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Shopper Chris Brunn gets his card punched and moves one step closer to winning big prizes. (Dan Korman photo)

Suburbs Ask Shoppers to Bike

By Pamela Brookstein

In my noble quest to bring multitasking to a new level, I have discovered a way to make shopping even more fun than it already is.

You may ask, “But, Pamela, how can this be?” The answer is biking while buying. And this summer, three suburban shopping districts are making this dream combination pay off by offering prizes and discounts to shoppers who leave the car at home and hop on their bikes instead.

Forest Park brought back its blockbuster Shop By Bike initiative; and downtown Oak Park and downtown Glen Ellyn also joined the mix this summer.

Each program, though separate, works in the same way: Bike shoppers simply need to make a $5 purchase at any participating merchant to get their cards punched, with one punch per purchase and five punches completing a card. Completed cards are entered into a raffle, so that bike shoppers can be rewarded for their enlightened transportation choice.

Some Forest Park merchants are adding a special twist this year: they are offering discounts and promotions to bicycle shoppers. So, ride on over to caffe De Luca and get a free pastry to go with your latte; or head to funky and fun Team Blonde and get 20 percent off all messenger-style bags.
All three villages are on (or near) the Metra Union Pacific West line, making this the ideal way to try out the brand new Bikes on Metra campaign.Downtown Oak Park and Forest Park are on the CTA Green and Blue lines, respectively. Shoppers from all over the region can easily access these three very different villages and support the shops that support bicycling.

If you want to work activity into your busy day, or make shopping more fun than it already is (hard to believe that’s possible), then try Shop By Bike this summer. For more information on the three Shop By Bike initiatives happening this summer in the western suburbs, check out www.biketraffic.org/shopbybike

Pamela Brookstein is the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation’s west suburban Coordinator