Bike to work and on...

National

May is National Bike Month

The League of American Bicyclists is promoting Bike-to-Work Week 2010 from May 17-21 and Bike-to-Work Day on Friday, May 21. For more information, check out their web site:

http://www.bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/

Chicago, IL

June 12-18 is Chicago’s Bike to Work Week

This event is sponsored by the City of Chicago and Active Transportation Alliance, an organization promoting alternative means of transportation. The week will be capped off by an all-morning event at Daley Plaza, where bicyclists can get free t-shirts, a free breakfast, and information from a number of corporate sponsors.

Bicycle Parking:
At 300 E. Randolph, bicycle parking is available on the East side of the building, or in the basement of the building in the executive parking lot. To enter the basement parking lot, you can enter through the center handicap door, and walk your bike through the largest 'turnstile' on the right. The elevator is on the right. Once downstairs, you will walk through the door on the right and to the back of the lot toward the right. The bike racks are behind the guard office and restrooms. You can change in the restrooms if you'd like, but there is only one Men's room and one Women's room. When you come out of the elevator upstairs, you will have to use your ID card, or you'll set off an alarm.
At the 111 E. Wacker building, indoor parking is available in the parking lot, accessible from South Water St. The fee is $50/year. For more information, contact System Parking at 312 819-5050, or stop by their office in the concourse level of the building.
Bike Chicago offers free parking from 6:30am-8pm in the lower level of their facility at 239 E. Randolph. You can just roll your bike down to the lowest level and park it on the racks across from the police station.

Bicycle Rental:
Discounted bicycle rental for BCBSIL employees is available at all Bike Chicago locations, including the one across from HQ, at Millennium Park (239 E. Randolph). Their Illinois Resident Bike Share Program is $35 a year (March 1-October 31). Details: There are no reservations, no weekend, and no holiday rentals. You will receive a bike card that you must present along with your State ID or Driver's License during every rental. You can use 1 bike for 1 hour for every 4 hour increment. Any time over the first hour will be $5 per hour, max of $25 per day. Rentals are based on the availability of bikes. There is no use of locker rooms unless you purchase a day pass. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/ or http://www.bikechicago.com/

Lockers/Showers:
BCBSIL currently does not have any lockers or showers at the 300 E. Randolph building, but Facilities suggested that bikers can change in the parking lot restrooms if they park their bikes there. A new workout facility with showers is planned for this Fall in the lower level of the 300 E. Randolph building.
The 111 E. Wacker building has an exercise room which is shared by all tenants. It has showers and daily locker use. To sign up, you have to be located in that building. For more information, contact MotivaPrograms/TX/HCSC for a waiver and application.
The Bike Chicago facility at 239 E. Randolph has lockers and showers, available on a monthly or daily basis. Daily use of lockers and showers is $3. Monthly Memberships are $25 per month and there is a $20 registration fee. They fill up fast, but spaces open up at the end of each month. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/ Membership will also get you discounts on tours and bike/Segway rentals, as well as free bike-share privileges.
The Chicago Park District Daley Bicentennial Plaza facility, across from the 300 building, is open from 9am – 10pm. Use of lockers and showers is free, on a daily basis. If you’d like your own locker, the fee is $35/year. For more information, you can call Bicentennial Plaza at (312) 742-7648, or stop by their offices at 337 E. Randolph. You have to walk down the stairs across the street from the 300 building, and enter the building from the Plaza.

