Status Active Location(s) Chicago, Illinois | Venue Lake Shore Drive | |
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Genre Recreational, non-competitive bicycle ride Frequency Annually on the Memorial Day weekend Country United State of America | ||
Bike The Drive is a recreational, non-competitive bicycle ride held each year in Chicago, in which Lake Shore Drive is cleared of motor vehicle traffic and opened exclusively to bicyclists for several hours beginning at dawn. The event benefits bicycling advocacy work in the region by the Active Transportation Alliance, formerly known as the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation. Since 2004, Bike The Drive has been held on the Sunday of Memorial Day weekend. In 2006, an estimated 20,000 riders participated in the event.
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Since 2010 it has been sponsored by MB Financial Bank. It was previously sponsored by Bank of America.
Route
The route extends nearly the entire length of the famous roadway, from 57th Street on the South Side to Bryn Mawr Avenue on the North Side. The maximum route length is 30 miles (48 km), with riders beginning at Grant Park, going to the South and North extremes, and then returning to the starting point. Rest areas with refreshments and repair services are located at the north and south ends of the route, as well as the starting point. In addition, volunteers riding with the participants and stationed along the route offer assistance to riders. A festival in Grant Park follows the event, and includes music, food, cycling-related activities, and vendors and exhibitors.
History
Bike The Drive was launched by the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation in 2002 to raise funds for programs to expand the Chicago area's bicycle transportation network, promote bicycling as a mode of transportation, improve bicycling conditions and traffic safety, and provide bicyclists with a variety of resources and support.
The event is organized in coordination with the City of Chicago, its agencies and departments.