ANDERSONVILLE — The Andersonville Development Corporation is seeking sponsors to help pay for a new bike valet program that would debut at Midsommarfest and be used at other Andersonville events throughout the year.
The 48th annual Midsommarfest is just around the corner, and business leaders in Andersonville are working to promote alternative transportation at the June 7-9 festival. Organizers expect to draw an estimated 50,000 people to the neighborhood for food, drink and music.
To encourage people outside the area to ride their bikes to the festival on North Clark Street, the Andersonville Development Corp. will offer "bike valet" stations, according to a news release.
Bicyclists will be able to hand their bikes to volunteers from area non-profits who will park the bikes at recently purchased corrals free of charge.
Andersonville Development Corp. Managing Director Colleen O'Toole said her organization is trying to raise about $1,600, which would cover the full cost of the bike corrals and other equipment.
"Our hope is that we will be able to do this and continue to use the bike corrals for smaller events throughout the year," she said.
A solicitation for sponsors said that, "With your sponsorship we can make biking to Midsommarfest a viable option for hundreds of cyclists each day during the event."
The festival is the main fundraising event of the year for the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce and the Andersonville Development Corp. The proceeds are used for operations in support of the neighborhood's famously indie, locally owned business community.
For more information about sponsoring bike valet equipment, click here.
For more information about Midsommarfest and a full lineup for the 2013 event, click here.
