As many of you know, I host a monthly bicycle tour of a different Chicago community area at the end of each month. These tours are architectural and historical narrative on bicycles. My goals for these tours is to help Chicagoans rediscover Chicago, find out about its history, and see for themselves the great beauty of our architectural heritage. In addition, I am trying to motivate people to get on their bikes, excercise, and stop missing the world around them with a car encasing them and limiting their view and viewpoint.
Last year was our first year, and this year we have partnered with bicycle organizations that do great things for Chicago cycling. So far, we have done a ride with the chainlink, and one with the Chicago Cycling Club. We have another ride with each of those organizations this year, but we also have one coming up with West Town Bikes, and two coming up with the Active Transportation Alliance, including this month's tour of Austin.
While we are pleased to partner with all of these groups, we are eager to help the Active Transportation Alliance with their goals for our rides with them this year in Austin and Hyde Park. I was contacted by Cynthia Bell at the Active Transportation Alliance to try to organize more tours on the west and south side, and in particular, to focus efforts on reaching out to the communities that have fewer opportunities overall, and very few opportunities for cycling in particular. These are areas of our city that containe some of the richest history, the most impressive architectural wonders and an unfortunate legacy of neglect.
Here is the event link:
http://www.thechainlink.org/events/tour-of-austin
Here is the event poster:
It is our goal to have a wonderful turnout from each of the neighborhoods that Big Shoulders Realty and the Active Transportation Alliance conduct these west and south side tours in, but also from cyclists from all over the city. If you have never attended one of our tours, perhaps this month represents an ideal time to try one out.
I am also doing something that I have never done before, and opening four seperate research rides to anyone that cares to attend. It is important to note that while these are each seperate events that I will list in the calendar, they are all in service of the actual Tour of Austin that takes place on meeting at the Columbus Park entrance at 500 S Central Avenue, and they will ALL leave ON TIME.
Here is the schedule:
Wednesday May 13 - 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM
Sunday May 17 - 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Tuesday 5/26-2009 – 4:30 to 7:00 PM
Friday May 29 - 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM (pre-ride....
Yes I know it overlaps CCM, but our schedule was needed for scheduling around school hours - but also an idea is to meet up with the mass after the ride, depending on their route this month.
My cell is below for those that might want to get more information, or if you are on your way to one of the planning/research rides and running a touch late.
Thanks all - Lee Diamond - 773-255-6347