Chicago Bicycle Federation Gets a Makeover

Chicagotalks has featured links to the Chicago Bicycle Federation for some time. Bicycling is an important segment of the transportation "industry" in Chicago. The Federation has been working for the interests of bicyclists for 25 years, and had gradually expanded its consciousness, and is working on the rest of us, to lobby for the interests of all of us who try and use "active transit," whether that is biking, walking, or public transportation. The reality is, if you bike, walk, or take public transit, you probably combine a couple of these methods to actually get around Chicago. To reflect this shift in focus, the Chicago Bicycle Federation is now the Active Transportation Alliance , with a mission that is hard to argue with these days:

The mission of Active Transportation Alliance is to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. We advocate for transportation that encourages and promotes safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, environmental stewardship and resource conservation.

From supporting community efforts to encourage school kids to bike to school instead of being driven, including mapping safe routes and publicizing these programs, to working with the Mayor's office on bicycling issues, to raising awareness about threats to cyclist safety, the group helps us as Chicagoans who want to move around thoughtfully and without always relying on vehicles powered by fossil fuels.

Features like frequent updates on trail conditions, seminars on "How to Ride in the Winter," and the annual Bike Bash party make this a useful site to link to.

The calendar of activities lists group rides, meetings, and other activities. And if you are looking for inexpensive, meaningful presents this holiday season, you can make a donation that will be matched by an anonymous donor. Whether you give for yourself, or for a friend or loved one, this would be a non-commercial gift suggestion , because it is tax-deductible and, if you give before January 15, 2009, an anonymous donor will match $25 contributions.