{"id":78105,"date":"2019-04-01T21:29:26","date_gmt":"2019-04-02T02:29:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/?p=78105"},"modified":"2019-04-01T21:36:16","modified_gmt":"2019-04-02T02:36:16","slug":"chicago-bike-shops-welcome-new-wave-cyclists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.medill.northwestern.edu\/chicago\/chicago-bike-shops-welcome-new-wave-cyclists\/","title":{"rendered":"Chicago bike shops welcome new wave cyclists"},"content":{"rendered":"

By Carly Graf<\/strong>
\nMedill Reports<\/em><\/p>\n

Thanks to 200-miles of bike lanes, the newly renovated Lakefront Trail and more than 130,000 spots to park and lock your bike, Chicago consistently ranks among America\u2019s most bicycle-friendly cities, according to ratings in Bicycle Magazine. But that friendliness wanes if you\u2019re black, Latino or a woman looking to ride.<\/p>\n

Yes, we have Mayor Rahm Emanuel\u2019s Chicago Streets for Chicago 2020 Plan to increase the number of bike lanes citywide. And Divvy’s bike share D4E plan awards a $5 membership to qualifying low-income riders. But, still, a race and gender gap persists.<\/p>\n

Only about 30 percent of bike commuters in Chicago are women, and even fewer are people of color, according to the 2017 U.S. Census American Community Survey. A Chicago Sun-Times data analysis shows most rides through the Divvy bike share program are concentrated downtown or on the North Side.<\/p>\n

And Chicago Police Department data shows traffic tickets issued to cyclists are disproportionately concentrated in Black and Latino neighborhoods, usually for something as minor as riding on the sidewalks. Additionally, security fears, especially after dark, often deter women, while poorly maintained roads and fewer bike lanes make it less enticing to ride in black or Latino neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Cycling culture has long been linked to white, spandex-clad men with enough money to pay for fancy equipment and race entry fees. But a fresh cadre of bike shops are positioned to change the face of cycling and push aside the gatekeepers. Literally. Check out some Chicago shops run by and for people of color and women to promote pedaling for anyone who wants to ride.<\/p>\n

Working Bikes Cooperative<\/strong>
\nLittle Village<\/em><\/strong>
\n2434 S. Western Ave.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Working Bikes believes bikes empower disenfranchised populations\u2014giving them freedom, independence and access that they may otherwise struggle to obtain. This volunteer-run, non-profit claims abandoned bikes or soon-to-be discarded bikes donated by community members, refurbishes them and distributes them to communities in need. They don\u2019t only work in Chicago, either. You\u2019ll find their bikes everywhere from Gary, Indiana, to Egypt.<\/p>\n

West Town Bikes<\/strong>
\n2459 W. Division St.<\/em><\/strong>
\nHumboldt Park<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This West Side shop does more than just sell and repair bikes for area residents. It brings recreation and affordable transportation to a traditionally under-served area and provides work for at-risk youth and young adults in the area through internship and after-school programs.<\/p>\n

Blackstone Bicycle Works<\/strong>
\n6100 S. Blackstone Ave.<\/em><\/strong>
\nWoodlawn<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

While this Hyde Park institution does sell and repair bikes, it\u2019s best known in the neighborhood for its Earn-a-Bike Program. Kids work 25 hours in the store\u2014starting with repairing flats and progressing to more difficult tasks\u2014and then pick a refurbished bike plus a new helmet and lock to keep for their own use. Those who stick around for more work can move their way up to paid positions and apprenticeships.<\/p>\n

Irv\u2019s Bike Shop<\/strong>
\n1725 S. Racine Ave.<\/em><\/strong>
\nPilsen<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The shop\u2019s been in the same location for 40 years, and the current owner Enrique Ortiz started working there at the age of 11. Irv\u2019s Bike Shop, named after the store\u2019s original owner, started when the area was filled with Eastern European immigrants. Since then, it\u2019s become a predominantly Mexican neighborhood, reflected even in the ownership change. But the name and reputation\u2014as much community center than bike shop\u2014has remained the same despite changing demographics.<\/p>\n

BFF Bikes<\/strong>
\n2113 W. Armitage Ave.<\/em><\/strong>
\nLincoln Park<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

This North Side option was Chicago\u2019s first wholly women-focused shop when it opened in 2014, welcoming women of all skill levels into a sport that\u2019s often dominated by men. In addition to being a full-service bike shop, BFFsells bikes and apparel that\u2019s designed specifically for women. The shop hosts group rides for women to train with their peers.<\/p>\n\n\n