    1. Campus Alma Mater
    2. Campus Bike Center
    3. Campus National Soybean Research Center
    4. CRCE
    5. Campus Uni High
    6. Rantoul
    7. Savoy

     

    Video Received & Posted from this Station:

    1. Campus Alma Mater

    Pictures Received & Posted from these Stations:

    1. Campus DRES
    2. Campus Orchard Downs
    3. Campus Research Park
    4. Champaign Downtown Plaza
    5. Champaign Wolfram
    6. Mahomet
    7. St. Joe KRT
    8. Urbana Brookens
    9. Urbana Downtown

     

    Thanks,

    Gabe

  10. Email to IUB: Help with Bike to Work Day and Light the Night event

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

    Sarthak Prasad sent an email to Dave Guth to connect with Illini Union Board for help with Light the Night 2022 as well as Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events in 2023 going forward.

    -----------------------

    Hi Dave,

    As you may already know, we organized Bike to Work Day today from 7 – 10 am, with one of the locations being the Alma Mater station! I had several people signed up to volunteer and only a few of them showed up this morning. I am hoping that IUB could send some volunteers for Light the Night event (tomorrow from 4-7 pm), in case something like this happened again. Could you please let me know if IUB could help out tomorrow?

    I would also like to ask IUB, if they could lead the Alma Mater welcoming station for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events next year. Thank you,

    Sarthak

  11. Email to volunteers

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

    Following email was sent to all volunteers at Alma Mater welcoming station on September 13, 2022. Similar emails were sent to volunteers at other location as well.

    ----------------------------------

    Hello, Thank you for volunteering to help at the Campus Alma Mater station on Bike to Work Day tomorrow morning!

    Please review the attached Volunteer Instructions and Talking Points before tomorrow’s event.  Printed copies of this will also be available at your station.

    Your station manager, Sarthak Prasad, is copied on this email.  Please communicate any schedule changes or questions to him.

    Thank you!

    Gabe

  12. Email to welcoming station managers

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

    Following email was sent to all BTWD welcoming station managers on Septmber 13, 2022.

    ------------------------------------------------

    Hi Bike to Work Day station managers!

    Tomorrow is the big event!  Please follow these 6 steps this week:

     

    1. Tuesday – Pick up your station box at Charlie’s house (805 S. Coler Ave., Urbana)
      1. Enter the screened-in porch, and find your box(es) with your station name on it.
      2. Papers in your box:  registration list, on-site registration forms, volunteer instructions, talking points, fall bike activity flyers, bike registration QR code
      3. Other items:  t-shirts, donation can, handouts & coupons in brochure holders, hand sanitizer
    2. Tuesday – Connect with your volunteers
      1. I will be sending emails to each station manager, and the people who signed up to volunteer at your station, with volunteer instructions.  Full list of names attached.
    3. Wednesday – Get an accurate count of people who stopped by your station
      1. Use the printed, stapled registration list in your box to check off people when they arrive at your station.
      2. You’ll get another updated list tonight with people who registered between Monday afternoon and Tuesday night.  Print or refer to this list on your phone on Wednesday morning, and write down everyone who stops by.
      3. If someone DIDN’T register online, have them fill out an ON-SITE REGISTRATION FORM included in your box.
      4. Return ALL paperwork in your box to Charlie’s house by Friday.
    4. Wednesday – Give away your freebies!
      1. T-shirts are available while supplies last.  Extras go back in your box to Charlie’s house.  If people are looking for a different size, send them to the Urbana Farmer’s Market Bike Table (NW corner) on Saturday between 8a-12n.
      2. Your box has bike maps, rules of the road, organization materials, hand sanitizer, and business coupons!  People can take as much as they want.
    5. Wednesday – Take & share pictures!
      1. Take some pictures at your station (with participant permission), and send them to Evan (ealvarez@cumtd.com) or post them on Facebook and tag “C-U Bike Month.”
    6. After the event – Return your leftover materials to Charlie’s house by Friday.
      1. This includes registration forms, the donation can, t-shirts, handouts, and the yard sign.

     

    Thanks!
    Gabe

     

    Gabriel Lewis, AICP

    Planner

     

    Planning and Community Development

    A division of the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission

     

    1776 E. Washington St, Urbana, IL 61802
    P 217.328.3313 | D 217.819.4102 | ccrpc.org

     

    RPC

     

    People. Possibilities.
    Attached Files: 

  13. Weekly Update: Bike to Work Day and Light the Night this week, Abandoned bicycles

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center
    Light the Night
    C-U Bike to Work Day

    All, The visitor numbers seem low for how busy it felt this past week. Had a few students step up, volunteer, and enjoy it enough to come back in the last few weeks. That’s always a good sign we’re doing something right.

