Green Parent Chicago

EarthTalk: What can I do to boost fuel efficiency and help my car run better on my upcoming summer road trip?

Dear EarthTalk: Summer is near and I am planning a big road trip. Do you have any tips for boosting my car’s fuel efficiency on long, hot drives? -- Esther McCoy, Burlington, VT

Ah, the summer road trip, that classic American experience. But long drives through steamy weather can burn through a lot of gas and cause untold wear and tear on your car’s engine and systems while putting you at risk for overheating. Doubling down on tactics to help your car run better will not only improve fuel efficiency, but could also help you avoid spending a large chunk of your vacation time in the breakdown lane waiting for a tow.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA), there are lots of ways to conserve fuel on hot weather road trips that also will help prolong the life of your car. “In summer, drive during cooler parts of the day,” reports the group. “Cooler, denser air can boost power and mileage.”

While it may seem counter intuitive, using your car’s air conditioning is actually a smart idea in hot weather. “Today’s air conditioners create less drag on the engine than driving with the windows open,” says AAA. Meanwhile, if you have a hybrid, pre-cool it before you get in so it can devote more electricity to driving when you are out on the road. But don’t warm-up (or pre-cool) a conventional car, as the extra idling doesn’t do the car any good and just wastes fuel and creates extra heat. Another key tip for hot weather driving is to park in the shade when you can.

The Green Car Reports website suggests utilizing cruise control and overdrive features on cars that offer them on long summer roads trips; these features help normalize the energy demands of the engine which in turn helps conserve fuel.

According to AA1car.com, a leading online information resource on auto repair and maintenance, placing a sunshade under the windshield and cracking the windows when parked can help keep the interior cool between drives. This can also “lighten the cooling load on the air conditioner when the vehicle is first started.” The website also reports that changing old dirty motor oil with a fresh higher viscosity one will help keep your car’s engine lubricated and running smoothly on those summer road trips.

“For example, you might want to change from 5W-30 to 10W-30, 10W-40 or 20W-30 for hot weather driving,” reports AA1car.com. “Synthetic motor oils are even better for high temperature protection.”

Of course, some fuel saving tips apply any time of year. For instance, jackrabbit starts are a big no-no; drivers should always try to accelerate gradually. Taking your foot off the gas as early as possible when approaching a red light is another way to save gas. Keeping filters clean, maintaining recommended tire pressure and driving at the speed limit are additional ways to conserve fuel, reduce emissions and treat your ride nicely.

Summertime road trips can also be hard on drivers and passengers, so pack plenty of sunscreen — especially if you plan to have the windows open (or top down)—and bring along a cooler with healthy drinks so everyone can stay hydrated.

CONTACTS: AAA, www.aaa.com; Green Car Reports, www.greencarreports.com;AA1car.com, www.aa1car.com.

EarthTalk® is produced by Doug Moss & Roddy Scheer and is a registered trademark of Earth Action Network Inc. View past columns at: www.earthtalk.org. Or e-mail us your question: earthtalk@emagazine.com.

The 606 to Open in Early June With 2 Days of Festivities

One of Chicago's newest parks is set to open on the city's northside June 6 with 2 days of free events.

The schedule of events planned for June 6 and 7 at The 606 will include a procession/parade, music and dancing, a pancake breakfast, restaurant vendors and hands-on activities for all ages.

Located at the site of the abandoned Bloomingdale railway line, the elevated "urban oasis" runs along Bloomingdale Ave. (1800 N), from Ridgeway Ave. (3750 W) on the west to Ashland Ave (1600 W) on the east, through the Bucktown, Wicker Park, Humboldt Park, and Logan Square neighborhoods.

The new park will be linked to 5 existing parks at street level. It was conceived by an alliance between The Friends of The Bloomingdale Trail, the City of Chicago, Chicago Park District, The Trust for Public Land, and dozens of other community groups. Construction took 2 years to complete.

The final design of the park space is credited to Collins Engineers, Lead Artist Frances Whitehead, and landscape designers Michael Van Valkenburgh Associates.

For a complete schedule of opening day events, visit: http://the606.org/events/openingday/

-Christine

 

Calling All Newbie Campers: Family Camp Out at Chicago Parks

The Chicago Park District has just announced its second year of Family Camping geared toward novice campers. For a single low registration fee, families can take advantage of guided nature hikes, marshmallow roasts, fishing, fire building demos and camping under the stars at some of the most popular parks in the city. 

Registration is now open for camping at Garfield Park Conservatory, Calumet Park, Bull Frog Lake in (in partnership with the Cook County Forest Preserve), and Northerly Island.

