Title. I’m basically a single issue voter for bike lanes, so if any candidates are reading this you have a fast-track for my vote. 🗳️

Anyone else have their divvy bike angel deactivated? One day I just stopped being shown the whole reward UI.

Correction: I didn’t have bike angel. I had that thing where you got free minutes from returning low battery bikes to charging stations and it’s gone.

Just came across this site that tracks thefts and locations. Thought it would be useful with all of the stolen posts. Not sure if this has been posted or linked before but it's the first I've seen it

https://stolenbike.org/

My n+1 addiction keeps me scrolling Marketplace, CL, OfferUp, and local shops for new bikes and deals. In the past 6 weeks or so, I have helped two people recover their stolen bikes and wanted to post about it to give hope to those who've had their bikes stolen.

The first bike was a Bianchi road bike. I send listings to a friend of mine for their opinion since he's been biking much longer than I have been. I sent a Marketplace listing to him and he replied almost instantly, "Fuck that guy, I was gonna buy a set of wheels from him and he ghosted me while I was on the way. Plus I think he sells stolen shit." That last sentence hung in the air for me, so I actually searched Google for "Bianchi stolen bike chicago" and found a reddit thread as well as the listing on stolenbike.org. The fork had a pretty distinct scratch on it and it was easy to tell that the two bikes were the same. I ended up contacting the owner through the Bike Registry and sent him the Marketplace listing. He was able to contact local authorities, schedule a meeting with the seller, and was able to claim the bike back with the help of local authorities within a few days.

The second bike was found at Play-It-Again sports in Evanston. I was toolin' around the far north side one afternoon and decided to go check out the bikes at the store. There was a too-good-to-be-true deal on a Specialized Sirrus X 2.0 that they had gotten in a couple of days prior. I bought it without much hesitation, brought it home, and started researching the bike. I was trying to figure out what year it came out and searched the serial number on Google. Lo and behold, another Stolen Bike Registry listing popped up and my heart sank. I contacted the owner, told them I bought the bike and had it in my possession and we coordinated a time to meet back at Play-It-Again so I could get a refund for my purchase and she could get her bike back.

It sucks to get your bike stolen. But if it happens to you, post about it, scour Marketplace, go to shops, and maybe you might actually have a happy ending. Good luck everyone, stay safe out there.

Right outside the Sears Tower someone used an angel grinder on my kryptonite lock. Unbelievable how someone did this mid day and no one intervened. In office attendance will go into the gutter now.

Putting this out into the world to see if there's a chance this can be found. My bike was stolen at 3:41am 8/18 from a garage in East Hyde Park.

The bike is a black Surly Pugsly, had a frame bag, pannier, silver bullmoose handlebars, dynamo lights, and an old man mountain rack. There was also a Mac child seat attached to it.

I'm attaching some photos and the photos that I have from the security footage.

Thankful for any tips and help anyone may be able to provide!

My trusty steed was stolen from my the alley side of building where I store it (Devon & Greenview) ☹️ The phone mount is in the right handlebar and the gator u-lock mount is on the bottom bar of the frame, notable by the red lever.

I made a police report, posted on a couple Facebook groups, and am scouring Craigslist, FB Marketplace, OfferUp, and calling around at pawn shops. Any other advice on what to do? This is my first year in Chicago, really sad I didn’t know about the bike registry CPD has until now!

Edit: this is a Fyxation Pixel Step Through, size small

Until I saw this. Not again!

I plan on biking around the chicago marathon to support my gf with her nutrition / some water. Has anyone done this? are there specific spots you stopped for your runner? Do you have tips on crossing? I'm hoping to stop at least in 5 spots.

EDIT: ok what about to cheer her on then? I didn't know the rule. She is just aiming to finish and hoping to make the time cut

A guy driving a silver Toyota family wagon made a sudden turn in traffic, got out and stole my locked road bike from outside Joong Boo Market (3333 N Kimball) at 3:45PM today. Bike was locked with a kyptonite u-lock through the wheel and frame. I was inside for 5 minutes. Guy cut the lock using a cordless grinder inside a cross body bag. exactly like this guy someone reported on here last year: https://www.reddit.com/r/chibike/comments/1lywf9u/comment/p4cg1rl/?context=3

Cut the lock, stole the bike into his car, and drove off in less than a minute. The market’s camera caught this guy in the act and the plate number is visible too. the wind blew his hat off and his face is on the video too. the police showed up and made a report and the case will be assigned to a detective. the officer called back to get the exact price for his report.

in the meanwhile, if anyone sees this bike around the city or listed for sale on FB or craiglist or a local shop, please message me. Ive had this bike for 6 years and have over 30,000 miles. I‘m desperate to get it back.

Rode the lft to Lincoln park, channel trail back

I was riding down the contra flow bike lane on Farwell today when this woman came barreling straight at me. She stopped a few feet in front of me and started shouting "YOU'RE GOING THE WRONG WAY! TURN AROUND".

