More than 2,700 individuals from 205 companies rose to the challenge of bicycling to work in June, according to the results of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation's 2007 Bicycle Commuter Challenge.

In its fourteenth year, the Chicagoland Bicycle Commuter Challenge swung to a 58 percent increase in organizational participation from 2006. There was a tremendous response to the new college/university category of the challenge.

"There has been such a surge in Commuter Challenge participation," said Randy Warren, program specialist for the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. "It really shows how excited the bicycling community is to bike to work."

2007 Bicycle Commuter Challenge winners included the Chicago Department of Transportation, the Chicago Department of the Environment, Montefiore Special School - Special Education, Worth Public Library, Adler Planetarium, Design Integrity, Chicago Athlete Magazine, Adler School of Professional Psychology, Northwestern University Library, Northwestern University - Psychology Department and University of Illinois-Chicago - Undergraduate Recruitment. Only three of the winners from 2006 - Field Museum, Center for Neighborhood Technology and SRAM Corporation - repeated this year.

Allstate Insurance Company achieved the highest number of participants while the Pepper Group, Design Integrity, Boulevard Bikes and Spin Doctor Cyclewerks, Inc. each saw 100 percent participation level from their employees.

For the past 14 years, the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation has organized the Chicagoland Bicycle Commuter Challenge as a way to encourage commuters to combine exercise and transportation in a region where traffic congestion has become an epidemic. Participating organizations receive a packet of materials including a how-to guide and maps to help employees plan safe, efficient commuting routes. The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation is also available to conduct on-site presentations on bicycle commuting.

Prizes will be awarded at a July 27 luncheon from sponsors including SRAM, The Fairmont Chicago, Shedd Aquarium, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Adler Planetarium, Planet Bike, Clif Bar, Vitamin Water, Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum and Eli's Cheesecake.

2007 Category Winners:

Public Agency

500+ Chicago Department of Transportation

100-499 Chicago Department of Environment

25-99 Montefiore Special School - Special Education

5-24 Worth Public Library

Business/Non-profit

500+ Field Museum

100-499 Adler Planetarium

25-99 Center for Neighborhood Technology

5-24 Design Integrity

Bicycle-Related Business

24-99 SRAM

5-24 Chicago Athlete Magazine

College/University

500+ Adler School of Professional Psychology

100-499 Northwestern University Library

25-99 Northwestern University - Psychology Department

5-24 University of Illinois-Chicago - Undergraduate Recruitment