Working Bikes Cooperative is a non-profit organization in Chicago devoted to the motto: Reduce Reuse Recycle. They collect neglected bikes and tune them up to reuse & sell. The revenue is used to ship the remaining bikes to different corners of planet earth so that a poor . . . → Read More: Dirty Hands at Working Bikes Cooperative]]> Content Creator, including photographs: C3 Blogger Tom from www.letUbeU.com

Working Bikes Cooperative is a non-profit organization in Chicago devoted to the motto: Reduce Reuse Recycle. They collect neglected bikes and tune them up to reuse & sell. The revenue is used to ship the remaining bikes to different corners of planet earth so that a poor person in Tanzania, Guatemala, or Peru can get to work and make money to feed his family.

Stored in a warehouse, they appear as a sea of bikes. There are old bikes, and older bikes. Rusty bikes, and dirty bikes. Bikes without wheels, and bikes with banana seats. Some bikes are blue, others have a white basket. Everywhere you look…bikes, bikes, bikes.

On Tuesday January 31, two trainees with the Chicago Conservation Corps (myself & Ben) attended Volunteer Night, which happens every Tuesday night. We immediately noticed the benefits of volunteering at Working Bikes, including:

1. Free food

2. Learning the skills to fix my own bike

3. Finding inspiration from the numerous posters (left)

Ben and I removed axels from tires for 2 hours while other volunteers fixed chains, polished metal, and attached pedals. All of these bikes are on their way to helping a good cause. Unfortunately, the demand for bikes is much higher than the rate at which they can be repaired, so volunteers are in high demand. Volunteering is simple. Go to the store or call during business hours and notify a staff member that you wish to lend a helping hand.

We want to warn you though, being kind can sometimes be dirty. Bike repair is accompanied by oil & grease, so wear appropriate clothing and prepare for dirty hands. Thank you for reading, and don’t forget, Reduce Reuse Recycle.

Explore Bike Maintenance

Tuesday, January 31st

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Working Bikes, 2434 S. Western Ave

No registration necessary.  For more information, contact volunteer@workingbikes.org.

Come out and learn about bike maintenance at Working Bikes, a local non-profit that diverts . . . → Read More: Working Bikes Cooperative Volunteer Night, Jan 31st, 5PM]]>

Explore Bike Maintenance

Tuesday, January 31st

5 p.m. – 9 p.m.

Working Bikes, 2434 S. Western Ave

No registration necessary.  For more information, contact volunteer@workingbikes.org.

Come out and learn about bike maintenance at Working Bikes, a local non-profit that diverts bicycles from the waste stream by repairing them for sale and charity.  Have a fun-filled night and learn how to keep any bike running smoothly.

Most of us are guilty of leaving our car running while we sit and wait, and wait, and wait. Sometimes we’re waiting for a friend while parked in front of their apartment, other times we quickly run into a bank or coffee shop. What you may not know is that idling your car engine . . . → Read More: How To Promote Healthy Lungs & Clean Air – Turn Off Your Car]]>

Most of us are guilty of leaving our car running while we sit and wait, and wait, and wait. Sometimes we’re waiting for a friend while parked in front of their apartment, other times we quickly run into a bank or coffee shop. What you may not know is that idling your car engine wastes fuel, creates extra air pollution, and contributes to global warming. We would like to share with you a few facts & tips from the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago about idling your car engine:

1. Idling more than 10 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine.
2. Idling 2 minutes uses the same amount of fuel as driving 1 mile.
3. The best way to warm up a vehicle in cold Chicago weather is to drive it.
4. Excessive idling can damage your engine. Idling partially burns fuel, which can cause residue build-up and can increase fuel consumption.

The road to becoming a more environmentally conscience individual starts with baby steps.  Please turn off your car. Thanks for reading!

Content Creator: C3 Trainee Tom from www.letUbeU.com

Image courtesy of Active Trans

Photo: Jason Greenberg

Join the Active Transportation Alliance for the 2011 Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge! Re-discover the joys of cycling and explore the utility and ease of cycling in an urban environment! Tone your muscles, support improve air quality, reduce your carbon output . . . → Read More: Get Tuned Up for Bike to Work Week, June 11-17]]>

Image courtesy of Active Trans

Photo: Jason Greenberg

Join the Active Transportation Alliance for the 2011 Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge! Re-discover the joys of cycling and explore the utility and ease of cycling in an urban environment! Tone your muscles, support improve air quality, reduce your carbon output and make new friends. All of these benefits and more can be discovered next week during the Bike to Work Week Commuter Challenge. Don’t stop there, keep the momentum by riding through the summer and maybe even until the Winter Bike to Work Week Challenge in 2012!

