The 2009 TyK Bike Chick Pinup Calendar lets you remember every day how fun it is to be a woman and a cyclist.

The calendar features one woman with her bike every month in a classic 1950s style photo and an accompanying “reality” photo of how you would see her on a normal day. “The TyK Pinup Calendar reveals and revels in the multiple identities every woman can embody.”

Party with the pinups at two upcoming events:

This Friday, Feb. 6: “Going to Press” Party. 6-9 p.m. at the Green Eye on Milwaukee and Armitage. There will be prints of all 12 pinups and the accompanying “reality” photos.

Next Friday, Feb. 13: Bike Winter Art Show. 6 p.m. at the Flatiron Arts Building, 1579 North Milwaukee Avenue. The calendars go on sale here.

You can also purchase the calendars at bike shops, coffee shops, bookstores and boutiques throughout Chicago and online.

Proceeds for all sales of the TyK Pinup Calendars to the Chicago Women’s Health Center. TyK Works to raise women's awareness of their strength and femininity while providing a supportive and informative community.
 

The Mayor's Office of Special Events is gearing up for the 19th Annual Bike Chicago program and we invite you to join in the fun!  Bike Chicago is a five-month (May-September) celebration of Chicago’s commitment to become more bicycle friendly and environmentally conscious.

Last year's program was a huge success promoting more than 100 cycling activities on our website, www.bikechicago.us.  Events included clinics, neighborhood rides, races and architectural tours. 

New this year, we are accepting all bike event submission on our website.  Please go here to submit your biking events by Monday, March 2.  (The link to submit events is also available on our website -- www.bikechicago.us)

We look forward to helping you promote your biking event.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me.

Here's to a great summer!

Anne Davis
Bike Chicago Coordinator
Mayor's Office of Special Events

Urge your congressperson to use the federal stimulus package for biking, walking and transit projects.

Remember: A hand-written or hand-signed letter mailed to your congressperson is the most effective way to reach him or her. Find out who represents you at www.ILGA.gov.

Here is an example letter you can send your congressperson:

Dear [your congressperson],

Money is coming in from the federal stimulus package, and you will be asked to vote on how it is spent. I urge you to demand that biking, walking and transit projects are appropriately funded.

These are projects in Chicagoland that are eligible for stimulus package funding:

Sidewalk and ADA curb ramp improvements (all communities)
Bike boulevards and bike lanes (all communities)
Green and bike-friendly buses (CTA and Pace)
Bus rapid transit (CTA)
Eliminate slow zones (CTA)
Burnham Greenway (South Cook County)
Deerfield Road Bike Path (Lake County)
Safe Routes to School Will-Center Road sidewalk (Monee)
Illinois Prairie Path Bridge over EJ&E Railroad (DuPage County)
Stearns Road Bridge at Fox River (Kane County)
Chicago Avenue streetscape (Evanston)

Sincerely,

[your name]

Let us know who you contact. E-mail dan@activetrans.org. Thank you for advocating!

I rode the Trail from 31st Street to Ardmore at around 10:30 p.m. on Wednesday . There was considerably less salt on the Trail south of Grant Park so there was more spotty snow on the Trail from Grant Park to 31st Street. Still the trail was certainly rideable in that area. There was also some drifting snow from the Museum Campus to the south side of the McCormick Center. Again, rideable but not in the best shape.

Through Grant Park to Ohio Street the Trail was clear with some additional snow on the south side of the bridge over the Chicago River. I took the sidewalk just to the south of LSD at Grand to Ohio Street to Inner Lake Shore Drive (didn't even attempt the Trail between Ohio and Oak Street).

The Oak Street Underpass, while not in great shape was rideable. Conditions were worse on the west side of LSD. Salt had been laid down on the pavement on the east side of LSD. I did not have to dismount in this section.

From Oak Street to Ardmore the Trail was in good shape except, of course, for the section just south of Fullerton but the dirt trail was rideable in that area. There was a little bit of drifting snow near the totem pole but so much that you can not ride in this area.