    I was out Thursday/Friday and my staff handled the Bike Center in my absence. No major issues, so I call that a success.

    We’ve got BTWD and LTN this week, back-to-back days, on Wed then Thursday. Weather looks good (at this point).

    This Friday is the last day for students to claim their abandoned bikes so my staff and I will count the remaining ones that we’ll be able to use. From there, I’ll coordinate with Working Bikes to pick up the rest—potentially as soon as next week. The influx of bikes will be a boon to for our programs as we look to build back stock.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 49
    Sales: $895
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 15 for $70

    Thanks!

    Jacob Benjamin
    Campus Bike Center Coordinator

  14. Material assembled for Bike to Work Day

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

    t-shirts and handout materials were assembled on September 12, 2022 by the Bike Month Planning Team.

    All station managers were informed that they could pick their boxes up between 5-6 pm today at the MTD Training Facility, 1207 E. University Ave., Urbana, OR anytime after that at Charlie Symth’s front porch.

  15. Bike to Work Day 2022

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

    Folks, First, my apologies if this is a duplicate...we're just excited about our newest T Shirt and we want to exceed last year's record participation in Bike to Work Day!

    The 2022 Champaign County Bike to Work Day is Wednesday September 14 (rain date of Friday, Sept. 16). Registration is now open at cuBikeMonth.org if you haven't already signed up. T Shirts and breakfast snacks while they last.

    There are 16 Welcome Stations for Wednesday, 7:00-10:00am (in CU as well as Savoy, St. Joe, Mahomet, and Rantoul), as well as a "Bike to Market" option for next Saturday at the Urbana Farmers Market 8am-noon.

    Bike Month 2022 T Shirt

    There are additional events planned for September as "Bike Month" including Light the Night, Thursday Sept 15, several local family rides Saturday Sept 17 and Sept 24, Walk and Roll to School Day (October 12) and the Illinois Bike Summit at the I Hotel October 12 (with NACTO training Oct 13). A full list of events is here or by checking the calendar at cuBikeMonth.org

    We hope you'll join us this Wednesday for our 2022 event!
    --
    -Charlie Smyth
    csmyth@sbcglobal.net
    Chair, ChampaignCountyBikes.org

  18. CILiving: Celebrate Bike Month with Champaign Center Partnership

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

    CILiving interviewed Gabe Lewis and Xander Hanzel on September 8, 2022, about Bike Month activities. Watch the interview here: https://www.wcia.com/ciliving-tv/ciliving-stories/ciliving/celebrate-bik...

    This interview was also posted on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CiQ4FKVjV4p/

    Read the content below:

    The 12th annual Champaign County Bike to Work Day is organized by the Champaign County Bike Month Planning Team, and is presented by major sponsors MTD, Bike at Illinois, and Carle.

    There are 16 welcome stations this year, in Champaign, Urbana, on the U of I campus, Savoy, Mahomet, St. Joseph, and Rantoul!

    Register for the event at the most convenient location to you and come meet us and other bicyclists in the community to celebrate Bike to Work Day! Grab a snack, get a free T-shirt, and consider making a donation to support bicycling in Champaign County!

    The 15th annual Light the Night bicycle light giveaway event is the next evening (Thursday, September 15, 2022) from 4-7 pm. Lights will be available at three campus locations, and you must bring your bike to receive the lights.

    Champaign Center Partnership
    301 N. Neil St., Suite 400

  19. Agenda for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night: September 8, 2022

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

    See attached the agenda item for the meeting on September 8, 2022 for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events.

    Attached Files: 

  20. e-week, GradLinks, Email+, and other methods for Bike to Work Day and Light the Night events

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

    E-week, GradLinks, and iNews newsletter announcements were posted by September 4, 2022 for Bike to Work Day (BTWD) and Light the Night (LTN) events. iSEE, Campus Rec, Campus Wellbeing Services, University YMCA, ISSS (for students and scholars), and other newsletters also included an announcement for these events.

    Bike at Illinois also sent out a newsletter in September to promote these events!

    Digital Signage were posted across the campus on September 7, 2022 to promote these events.

    See attached all the methods used to promote these events on campus.

    Attached Files: 

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