Feel Good Stories from Local Bike Non-profits

9/17/2019

When the Evanston Bicycle Club donates a portion of the proceeds from the North Shore Century to non-profit bicycle related organizations in the Chicagoland area a few are invited to report at a member meeting how they used the funds. At the Sept. 17, 2019 meeting there were feel good stories of empowerment and community inspired by the bicycle from Working Bikes, Friends of Big Marsh, and West Town Bikes.

Working Bikes is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year of giving old bikes new homes. According to Mike Santomauro, volunteer and board member, they collect bicycles from the local Chicago community so they do not go into landfills. In 2018 they collected over 12,000 bicycles from:

drop off locations
recycling events
walk in donators
property managers
police and government agencies
youth and church groups

Staff and volunteers fix up the bikes so they can be shipped to international partners in Africa, Central America, Jordan, and Fuji. Locally their work has an impact in their programs:

Cycle of Power - for social services organizations, veterans affairs, and transitional housing participants, often with an earn a bicycle program
Cycle of Peace – bulk donations to schools, youth groups and park districts
Retail sales – upcycled bikes available for purchase with an average price of $250

Other programs include open shop nights for people to learn mechanical skills and group bike rides. The EBC donation this year went to a new program for the Re-Schwinnification of Chicago. A bicycle mechanic was hired to lead classes to help volunteers fix up and get some of the pre-1974 Schwinns back out on the streets. So far 40 bikes have been made ride-ready and the goal is 100.

Big Marsh is 278 acres of open space about 20 minutes southeast of the Chicago Loop, just east of Lake Calumet at the former site of industrial activity. This park is home to the city’s eco recreation movement. A 27 acre bike park was established in a portion of Big Marsh 3 years ago. According to Paul Fitzgerald, Executive Director, Friends of Big Marsh, there are bike mountain bike and BMX trails, cycle cross trails, sites for field trips and events to introduce cycling as a sport to youth. There are plans to build an asphalt pump track as well as additional trails.

Working Bikes celebrated 15 years of service to the community this year. EBC funds continue to be used to support the Girls Bike Club. Joceliz Araud, co-founder of the Girls Bike Club, member for two years, and now it’s program coordinator, said it’s mission was to educate young women to thrive. Along with her colleague Cora, they work to foster a culture that is welcoming, fun, safe, offers opportunities to interact with others and be involved in the community. Besides learning how to repair bicycles, they put on an annual fashion show, called Heels on Wheels and participate in national youth bike summits, like the recent one in New York, work in a community garden, create crafts, go on group bike rides, and volunteer.