New Bike Shop Aims to Add Green Attitude to Montrose

A new bike store is trying to get customers to trade in four wheels for two.

Owner Ezra Hozinsky opened Green Machine Cycles with two goals: use as many sustainable products as possible and motivate people to ride bikes instead of cars.

He'll be selling bikes with an emphasis on hauling the cargo people need on a daily basis. Ironically, his location at 1634 W. Montrose Ave. used to be a driving school.

"The increased availability and improvement of Chicago's cycling infrastructure makes it a great time for people to start softening their environmental impact," Hozinsky said.

Most bikes in the shop, along with bags and baskets, will be made from sustainable or reclaimed materials. The repair shop—including frame repair—will only use biodegradable or low-toxic cleaners and lubricants.

"I want to put a lot of these things in one place so people don't have to hunt things down and show folks there really is a functional cycle to materials; it doesn't have to be linear," Hozinsky said.

The commitment to sustainability runs through the store itself. Hozinsky reused much of the wood and plasters from the driving school.

Green Machine Cycles will be open 10 to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, 10 to 5 p.m. Friday, 9 to 4 p.m. Saturday and 9 to 2 p.m. Sunday.