There is free use of showers and towel service for members of the Chicago Yacht Club at their nearby lakefront facility. It open at 8am and is also very convenient to the 300 E. Randolph building. http://www.chicagoyachtclub.com/viewCustomPage.aspx?id=89&cid=90

City of Chicago Bicycling Web Site:
This site contains links to local resources, including lists of bike shops, maps, forms to request bike racks, and more.
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Chicago%20Bike%20Program&entityNameEnumValue=127

City Bicycle Path Maps:
Here is a link to the Chicago Bicycling web page, where you can request a map, view online maps, and find out about local resources. It also includes tips for safe biking: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/bike.html

Bicycle Repair:
There is a bike repair shop on the lower level of the Bike Chicago facility at 239 E. Randolph. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/

Metra and Bicycles:
This site has information about biking to stations and bringing your bike on trains.
http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/utility_landing/riding_metra/bikes_on_trains.html

Active Transportation Alliance Web Site:
The organizers of the Bicycle Commuter Challenge, Bike to Work Week and Bike the Drive:
http://www.activetrans.org/

Richardson, Texas.

Commuters in Richardson can park their bikes on a rack located in the parking garage. There are no shower facilities right now, but when the workout facility is built this fall, showers will be available.

Following are some links to trail maps and information about biking in Texas:

Texas State Park Guide - Bike Texas

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/?page=bike&lang=en

Dallas/Fort Worth Getaways

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/publications/parkguide/?page=bike&lang=en

Collin County Trails

http://www.co.collin.tx.us/living/recreation/trails/trails.jsp#multi

Albuquerque, New Mexico

Our Albuquerque office offers a bike rack in the parking structure (lower level). Like the other HQ offices, a workout facility with showers will be built this fall.

Albuquerque Cycling Website

http://www.bikeabq.org/

Albuquerque Bike Trail Map

http://www.cabq.gov/bike/documents/pdfs/CABQ%20Bike%20Map.pdf

New Mexico Cycling Website

http://www.nmcycling.org

Tulsa, OK

Bicycle parking is available in the parking garage in Tulsa. Following is some general information about bicycling in Tulsa:

Green Traveler

http://www.green-traveler.org/

Mayor’s Fitness Challenge

http://mayorsfitness.straxis.com/index.cfm

Bicycle Racing Association of Oklahoma

http://www.braok.org/

Tulsa Bicycle Club Common Training Routes

http://www.tulsabicycleclub.com/rides_locator.php

MS Ride this weekend - Home Stretch!

Hi BCBS Cyclists...

As some of you may know, I'm doing the Tour de Farms MS ride, which is the Chicago MS chapter's annual bike ride fundraiser in DeKalb, IL for multiple sclerosis. If you or anybody you know would like to contribute to my team, please follow the link provided. This is the final week before team's ride.

http://bikeild.nationalmssociety.org/site/TR/Events/ILDBikeEvents?px=5613413&pg=personal&fr_id=11059

Thanks to everyone.

Sy Nguyen

Riding in the Loop

Bicycle Parking:
At 300 E. Randolph, bicycle parking is available on the East side of the building, or in the basement of the building in the executive parking lot. To enter the basement parking lot, you can enter through the center handicap door, and walk your bike through the largest 'turnstile' on the right. The elevator is on the right. Once downstairs, you will walk through the door on the right and to the back of the lot toward the right. The bike racks are behind the guard office and restrooms. You can change in the restrooms if you'd like, but there is only one Men's room and one Women's room. When you come out of the elevator upstairs, you will have to use your ID card, or you'll set off an alarm.
At the 111 E. Wacker building, indoor parking is available in the parking lot, accessible from South Water St. The fee is $50/year. For more information, contact System Parking at 312 819-5050, or stop by their office in the concourse level of the building.
Bike Chicago offers free parking from 6:30am-8pm in the lower level of their facility at 239 E. Randolph. You can just roll your bike down to the lowest level and park it on the racks across from the police station.