The Family Camping registration fee is $50 per family of up to six members, including children ages 6-12.

Check www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/nature for more information and to register.

-Christine

The 606 to Host "Trail Mix" of Events For Families and Design Enthusiasts

Chicago's soon to be completed new park, The 606, has a variety of events in store this summer around the city for families and those interested in the design and construction of the park, which is currently under construction along the site of the former Bloomingdale Trail.

"Trail Mix" kicked off on Tuesday with a conversation at The Darwin School Auditorium on native plants that will inhabit the park, and continues June 7 with a family bike ride and potluck at the McCormick Tribune YMCA.

Organizers say Family Days are geared toward children ages 3 to 12 and their caregivers and will include fun, hands-on activities. Evening events in the series are for adults who would like to join behind-the-scenes Conversations with experts working on The 606’s history, design and construction. All events in the series are free, but registration is required.

View the park's website for the full schedule of events and RSVP here.

-photo credit: The 606

Cargo Bike Week 2014 & Cargo Bike Roll Call This Sunday!

In celebration of the upcoming Roscoe Village Kidical Mass bike ride and Cargobike Roll Call this Sunday, I”m kicking off another Cargo Bike Week here at Ding Ding Let’s Ride!

First.. let’s make sure you have all the info for the Sunday event:

So what kind of cargo bikes can you expect to find at the Roll Call this weekend? Well, since we’ll be there,  you should expect to find at least one Yuba Mundo, a long-tail style of cargo bike.

Three Yuba Mundo cargo bikes with slightly different configurations at a March 2013 Kidical Mass ride in Logan/Palmer Square.

The organizers have stated they’ll have at least one WorkCycles brand bike there, and with the addition of my bike, that should make at least two of the Dutch-style utility bikes in attendance.

My WorkCycles Dutch utility bike, called am Omafiets. (Obviously this photo was taken in much Spring-i-er times.)

Sounds like this this WorkCycles FR8 cargo bike will be there too. This bike can haul some very heavy loads.

They’ve also mentioned that they’ll have a Bullitt cargo bike at the Roll Call ….

Getting a delivery via Bullitt cargo bike right to our front door.

and a Bakfiets!

A baby in a Bakfiets at the November 2013 Roscoe Village Kidical Mass ride.

Who knows what other bikes will be at the ride!?  Come join everyone for a short family bike ride/parade and stick around to look at cargo bikes!

-Samantha

This article originally appeared on Samantha's family biking blog Ding Ding Let's Ride where she writes about everyday biking in the city, bike activism, family biking, and adaptive biking for special needs children.

New Bikes Exhibit at The Nature Museum Details Chicago's Bike Culture

 

A new self-produced exhibition Bikes! The Green Revolution debuts Friday at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.

The exhibit runs March 30 through September 9, 2012 and, according to exhibit organizers, chronicles the roots of "America’s most democratic and sustainable form of transportation" and the future of people powered transportation in our changing urban landscapes.

"Bikes! The Green Revolution" is included in Nature Museum general admission.

For more information visit www.naturemuseum.org.

-photo credit: Whateverland.com/Lorena Cupcake, flickr

Spring is in the air, time to get your ride on at the Chicago Bike Swap

Today is sunny and warm and we just can't help but have spring fever. What better way to enjoy the coming warmth than to support planet friendly transportation in the city while trading your old bike for a new one at the Chicago Bike Swap.

This Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Chicago Bike Swap will take place at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse. Event organizers promise "more than 50 bike shops, merchants, nonprofits and individuals offering deals on bikes, parts, events and gear."

Here is a sampling of what you'll find at the event: demos and presentations on topics such as family biking and winter bike commuting, bike-themed games and activities, discounted registration for upcoming bike events and food and beverages available for purchase.

Admission to the Chicago Bike Swap is $5 for Active Transportation Alliance members and $10 for nonmembers. Kids 12 and under enter for free. To sell or swap a bike, attendees pay admission plus $5 per bike (limit three bikes).

Proceeds from the Chicago Bike Swap will benefit the Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago Bike Winter and the Chainlink.

 

August Chicago Kidical Mass "Garden Ride"

This month saw the August edition of a Chicago Kidical Mass ride take off. This month’s ride was a “Garden Ride”.  We rode our way around the greater Logan Square neighborhood and made stops at two community gardens to meet the gardeners, wander through the greenery, sample kale and other fresh garden goodies, and enjoy the flowers and the beautiful day.

As always, we all met up in Palmer Square, and kicked things off by riding two loops around the square.

