Recap: Winter Bike Swap 2015

By Brett Ratner


Kozie Prery

Much like that famous groundhog Punxsutawney Phil, the Winter Bike Swap always seems to mark the slow transition from winter into spring. For six years now, it’s served to helped unite the various factions of the Chicago bike community and get people thinking less about snow and more about...well...bikes.

Active Transportation Alliance

Unfortunately, the 2015 event, which took place on Valentines Day, was hampered a bit by decidedly un-spring-like single digit temperatures. But while the turnout was a bit lower than last year’s swap (which enjoyed a high turnout, partly thanks to near spring-like weather), more than 100 hearty souls pedaled out to Jak’s Tap at 901 W Jackson to see old friends, chat with the local organizations, and pick up some odds and ends for their bikes.

SlowRoll Chicago

For the second straight year, the swap was organized by The Chicagoland Bicycle Coalition. The Coalition sprang up out of some conversations leading up to last year's swap about forming a new bike advocacy. In addition to organizing the 2014 swap and a northwest side bike tour for the National Veterans Art Museum, in 2014 the Coalition raised money for Break the Gridlock and Bike Winter.

South Chicago Velodrome Assoc.

This year, with Chainlink members Lee Diamond, Kevin Conway and Katie Kolon at the helm, they aim to increase their contributions to the bike community. Among their focuses will be increasing the number of bicycle racks. Email lee@bigshouldersrealty.com to learn more.

       John and Sarah "Useful Bike Crap"                                        Po Campo

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Comment by Maria Boustead on February 19, 2015 at 6:11am

It was a great event, thank you for the write-up!

Comment by Yasmeen on February 18, 2015 at 10:50am

H, The article states, "This year, with Chainlink members Lee Diamond, Kevin Conway and Katie Kolon at the helm, they aim to increase their contributions to the bike community."

Sounds like they haven't yet chosen recipient(s) for the funds they raise in 2015. And to Sarah's point, if they broke even for the swap, they didn't have funds generated from this event to contribute. 

Comment by Sarah D. on February 17, 2015 at 8:20am

I know attendance was such that they were hoping to break even organizationally. Talk to Kevin or Lee. 

in other news, I think a word is missing in this sentence, above: 
"The organization sprang up out of some conversations leading up to last year's swap about forming a new bike advocacy."

Comment by Sarah D. on February 16, 2015 at 10:44am

Hey, there's my table! We had a great time and it was so nice to see everyone who did make it. Great job, organizers - thank you.

Comment by Dave Grossman on February 16, 2015 at 10:07am

Glad you guys had the swap!  I look forward all year to the winter swap season and its great to still have one going in the city.  Keep it going!

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