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Projects Updates for theme: Transportation

  1. Weekly Update -- Crankgiving, Kids Bike Giveaway, Future Events, & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    All,

    This past weekend was the Bike Project’s Cranksgiving event, which we helped promote. The event raised over $2,000 worth of food/supplies for Wesley Food Bank and the McKinley Pantry at Garden Hills.

    Elsewhere, I’ve got most of the abandoned bikes separated in each of the containers but not yet fully organized. Will continue work on that this week.

    Next up will be our Kids Bike Giveaway event. I’ll get a count of current inventory between here and the Bike Project in urbana this week, and begin refurbishing them.

    This will be our last week being open M – F as we are closed for Fall Break and will be M/W/F after the break.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 58
    Sales: 490.25
    Memberships: 6 for $180
    Tires/tubes: 13 for $103

    Thanks!

  2. Weekly Update -- Cranksgiving & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Snow! First significant snowfall of the year. Made for a messy commute in, but always better than driving.

    This upcoming weekend is the Bike Project’s event Cranksgiving, a bicycle food drive. We have a bike trailer set up for canned food donations this week. Weather’ll be great for the event—projected to be 70°!

     

    We’ll continue to tackle donations this week and get some more bikes done for our various programs.

    The numbers:

    Visitors:
    Sales: $823.50

    Bikes (Refurb): 1 for $170
    Memberships: 11 for $330

    Tires/tubes: 13 for $105

     

    Thanks!

     

  4. Weekly Update -- Future Events & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Deceptive time of year: cooler temps usually mean fewer folks in, but that did not prove out. We were all-stands-full for a good bit last week. This week feels like just about peak foliage, which is a great time to ride a bike!

    Additionally, this week we’ll be tackling the abandoned bikes and preparing for our Kids Bike Giveaway event. We have ~5 kids bikes done already here at CBC. I’ll do inventory at Urbana and meet with Marketing folks to get the word out.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 89
    Sales: $595

    Memberships: $10 for $300
    Tires/tubes: 16 for $146

     

    Thanks!

  6. Weekly Update -- Kids Bike Giveaway & Sales

    Associated Project(s): 
    Campus Bike Center

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    I was out Friday and Monday so this is a day late. I was in Berkeley, CA which has roundabouts at all of their side-street intersections. (Hint, hint.)

    Pretty uneventful week otherwise. I’ll continue work on the containers and begin prep for our Kids Bike Giveaway event, which’ll be on 12/20. Look for flyers/advertisements for that next week.

     

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 106

    Sales: $157.50
    Memberships: 15 for $450
    Bikes (B-a-B): 1 for $50
    Tires/tubes: 12 for $101

    Thanks!

  7. Weekly Update -- Bike Parts & Sales

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

    Email from Jacob Benjamin:

    Things are a tick slower now that the temps have dipped. I’ve been pulling from the abandoned bike containers for parts, mostly tires and saddles as those have been most in-demand. We have two bikes on the sales floor with a handful in the queue.  Our supply of checked-over Build-a-Bikes is returning to an acceptable number as well.

    This week I’ll tackle the containers of bikes and work to get them organized between bikes we’re keeping and those we’ll have scrapped.

    The numbers:

    Visitors: 96

    Sales: $1,224.39

    Memberships: 19 for $570
    Tires/tubes: 39 for $353

     

    Thanks!

  9. Zipcar Wants to Find "Students With Drive"

    Associated Project(s): 
    Support Zipcar in Champaign-Urbana

    Zipcar is launching a nationwide competition to let student groups compete to earn funding for scholarships, operations, and driving credit. Zipcar is looking for groups to share how they are driving societal change on campus and in their community through their mission. The deadline for submissions is Friday, October 17th.

    The original event post can be found here.

     

  10. 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!

  11. iCAP Transportation Team September 23rd Meeting

    Associated Project(s): 
    Transportation iCAP Team
    Reduce Emissions from Travel

    The iCAP Transportation Team met on Tuesday, September 23rd, from 2:00-3:00pm to go over goals for the year. We are planning to submit two recommendations within the next month, one for EV charging for micromobility devices on campus and one regarding a change for ChromeRiver, the emission reporter for travel. 

    Attached Files: 

  12. 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.

  13. 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

     

  14. 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

  15. 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

  17. 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!

  19. 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.

  20. 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

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