The hardest thing about biking to work might be getting up the nerve to try it. It could be easier than you think.
"There's a level of discomfort in riding in traffic for some people," said Melody Geraci of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. "It's just a matter of trying it once or twice and finding a level of confidence."
Sign-up begins today for the Bicycle Federation's "Commuter Challenge" for Bike to Work Week June 7-13. Businesses and organizations compete to see who can get the most workers on their bikes.
More than 200 organizations participated in the challenge last year -- a 58 percent increase from the year before, Geraci said. The Federation is hoping this year to persuade five City Council members to bike to work.
'Plan route well in advance'
Why bike to work? It's fun, good exercise and good for the environment, Geraci said. It also saves money -- "You don't have to spend money on a gym."
Geraci said the most common objections she hears from people about bike commuting is that they're afraid to ride in traffic. "What we say to them is plan your route well in advance," Geraci said. Bike riders should look for low-traffic streets and intersections with signals.
Another objection is what to wear. "More often than not you can bike in your work clothes," Geraci said. Work clothes can also be carried in messenger bags, or in a bike basket.
Be a 'bike buddy'
With gas costs up and more people concerned about climate change, this year the Bicycle Federation wants to make bike commuting a year-round campaign. Among the ideas the Federation is considering is "bike buddies" -- a peer-matching program that can provide mentors for people who want to bike to work but want some help.
To sign up a company or organization for the commuter challenge, go to www.biketraffic.org/commute.
Meanwhile -- readers who want to try the two-wheeled commute can check out the stories in this section from people who tried it, liked it and stuck with it through rain and snow.
Michael Burton, 43, bikes from Logan Square to Bickerdike Redevelopment Corp. in West Town.
Every morning, Burton puts his 18-month-old son, Miguel Kilgore, into a bike trailer and takes him to day care. Then Burton rides to his job. In the afternoon, Burton's wife, Gin Kilgore, bikes from her job at Mitchell Elementary School in Ukrainian Village to pick up Miguel. They don't own a car, which helped them to save enough money to buy a three-flat.
"Some of our friends who own cars said, 'Once you have a kid, you can't do this,' " Burton said. But he sees owning a car as a bigger hassle than riding bikes.
"I think it's like any form of transportation," said Burton. "Once you figure it out, it's what you do."
Having the right equipment is important, Burton said. "Once you have a good commuting bike that has fenders and has a rack so you can haul a bag on it, you're all set."
Biking "makes me look at the city differently.
I see trees I never noticed before."
Betty Schlatter, 60, a nurse-midwife who bikes from Oak Park to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview and to clinics
Schlatter said she's "not the athletic type," but she started biking after she got tired of putting money into her van. She said more people would bike to work if they tried it once.
"It's fun," said Schlatter. "I think it's probably made me healthier."
Schlatter said she bikes in most types of weather, but she'll take public transit when it's below zero, too windy, or raining hard.
"I used to take the expressway to work and you don't see things," said Schlatter. Biking "makes me look at the city differently. I see trees I never noticed before."
"It's pretty much the only manner of exercise I've ever really stuck with."
Todd Underwood, 45, bikes from South Elgin to his job at the Pepper Group in Palatine
Underwood started biking to work regularly in 1992. He bikes one or two days a week, 22 miles each way.
"It's pretty much the only manner of exercise I've ever really stuck with," said Underwood, who also writes freelance articles about biking.
He says it's harder to convince people to bike in the suburbs, but he sees more people trying it. "Gas prices and the green movement are getting people into it," he said.
"Chicago is the perfect city for biking because it's flat and the streets are wide."
Greg Borzo, 54, bikes almost every day from North Park to the Field Museum, where he is a science writer.
Borzo came from a family with nine kids and no car, so he has always biked. He isn't afraid to "make a bit of a pest of myself" to get other people to try it.
"Chicago is the perfect city for biking because it's flat and the streets are wide and straight," Borzo said. "The culture is supportive of biking from the mayor on down."
Borzo said the main objection he hears from people is the weather. "That's because they don't try," Borzo said. "Once you get on a bike and start peddling, you warm up . . . . People are so fixated on being cold for a minute or two."
GETTING AROUND
Southbound CTA Red Line trains that normally operate through the subway between the Fullerton station and the Cermak-Chinatown station will be rerouted to L tracks from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m., tonight through Thursday.
Rerouted southbound trains will stop at the following L stations: Sedgwick, Chicago/
Franklin, Merchandise Mart, Clark/Lake, State/Lake, Randolph/Wabash, Madison/
Wabash, Adams/Wabash and Roosevelt/
Wabash. The Mart station is available as an exit only via stairway from 1 a.m. to 5 a.m.
Bus Tracker Expands
CTA Bus Tracker is a pilot program that provides estimated arrival times and location information for buses to riders with access to a computer or a web-enabled wireless device. The program expands today to include the #35, 39, 43, 49, X49, 54B, 55A, 55N, 62, 62H, 63W, 94 and 165, in addition to the #20. See www.ctabustracker.com.
Photo: Brian Jackson Sun-Times / Michael Burton heads to day care with his 18-month-old son in tow. Then it's off to work. ; Photo: Betty Schlatter, 60, a nurse-midwife who bikes from Oak Park to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Lakeview and to clinics Photo: Todd Underwood, 45, bikes from South Elgin to his job at the Pepper Group in Palatine Photo: Greg Borzo, 54, bikes almost every day from North Park to the Field Museum, where he is a science writer. ;
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