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As president of Chicago Velo Campus I and our other members are trying to define the best idea possible to be proposed to City of Chicago and Jam Productions.

As some of you certainly know, over to the South East side of the city, on the former United States Steel plant land, there are 2 projects taking place right now,

  • Chicago Velo Campus Interim Facilities, a UCI 166 mt. outdoor velodrome and a 1,400 sqf cycling-community center 
  • Dave Matthews Band Caravan 3 day  concert produced and managed by Jam Productions 

We have started to make a plan that hopefully can be soon presented  to our neighbors Jam Production and City of Chicago

We would like to provide the support they may need to manage a large number of cyclists going to the concert cranking pedals, not pumping gas,(at least on the way there...)

So I would like to know what you guys think about Chicago Velo Campus providing a Cycling Valet within our facility on 8th and Burley

We would keep the bike, return it to the rider at the end of the concert (only if not under influence)

Alternative options would be to leave the bike overnight and collect it a day later, or have it delivered home with 48 hours.

 

Please tell us your opinions/suggestions about this plans  

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Emanuele- I have experience with some of the other local festivals and bike parking--

This event is too big for bike valet-- it just would not be possible to handle the volume when a large percentage of attendees was leaving.

Offer to staff a secure bike locking area--  it will need to be the size of at least 2 tennis courts, and the festival will need to have capacity for at least 1,000 bikes to lock to.

we have about 100,000 SQF that could be organized, the reason for the "valet" service was to ensure a good security level and offering the service we could hire lots of local teenagers that would be part of it actively and make some dollars.

if you have experience would be great to understand how many people we should have to handle from 1K to 5K bikes

 

 

H3N3 said:

Emanuele- I have experience with some of the other local festivals and bike parking--

This event is too big for bike valet-- it just would not be possible to handle the volume when a large percentage of attendees was leaving.

Offer to staff a secure bike locking area--  it will need to be the size of at least 2 tennis courts, and the festival will need to have capacity for at least 1,000 bikes to lock to.

I think there is a need for secure parking, it seemed to go well at Pitchfork. I'm a fan and would be willing to volunteer to help.  Can w hear the music? :))

I am sure we can, 

I assume so, the site is actually pretty large but the lack of buildings should diffuse the sound pretty well

I don't know if I was clear-- you could have a protected/supervised area adjacent to the festival area where people would lock their own bikes. You could have a hospitality tent at the entrance where you offer air, water, whatever else you want to give away, and where your outreach for Chicago Velo happens.  You would need 3-6 people per shift at most. 


If you're going to offer the parking considerably offsite, most cyclists are not going to bite.

How far is 8th and Burley from the festival gates? Anything much more than a long block is probably going to be a deal-breaker.

 

I wouldn't even venture a guess as to how many helpers you'd need for valet parking.  It sounds like you intend to charge for the service? Most cyclists are going to pass.

 

If you are going to forge ahead with the valet plan anyways, I hope there will also (additionally) be a non-valet, supervised area such as an enclosed lot or tennis court for self-locking.  Otherwise you will not really be doing a service to those who choose to bike to the affair.  Unless so dismally few people end up bicycling to the event that the few hundred that could be accommodated with bike valet can be easily handled.

 

Emanuele Bianchi said:

we have about 100,000 SQF that could be organized, the reason for the "valet" service was to ensure a good security level and offering the service we could hire lots of local teenagers that would be part of it actively and make some dollars.

if you have experience would be great to understand how many people we should have to handle from 1K to 5K bikes

 

 

H3N3 said:

Emanuele- I have experience with some of the other local festivals and bike parking--

This event is too big for bike valet-- it just would not be possible to handle the volume when a large percentage of attendees was leaving.

Offer to staff a secure bike locking area--  it will need to be the size of at least 2 tennis courts, and the festival will need to have capacity for at least 1,000 bikes to lock to.

One option is to have Jam Productions pay you for your service (you are providing a service) or ask for donations. Many people will give a dollar or two for their bike to be safe.  I would in a heartbeat.  I do agree that it needs to be no more than a block (cyclists are used to parking right near an entrance as opposed to drivers, would will walk from one end of the parking lot to the entrance if that's the only place to park).

 

I don't know how well charging a set fee to park your bike would go over. 

Last thing I'll say about this-- as a seasoned and wary urban transportational cyclist-- handing my unlocked bike to someone I don't know in exchange for a small ticket is not my idea of my bike being "safe."

Julie Hochstadter said:

One option is to have Jam Productions pay you for your service (you are providing a service) or ask for donations. Many people will give a dollar or two for their bike to be safe.

Where exactly is 8th and Burley?  Pretty sure Chicago doesn't have an 8th Ave/Street...

Here is the most complete info I can find on the event:

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2011/04/ray-lamontagne-kid-cu...

 

I think Dave is a genius and I don't care who knows it. Wouldn't mind seeing Ray LM but I'm not sure this would be the best setting.  I swore I'd never see the Flaming Lips again (They're the band I never really wanted to see that I've seen the most) so I'm sure they'll be sandwiched by one of Dave's sets and Ray L's.

1 the Chicago Velo Campus velodrome is located between the Metra Station and the stages, 1 block from the Metra (probably 3/4 from stages) 

2 we are adjacent to one of the parking lots  VIP parking, several parking spaces are 3 times as far from the stages, there will be shuttle busses for all

3 service could be defined in multiple ways studying  the case further, if providing a locking solution with racks is best, then we would try to provide that smartly, it could be a mix service for a mix use

4 it could be paid by Jam and have some small amount or tips as rounding (depending on the type of service you pick) 

5 at the velodrome we could organize a morning series of races to have people enjoy some Madison, Keirin and or Sprints to give to some the reason to head to the concert at 9:00 and enjoy a couple of hours of racing. 

 

 

I think the key is ORGANIZED against wild and self served large space without infrastructure, if you have hundreds of bikes inappropriately parked, could become a nightmare to get your own, or yours could be damaged etc etc... 

 

I just realized it's 3 days. Makes it even more compelling.... people can ride there, if they are to drunk can pick up their bike the next day or day after, right?

Its 87th and Burley 

SORRY!! 

 



Jared said:

Where exactly is 8th and Burley?  Pretty sure Chicago doesn't have an 8th Ave/Street...

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