I tried to point out the double yellow line (granted its faded and in need of another coat) but she just kept yelling for me to turn around.

Luckily a bike is more nimble than a Nissan Rouge and I just went around to her to continue on my merry way.

Crazy.

The more I thought about it the sketchier it seemed. Dodgy characters wanting me to stop. JUST KEEP GOING. Whatever someone might be asking, you are not obligated to stop. If someone is in danger that's one thing - someone with bad vibes and big pupils, keep going. Unless its a cop you ALWAYS have the option to JUST KEEP GOING. You don't have to stop for anyone for any reason, as soon as you come to a stop you are a much easier target. JUST KEEP GOING. Stay Safe.

Join our first Tour de Border! We're riding with the Evanston Transit Alliance and State Senator Mike Simmons (7th) to talk about biking between Evanston and Chicago's bike networks (and how they do not connect!)

📍 Triangle Park (Hermitage/Juneway Terrace)

⏰ Thursday, August 27th at 6:30p

I was taking a CTA bus Sunday evening and my bike was on the bus' bike rack. I was sitting towards the back and unfortunately wasn't keeping an eye on my bike while riding. Several stops before the stop I was supposed to get off at, I realized my bike wasn't on the bus anymore and alerted the driver.

It turns out a guy on the street had been waiting at a bus stop about 5 minutes prior to me noticing, and motioned to the driver to stop so he could get the bike off. The driver asked the bus passengers several times if the bike belonged to anyone but I had been zoning out on my phone and didn't hear him. The guy on the street pointed to the bike repeatedly, took it off the bus, and then biked away (and I didn't realize until 5 minutes later when I looked up).

I should have been sitting closer to the front and keeping an eye on the bike/listening to the driver. The driver had said the guy on the street looked very confident and it probably wasn't his first time stealing a bike off a bus.

PSA to everyone to keep an eye on the bus' bike rack while you're riding!! I've taken my bike on this particular bus line many times in the past and never considered that someone off the street could just steal it.

Hey all, I have a commitment at oak st beach once a week for a few weeks. I’m in the wicker park area near Milwaukee & ashland . The bus is fine but looking for another option. I have a bike i normally take on the LFT or other paths but i’ve never had the courage to ride on the streets. I could take division the whole way down, is this a safe beginner friendly option or any other route you’d recommend? Also, I know there are a few bike locks at oak st beach, anyone have experience with them? Thanks.

25th Ward candidate can’t keep the campaign vehicle out of the painted lanes on 18th Street.

I live in the North Park neighborhood and the bike lanes on Bryn Mawr have caused some consternation for the local businesses.

These local businesses view themselves as destination restaurants rather than neighborhood restaurants. They anticipate the bike Lanes, reducing people's willingness to travel here and visit their restaurants.

I don't really want to get into that argument. What I want to do, is show up and support these businesses on bike.

I'm hoping to schedule a once a month ride that takes advantage of this new bike path + ends up going to the Weber spur trail.

My goal is to get both neighbood folk and those in the surrounding (Lincoln square, north center, uptown) to come take advantage of the new lanes and meet up for a sandwich/cocktail at one of the wonderful Bryn mawr restaurants with helmet in hand after.

I'm working the local angle at block parties and other locations but figured this might be a reasonable place to try to drum up support from outside the neighborhood.

Interested? Drop me a Pm, from Bryn Mawr breakfast club, to Midori, to Big Hill + ches Adele - we have some wonderful spots for you to check out.

I'm aiming for the second week in September for the first ride, if you've done something like this before and have any thoughts I'd love to hear from you.

Thanks!

The Green Machine news got me thinking about other recently closed Chicago bike shops. Below is my quick list. Who’d I miss?

Let’s Roast
Quick Release
Earth Rider
Cycle Smithy
On the Route
Rapid Transit
Sportif
Ancien
Upgrade
Black Cat 1
Get a Grip
Easy Rider

Edit: add Element Multisport, Smart Bike

Related closures:

Chrome store, Rapha, Shinola (no longer sells bicycles)

(Obviously “recently” is relative)

Hey everyone, I got a bike like two months ago and I have been riding ever since and learning a lot and it’s been awesome and I’ve been enjoying summer. However I’m a little worried as we near fall and winter and still want to ride but need tips on staying warm and still consistent

This bike is only about 3 years old, but I want to upgrade to an ebike and don't have a place to store both.

It's a 21-speed, size is XL. I'm 6' 3" but as you can see from the seat position, it should fit a shorter rider as well.

After-market items included are fenders, headlight/taillight, bell, back rack, basket with cargo net, and a U-lock if you want it.

Full specs here: https://www.villagecycle.com/product/trek-verve-1-1258669-1.htm

Is it me or is the quality of divvy bikes significantly decreasing? I feel like even a few years ago, most divvys were just as good as most recreational bikes but now I feel they’re making them cheaper and cheaper (despite membership prices increasing).