Be sure to stop in your local bike shop this week and get ready for the ride.

Hope to see you out there.

Photo: Jason Greenberg

]]> http://chicagoconservationcorps.org/blog/2011/06/07/get-tuned-up-for-bike-to-work-week-june-11-17/feed/ 1

Come out to the Beauty Bar for a special night of performance, music, and conservation trivia. C3 Leader Somilia Rabee has pulled together an all-star cast of musicians in support of protecting the environment. Come out an show your support!

Arrive by bike and get in free! This event is 21+

The 4th Annual Chicago Virtual Charter School Field Day Event will be a lot greener this year as students incorporate green games with track and field events.

Yvonne will coordinate the addition . . . → Read More: Green Field Day June 11 9:30-12:30 at IIT]]> Friday, June 11
C3 Trainee, Yvonne White-Morey:
On Track for the Environment –Greening a School Field Day Event
9:30 am -12:30 pm

The 4^th Annual Chicago Virtual Charter School Field Day Event will be a lot greener this year as students incorporate green games with track and field events.

Yvonne will coordinate the addition of a Green Resource Center designed to educate students and their families on Recycling/Upcycling options, Vermicomposting, improving indoor/outdoor air quality by making green cleaning solutions and taking alternative transportation, energy efficiency and water conservation. Students will receive refillable water bottles. Families will take the $800 Savings Challenge.

Following awards and raffle prizes, families will gather on the lawn of Illinois Institute of Technology for a picnic lunch and hear a green literacy reading of Seeds of Change by Author Jen Cullerton Johnson, from her book based on the life of Wangari Maathai, the first African woman and environmentalist to win the Nobel Peace Prize. (Four C3 leaders or trainees willing to make ten-minute presentations on the environment to students and families are still needed.) 

For volunteer opportunities, contact C3 trainee Yvonne: ywm@alumni.depaul.edu
773-944-0757

I was looking at the Chicago Conservation Corps website today, and thought that your organization might be interested in participating in or promoting National Park(ing) Day 2008, an annual event, happening in Chicago on September 19th, which celebrates parks in cities by creating temporary parks in public parking spaces. National Park(ing) Day is an . . . → Read More: National Park(ing) Day, September 19th]]> Hello,

I was looking at the Chicago Conservation Corps website today, and thought that your organization might be interested in participating in or promoting National Park(ing) Day 2008, an annual event, happening in Chicago on September 19th, which celebrates parks in cities by creating temporary parks in public parking spaces. National Park(ing) Day is an all-volunteer event, and any participation is welcome. One can, build his or her own park, help others build parks, or simply visit Park(ing) Day parks throughout the day. Look at www.tpl.org/parkingday for details, a how-to manual, photos and videos, or to connect with participants near you.

Nathan Tone

Companies competing in the Bicycle Commuter Challenge strive to earn the highest percentage of employees biking for part or all of . . . → Read More: Join the 2008 Bicycle Commuter Challenge, June 7-13]]> How green is your workplace? The 2008 Bicycle Commuter Challenge is now open to all companies who want to compete to be the most environmentally friendly company in Chicagoland. Sign up now at www.biketraffic.org/commuterchallenge.

Companies competing in the Bicycle Commuter Challenge strive to earn the highest percentage of employees biking for part or all of their trip to work during Bike to Work Week, June 7-13, hosted by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.

“Bicycle commuting transforms the atmosphere at work – it boosts the health and energy of employees, encourages team spirit, lowers costs, and builds the organization’s reputation for being green,” said Rob Sadowsky, executive director of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation.

For organizations and companies raring up to compete in the annual Challenge, designated Team Leaders get their office excited about commuting by bike. They recruit co-workers, track team-members’ biking trips, and offer tips on making bicycle commuting easy and fun.

Plus, team leaders distribute discount member cards to participating employees, which provide Bicycle Commuter Challenge participants the same discounts as Chicagoland Bicycle Federation members from May-July.

Participants can bike for all or part of their trip to work. They can also stop for a quick snack and tune up at Bicycle Commuter Stations located around Chicago and at suburban Metra stations.

Teams face off against companies of similar size and type, i.e. public agency, business, non-profit and bicycling-related business. Winning Bicycle Commuter Challenge teams receive fabulous prizes and are honored at a luncheon.

“Public esteem is a big incentive in this competition. It’s a sign of the vitality and vision of the organization when employees compete for health instead of parking spots,” Sadowsky said.

Register your company or organization at www.biketraffic.org/commuterchallenge or by calling (312) 427-3325. Individuals can also register in the Commuter Challenge.

Learn how to ride safely and comfortably to work at www.biketraffic.org/commute.