SKaiser writesLearn Your City’s Streets with Tour de Fat’s Car For Bike Challenge

Chicago has over 200 miles of on-street bike lanes and routes. It gets a wee bit easier each passing year for riders as the Department of Transportation works to grow the network of bike facilities. 

CHIRP Radio supports our bike-friendly city's efforts and is partnered with New Belgium Brewery for the Tour de Fat celebration in Palmer Square on Saturday, July 11. Click here for details on entering the 2015 Car Trader challenge. Entries are due by Wednesday, July 8.

Dave Pabellon, Car Trader of 2011, knew of Tour de Fat's car-for-bike swap and thought, "Why not me?" The time spent commuting by bike made him more in tune with Chicago and the city's strides in building a strong bike culture.

CHIRP: Where do you currently live and what are you doing these days?

Pabellon: Still residing in Chicago, but have moved out of Humboldt Park further North, past Lincoln Square. Also, I'm still employed as a senior designer at a wonderful studio, Faust but soon I will be transitioning into a new position at Dominican University as a professor in design.

CHIRP: Why did you take the challenge to give up your car? 

Pabellon: Well, in 2011 I had this Saab that kept dying on me and at the time I thought it was a necessity because the Faust studio was located in Riverside IL (now we are in Pilsen). But after doing some google mapping and talking to some friends about going car-less I decided to go for it. I've loved attending the Tour de Fat's in the past and thought, "why not me?"

CHIRP: What kinds of adjustments did you have to make to your life and daily routines? 

Pabellon: In all honesty it made life much simpler and practical. At the time I was single and was jumping around the city quite a bit. With the city's unpredictable weather and expansive grid going car-less made my planning and calendaring much more focussed.

CHIRP: Would you say you’re still fairly committed to commuting by bike?

Pabellon: Since 2011, I've started a family so when I have to transport the baby I have to drive but all other times I prefer to commute by bike. I especially like the long ride between home and work, it's about 10.5 miles each way.

CHIRP: How has living without a car changed you? Have you taken up any other new habits during the year?

Pabellon: I think the experience made more in tune with the city. When you drive you pretty much only need to know the expressways and the major throughways. But with biking, especially through long stretches of the city, you get to know the neighborhoods. I've also revisited inline skating as a mode of transportation.

Dave Pabellon's 2011 entry video

CHIRP: What do you feel are the biggest benefits of the lifestyle change you made?

Pabellon: I considered myself physically active prior to 2011 but there's an absolute difference between exercise by choice (going to a gym or playing a sport) vs. exercise as a means of mobility. I prefer the latter when given the choice.

CHIRP: How can your town, your state, and/or society in general make bicycling more attractive to other people?

Pabellon: Since moving back to Chicago from Oakland in 2005 I've been very impressed by the strides the city of Chicago has made in building a strong bike culture, in certain areas. However I think the city can do more in underrepresented communities and neighborhoods that don't have many (or any) public transit options.

CHIRP: What would be your advice for the next person who is going to take up New Belgium's offer?

Pabellon: The bike is amazing, I didn't even know the components were that premium until a bike enthusiast friend assessed it, don't take that for granted. Take it for an extra long tour when you can. Hella smooth.