Bicycle Rental:
Discounted bicycle rental for BCBSIL employees is available at all Bike Chicago locations, including the one across from HQ, at Millennium Park (239 E. Randolph). Their Illinois Resident Bike Share Program is $35 a year (March 1-October 31). Details: There are no reservations, no weekend, and no holiday rentals. You will receive a bike card that you must present along with your State ID or Driver's License during every rental. You can use 1 bike for 1 hour for every 4 hour increment. Any time over the first hour will be $5 per hour, max of $25 per day. Rentals are based on the availability of bikes. There is no use of locker rooms unless you purchase a day pass. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/ or http://www.bikechicago.com/

Lockers/Showers:
BCBSIL does not have any lockers or showers at the 300 E. Randolph building, but Facilities suggested that bikers can change in the parking lot restrooms if they park their bikes there.
The 111 E. Wacker building has an exercise room which is shared by all tenants. It has showers and daily locker use. To sign up, you have to be located in that building. For more information, contact MotivaPrograms/TX/HCSC for a waiver and application.
The Bike Chicago facility at 239 E. Randolph has lockers and showers, available on a monthly or daily basis. Daily use of lockers and showers is $3. Monthly Memberships are $25 per month and there is a $20 registration fee. They fill up fast, but spaces open up at the end of each month. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/ Membership will also get you discounts on tours and bike/Segway rentals.
The Chicago Park District Daley Bicentennial Plaza facility, across from the 300 building, currently opens at 9am. However, after June 22, it will start opening at 8am, making it a possible option for commuters. They have showers and lockers for $3/visit, $30/15 visits, or $50/27 visits. For more information, you can call Bicentennial Plaza at (312) 742-7648, or stop by their offices at 337 E. Randolph. You have to walk down the stairs across the street from the 300 building, and enter the building from the Plaza.

There is free use of showers and towel service for members of the Chicago Yacht Club at their nearby lakefront facility. It open at 8am and is also very convenient to the 300 E. Randolph building. I use it in the morning and think it is a great alternative if you happen to be a member.
http://www.chicagoyachtclub.com/viewCustomPage.aspx?id=89&cid=90

City Bicycle Path Maps:
Bicycle path maps are available in the Chicago Tourism office on the first floor of the Chicago Cultural Center, at the SW corner of Michigan & Randolph. They are also available in the Mayor's Office at City Hall on Clark & Randolph.
Here is a link to the on-line version, which includes tips for safe biking: http://www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/bikemap/keymap.html

Bicycle Repair:
There is a bike repair shop on the lower level of the Bike Chicago facility at 239 E. Randolph. For more information, contact info@bikechicago.com, (312) 729-1000, or stop by their facility. Their web site is http://www.chicagobikestation.com/

Metra and Bicycles:
This site has information about biking to stations and bringing your bike on trains.
http://www.metrarail.com/Special_Promotions/bikes_on_trains.html

City of Chicago Bicycling Web Site:
This site contains links to local resources, including lists of bike shops, maps, forms to request bike racks, and more.
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/city/webportal/portalEntityHomeAction.do?entityName=Chicago%20Bike%20Program&entityNameEnumValue=127

Active Transportation Alliance Web Site:
The organizers of the Bicycle Commuter Challenge, Bike to Work Week and Bike the Drive:
http://www.activetrans.org/

New Events Posted

Bike to Work Rally (June 19)

LATE Ride (July 11-12)
https://www.signmeup.com/site/reg/register.aspx?fid=DC2V7K7

Chicago Criterium (July 26)

Boulevard Lakefront Tour (September 13)

Details and a full events calendar can be found at http://chicagobikes.org/drupal/

"Ride to find a cure for MS" will be having three suburban events:

When: July 11, 2009 10:00 a.m.
Location: Begins and Ends Izaak Walton League of America, 14736 Beachview Terrace, Dalton, IL
Contact: Sandy DeHorn - 708-672-6829 or Michelle Meneghini - 708/362-0065

When: Sunday, April 19, 2009
Time: Registration: 10:00am, 1st bike out at 11:30am
Location: Woodstock Harley Davidson, 2050 S. Eastwood, Woodstock, IL

When: June 12th through 14th, 2009
Location: Join the Greater Illinois Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society for Bike MS: Tour de Farms
Enjoy different route options ranging from 35-175 miles throughout Illinois’s scenic farmlands. By taking on the challenge, you’ll join a powerful movement dedicated to a world free of MS.