City giving away bicycles

From staff reports

A new program that will provide 5,000 free bikes, as well as maintenance and safety equipment, to Chicagoans by 2026, began earlier this week.

Called Bike Chicago, the effort will see at least 500 bikes distributed to age and income-eligible Chicagoans throughout the program’s first year.

Over the next four years, the Chicago Department of Transportation will gradually increase distribution until 5,000 free bikes have been provided, as part of Chicago’s goal to increase affordable and climate friendly mobility options.

Online and paper applications will be accepted until Aug. 4, and bike distribution will begin next month.

“Riding a bike is an affordable, sustainable, and healthy way to travel that reduces car congestion and improves quality of life,” said CDOT Commissioner Gia Biagi. “Along with improving and expanding the City’s network of bike lanes and trails, CDOT is committed to making biking a more popular and practical option for all residents – and Bike Chicago will do just that.”

Bike Chicago is tied to the recent release of the 2022 Climate Action Plan that outlines strategies and actions to prioritize low-carbon mobility options like walking, biking, and transit use to reduce emissions. On-road transportation is the City’s second-largest source of emissions and a major contributor to climate change.

For the first year of Bike Chicago, a portion of the bikes will be assembled by and distributed to participants in our Greencorps Chicago Youth Program, a green jobs training program for students in Chicago public high schools.

Additional bikes will be distributed to other participants in CDOT 2022 mobility programming, including the Chicago SAFE Ambassadors’ Learn to Ride program, the Open Boulevards events, and then on a first come first serve basis for residents that qualify. To be eligible, applicants must:

• Be a Chicago resident;

• Be at least 14 years old (those under 18 will need a guardian present when picking up the bike and equipment);
• Have a household income at or below 100% of the Area Median Income for Chicago;
• Not already own a bicycle;
• Face higher mobility hardship; or
• Be a participant in a CDOT Mobility program.

The online application and paper application are available at chicago.gov/bikechicago.

When picking up their bike, bike recipients will be given information and resources they need to confidently travel the City’s bikeways network and keep their bike working for years to come. The free bikes will be a single-speed commuter model that will be simple to maintain and function well on Chicago’s geography. Recipients will be matched with the appropriately sized bike based on the height they specify in their application.