Jess Audey and her 10-year-old daughter, Darcy Evert, traveled from Columbus, Ohio, to Chicago to seize a rare opportunity. The duo participated in the Bike the Drive event, where DuSable Lake Shore Drive was temporarily closed to cars. As they biked, Darcy cherished the chance to enjoy the ride with her mother, highlighting the event’s family-friendly nature.
Celebrating its 25th year, Bike the Drive serves as an annual fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance. This nonprofit focuses on enhancing infrastructure for walking, biking, and public transportation in Chicago. A 30-mile stretch from Hyde Park to Edgewater welcomed cyclists from 6:30 a.m., attracting a wide audience including families, city officials, and avid cyclists.
Clare McDermott, event director for the Active Transportation Alliance, noted that around 15,500 cyclists participated. She emphasized the event as a vision of safer, more inclusive roads. McDermott advocated for curb-protected bike lanes to enhance safety. Such lanes, separated by concrete dividers, aim to prevent cyclists from hazardous encounters with car doors.
“Bike the Drive is a day to experience what it could feel like if our roads were more comfortable for bikers to ride on,” McDermott said.
In June, a tragic accident underscored the need for safer infrastructure. A cyclist, Riley O’Neil, died after a car door was opened into his path, causing him to swerve under a truck. Proposals for new bike lanes, however, face resistance. For instance, a proposed lane on Archer Avenue faced opposition from local businesses and motorists.
Along with cycling, the event offered activities and refreshments at Grant Park’s Butler Field. A DJ entertained the crowd while participants lined up for pancakes. The festivities extended from Grant Park to the South Side’s Griffin Museum of Science and Industry.
Frantz Jerome, a 65-year-old Lakeview resident, participated alongside his wife. Starting at Fullerton Avenue, Jerome was impressed by the event’s turnout, despite noticing some road hurdles. He cautioned about potential injuries due to potholes and road seams, which the Active Transportation Alliance lists on its website.
Sean Madison, general manager at Lyft Urban Solutions, participated as well. He noted the historic month for Divvy, Chicago’s bike-sharing service, which recorded over a million rides in July. Madison joined Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson and other officials on Divvy bikes, reiterating Chicago’s aspiration as a leading biking city.
“Chicago is a bike city,” Madison said. “We will continue to lead and turn our city into a world-class bike destination.”
After a lively morning of cycling, car traffic returned to DuSable Lake Shore Drive by 11:30 a.m., marking the end of the event.
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