Ride on Chicago raises more than $100,000 for PeopleForBikes
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Media Contact:
Lauren Fallert
Verde Brand Communications
lfallert@verdepr.com
970-259-3555
BOULDER, Colo. (June 5, 2014) –The PeopleForBikes Ride on Chicago successfully reached its destination of Chicago on Monday, exceeding its fundraising goal of $100,000 for better bicycling.
Founded by pro racer Tim Johnson in 2011, the Ride on Chicago aims to raise funds and awareness for better riding conditions in the U.S.
The five-day ride started in Kansas City, MO, traveled east to St. Louis, then north to Chicago. Twenty-five riders of varying backgrounds, professions, and abilities—including Kickstarter co-founder Charles Adler, retired pro racer Christian Vande Velde, and Skratch Labs founder Allen Lim—averaged around 100 miles a day.
“This wonderful, highly successful Ride on Chicago celebrated the importance of working together—on a bike ride, in fundraising, and speaking with one strong voice for better bike riding,” concluded PeopleForBikes president Tim Blumenthal.
The route traversed a variety of bike infrastructure, including multi-use paths, rail-trails, rural farm roads, busy suburban streets, and finished on protected bike lanes in downtown Chicago.
“On this ride, we get to see firsthand how bikes are being integrated into town and city planning,” said ride founder Tim Johnson. “It’s clear how further investment in bike infrastructure can make a big difference in communities across the country. My hope is that the racing community will increase their support of these and other important projects.”
Ride sponsors included SRAM, Strava, VW, Whole Foods, Abus Locks, Cannondale, Skratch Labs, Firefly Bicycles, New Belgium Beer, Skoop and Tenzing Wine.
PeopleForBikes plans to repeat the ride again in 2015. For more information or to get involved, contact PeopleForBikes Mrketing and Communications Manager Kate Powlison at kate@peopleforbikes.org.
About PeopleForBikes:
PeopleForBikes is the national U.S. bike movement, uniting millions of individuals, thousands of businesses, and hundreds of communities to improve bicycling in the U.S. Join the movement at PeopleForBikes.org.
About Tim Johnson:
Tim Johnson is a six-time national cyclocross champion, having won three elite national championships, a pair of Espoirs national championships and a junior national championship. Tim was the first-ever American rider to stand on a UCI World Championships podium when he earned a bronze medal at the 1999 World Championships in Poprad, Slovakia.
