Upcoming Cycling / Community Service Opportunities in Bloomington!

Walk In, Bike Out.

April 21^st, 9-11:30am

This project is part of Global Youth Service Day.  The program is an annual campaign that celebrates and mobilizes the millions of children and youth who improve their communities each day of the year through service and service-learning. http://www.gysd.org/about

http://www.westbloomington.org/wordpress/2012/02/global-youth-service-day-2012/
 

The idea is simple.  We are collecting and repairing donated used bikes that we will put into the hands of needy children & adults on Bloomington's west side. On April 21^st, we will need quite a few people to help out at the Abraham Lincoln Parking deck next to the Law & Justice Center.

I helped out with this last year, and it was an awesome to be able to give away bikes to so many kids and some adults as well.

Here are some of the things we’ll be doing:

•  Help people pick out bikes that are appropriate to their size and use

• Get helmets and locks to the people who have new bikes

• Get the bikes registered - this year we will be registering the bikes with the BLM Police Department

• Make sure people know how to use their bikes - esp. the kids

• Reassure people who come for bikes - esp. the adults - that these bikes really are for them if they need them; sometimes the adults wonder if they qualify - everybody qualifies! we recognize that sometimes a bike is how people get to work, it's not something that is fluff-extra.

• If any of the volunteers can fix bikes, or help with things like making sure tires are inflated, we can always use that help too

Before this event happens there is a lot of grunt work to be done. We need to collect and repair the donated bikes.  Here’s a chance for all you local wrenches to put those skills to some good use.  See below for info on bike work days.  Contact one of the coordinators (Rick Heiser or Greg Shaw) prior to showing up to make sure a work night / weekend is on.

Location: Abraham Lincoln Parking deck next to the Law & Justice Center. The entrance, through the metal double doors, is on the south side of the parking deck. Bring tools so that we have enough to be efficient and productive. 

• We still need to publicize this to churches and other interested community members to request donations of bikes to be fixed up for the event.
• Proposed work dates at the parking deck: Sat March 3- 9:00 to 1:00, Tues March 6- 6:00 to 8:00, Wed March 7- 6:00 to 8:00, Thur March 8- 6:00 to 8:00, Sat March 10- 9:00 to 1:00, Tues March 13- 6:00 to 8:00, Wed March 14- 6:00 to 8:00, Thur March 15- 6:00 to 8:00, Sat March 17- 9:00 to 1:00, Tues March 20- 6:00 to 8:00, Wed March 21- 6:00 to 8:00, Thur March 22- 6:00 to 8:00.
• Greg or Rick will be there on these dates.

Thanks,

Rick Heiser

rrheiser at aol.com

H 828-250

C 217-380-8078

Greg Shaw

gshaw at iwu.edu

The Illinois Sustainable Living & Wellness Expo welcomes Bikes, Bikes & more Bikes!

Saturday, April 14 — 9:00 am-4:00 pm

Illinois Wesleyan University, Shirk Center

Ride your Bike to the Event!

No worries about leaving your bike unattended or even locking it up, you can enjoy the Expo with free Valet Bicycle Parking provided by WGLT Good To Go and Friends of the Trail. Bike riders will get premium parking spots. 

Maintenance/Repair/ Tune-up

Getting your bike ready for riding season… members of West Bloomington Revitalization Project want to help. They will be available from 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. to make primary repairs to your bike!

They will inflate tires to proper level for optimum riding, adjust brakes, oil chains, and replace tires/tubes. If someone has training wheels to install they can do that too! There is no charge for these services, and will be provided on a first come first serve basis. 

Don’t know what to do with bikes you no longer want? Put them to good use, donate them at the Expo!

Working Bike Cooperative will be collecting bikes at the Expo that need a new home. These bikes do not need to be in working condition. This organization collects and ships over 6000 used bicycles a year to non-profit projects in developing countries. 

 So… ride your bike, park your bike, service your bike, and get rid of bikes that no longer provide a service for you or your family, in one location…The Illinois Sustainable Living and Wellness Expo.

For more information on this dynamic event go to www.islwe.org