I"m getting ready to ride around Palmer Square (photo courtesy of Chicago Kidical Mass)

Then we  headed off towards our first stop, the Whipple-Dickens Community Garden.

The garden was lovely – all sorts of vegetables, herbs, flowers, you-name-it, was growing in this neighborhood plot.   It was fun to just walk around and discover all that was growing.

Eventually we loaded everyone back up on the bikes.

You can bring your friends along on a Kidical Mass ride

And we headed off to our next stop the Altgeld – Sawyer Corner Farm.

Wandering through Altgeld-Sawyer Corner Farm

As always with a Kidical Mass ride, there were a wide variety of kids bikes, cargo bikes, bike trailers, trail-a-bikes, and so forth for folks to ride around the city sans car with their kids.

Box bikes, bucket bikes, baskets and baby seats

And some folks wanted to take our Yuba Mundo out for some test rides. We happily obliged.

Eventually we tore ourselves away from the farm and rode off to our final stop, Unity Park.

Once at the park we parked our bikes again and set the kids free to run, scream, climb, play, and have a good time.  The adults managed to have some fun too.

A big kid in a bucket bike

 

Our family pile O' bikes

The Chicago Kidical Mass group rides the second Saturday of the month for most of the year. You can find us here on Facebook  or on our group page on the chainlink.   Come out and ride with us!

-Samantha
This article originally appeared on Samantha's family biking blog Ding Ding Let's Ride where she writes about everyday biking in the city, family biking, and adaptive biking for special needs children.

The June Chicago Kidical Mass Bike Ride & Cupcakes!

We have a great Kidical Mass ride almost every month of the year in Chicago, on the 2nd Saturday of the month. Generally the ride departs from Palmer Square to a location not too far away, usually one that ends at a park or playground.  This month’s ride had a bonus stop scheduled so everyone had two playgrounds to check out.  Our household was a little late getting out the door though, so we headed off to a playground on the west side of Humbolt Park that was to be the final destination, to meet up with the rest of the ride.

Riding around the lagoons in Humbolt Park, towing a bike with our Yuba Mundo

It also happened to be my birthday weekend, so Andrew surprised me with a couple of dozen (!!) delicious cupcakes from Bleeding Heart Bakery to share with everyone at the ride!  I put the cupcakes in this awesome picnic basket that we own,  to transport them to the park.  I must have subconsciously bought this basket years ago in anticipation of owning this bike because they looked so lovely together.

 

After we had arrived and unloaded, the parade of bikes started to arrive!

 

We Have a New Bike! Welcome the Yuba Mundo!

We weren’t really planning on buying another bike, but we have been trying to figure out how we were going to continue to ride everywhere we want as a family.  With Little Ding riding his own bike instead of being towed in the bike trailer, we’ve been enjoying family rides in which we all ride together, but have been frustrated because now we can’t ride as far- he is not able to put in the same miles that we can.  We loved riding to the zoo for example, but that’s too far for him.

We had already considered a variety of  family cargo bikes but we’ve been limited by price as well as by storage. We live on the 2nd floor and do not have garage space.   No bakfiets, Madsens, Christianias, or other sorts of box-style cargo bikes would be suitable for us.  At a couple of the Kidical Mass rides we watched as one parent pulled up on an Xtracycle with her’s child’s toddler bike tucked into one of the side pockets. Brilliant!  But Little Ding’s bike is larger than a toddler bike, and has the two extra fat-tire ‘training’ wheels, and we weren’t sold on the Xtracycle for various reasons.

The Big Dummy wasn’t too bad, but a little pricey and not as upright a bike as Mr. Ding wanted – his wrists are having a harder and harder time with his hybrid.    Overall we wanted something solid that could haul a heavy rider as well as lots of cargo,  allow a disabled rider to ride in the back, tow a kid’s bike, and not be too expensive. Then someone reminded us that J.C. Lind Bike Company here in Chicago was now carrying Yuba Mundos! Ding Ding!

The blue Yuba after Mr. Ding's rainy test ride

 

We stopped by the bike store on Wells street on a rainy Saturday afternoon and checked out some of the bikes in the store and Mr. Ding headed out for an initial test ride.

Mr. Ding takes a Yuba Mundo out for a test ride while the Van Moof bike looks on

 

The Yuba is 6ft 9 inches long – not your standard-length bike.  A steel bike made to haul 440 lbs of cargo plus a rider, it is the strongest in terms of the load it can carry,  of all the longtail cargo bikes.  The rear rack can hold 2 child seats, along with grocery bags on each side.   Here’s one in the store configured with two different kinds of child seats for riders of different ages.