The Arlington Heights Bike Club has always had strong ties to our community. Members find common group by extending ourselves to those around us. These ties extend beyond these items below.
AHBC is affiliated with the League of American Bicyclists and its predecessor, the League of American Wheelmen.
AHBC is affiliated with Active Transportation Alliance and its predecessor, Chicagoland BIcycle Federation.
AHBC is affiliated with Ride Illinois and its predecessor, the League of Illinois BIcyclists.
The AHBC Bike Swap extends us into the community. We provide a service to those who want to sell or purchase an used bicycle. This annual event is essentially a one-day outdoor store, where those who have bikes to sell entrust them to AHBC and in turn we allow the general public to come purchase a bicycle. At the end of the day, sellers receive funds from the sale or their unsold bicycles. Area bicycle shops participate also and are able to sell last years inventory.
July 4th is a huge event in Arlington Heights. AHBC members participate in the annual parade.
Helmets are important to the safety of cyclists. For many years AHBC donated a helmet each month to a grade school in Arlington Heights. The helmet donation was in memory of Emil Donkers, a member who passed away. The program was discontinued as most elementary school students already own helmets.
Amlings Bicycle Shop holds an annual Toy Ride where collected toys are delivered to the US Marines Toys for Tots program. Members have always generously purchased toys for the drive and participate in the ride.
Arlington Heights Pedestrian and Bicycle Commission has had several club members who participate in that group thus extending AHBC reach into important safety and access areas.
AHBC has been a participant in the Ride of Silence each year since 2004. The ride raises awareness that cyclists have the rights to be on the roads and to honor those who have been injured or died while cycling.
AHBC along with other bicycle clubs in the greater Chicago area participated in the initial development of a Chicago area bicycle map which provided a network of known safe routes created by the Chicagoland BIcycle Federation (now known as Active Transportaton Alliance).
Each year at the annual bike swap there are a few unsold bikes which remain unclaimed by their owners. These bikes are donated to Working Bikes, a non-profit that gives used bicycles a new life in local and global communities.
AHBC member Roger HItchings spearheaded the effort to have a safe crossing of Lake Cook Road at Wilke at the boundary of Arlington Heights (Cook County) and Long Grove (Lake County) a bit west of Schaeffer where cyclists had previously crossed. Lake County Forest Preserve, Lake County Board of Commissioners, Cook County Commissioners, and Terramere Homeowers Association were involved in this safety enhancement.
