Take Your Bike to Work Day

By Todd McClamroch in News on Jan 16, 2007 8:48PM

It seems everybody is complaining about the delays on the El and is looking for alternative methods of getting to work. This Friday is a great opportunity to give your bike a tryout for the job. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is hosting its fifth annual Winter Bike to Work Day on Friday, January 19.

The event normally falls on the 20th, in celebration of the anniversary of Chicago's coldest day which occurred on that date in 1985, when the temperature was recorded as -27 degrees with wind chills recorded at -93 degrees. This year's anniversary falls on Saturday, so the event was pushed forward a day. Riders can take comfort that this year will not be in the running to set a new temperature record. The forecast is currently calling for partly cloudy skies, a low of 19° and a high of 26°.

Bike commuters will gather from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. in Daley Plaza for warm treats and hot beverages. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation will also be there to offer tips on winter bicycling and offer a free raffle to attendees. If you are looking for cycling tips prior to Friday's event, visit BikeWinter.org. Plan your route to work using this Google Map of Chicago Bike routes.

Photo by Stephen Gross.