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Event Wed Apr 06 2011
Love Your Bike in the South Suburbs
Although there has been some small gains for Chicago's bicycle community in recent years, such as the launching of the city's bike-sharing program last year, the Chicago area could certainly use its share of more bike lanes, trails and other transportation services.
On Saturday, area bicyclists will gather together in the south suburbs for Love Your Bike, a bike and trail festival inside the I-80/294 Chicago Southland Lincoln Oasis in South Holland. There, bicycle activists will discuss existing trails to inspire people to get outdoors, as well as the need for more trails in the Chicago area, including the planned Calumet-Sag Trail, a proposed 26-mile multi-use path that Mechanics profiled last year. Many activists argue that trails not only link existing connections for local bicycle commuters, but they also promote a healthier lifestyle for everyone. Local bike shops and organizations will also be there promoting new gear.
All exhibitor fees from the event will go to Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail, a non-profit dedicated to raising the $20 million needed for the Calumet-Sag trail. In addition, you can donate your old bike at the event. All used bikes will go to Working Bikes, an innovative Chicago non-profit that repairs used bikes and ships them to poverty-stricken communities around the world. If you can't make the event but have a bike to spare, you can also drop off your bike at any Illinois Tollway Oasis starting on Saturday.
