Cyclists Gather for Annual Bike the Drive Event in Chicago

Jess Audey traveled from Columbus, Ohio, to Chicago with her 10-year-old daughter Darcy Evert to participate in Bike the Drive. It was the year’s only chance to bike DuSable Lake Shore Drive without cars. On a Sunday morning, the city’s skyscrapers were topped by clouds, yet the weather cleared as they cycled together. Darcy cherished sharing the experience with her mom.

Bike the Drive, marking its 25th year, supports the Active Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit advocating for improved infrastructure for walking, biking, and public transit in Chicago. A 30-mile loop from Hyde Park to Edgewater was closed to cars, welcoming cyclists from 6:30 a.m. Families, city staffers, and avid cyclists all joined. Clare McDermott, director of events and marketing for the alliance, reported about 15,500 participants.

McDermott highlighted the event as a vision of bike-friendly roads and emphasized curb-protected bike lanes. These lanes have concrete dividers from car traffic, which could prevent accidents like the one that killed Riley O’Neil, a 35-year-old city employee dedicated to cyclist safety. A driver’s door forced him to swerve, leading to his tragic death under a semitruck.

Bike lanes often face political pushback. Plans for a lane on Archer Avenue in Brighton Park met resistance from businesses and drivers.

Event organizers set up activities and refreshments in Grant Park’s Butler Field. A DJ played Smash Mouth’s “All Star” as attendees lined up for pancakes. Entry points for riders extended to the Griffin Museum of Science and Industry on the South Side. Dylan Belgeri and Mike Delgado were busy flipping pancakes for the crowd on September 6, 2026. (Arthur Maiorella/Chicago Tribune)

Frantz Jerome, 65, from Lakeview, started at Fullerton Avenue with his wife at 7 a.m. A cycling enthusiast, Jerome was impressed by the turnout. “You ride the whole thing and get surprised; there’s always someone at arm’s length,” he noted. He mentioned road obstructions, indicating injuries were a statistical concern. “You gotta be careful because there’s potholes; there’s seams in the road,” Jerome advised. The event’s website lists known potholes.

Sean Madison, general manager at Lyft Urban Solutions for Divvy, joined cyclists. July was Divvy’s busiest month ever, passing one million rides in a single month. Madison, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson’s team, Chicago Transit Authority acting president Nora Leerhsen, and Active Transportation Alliance executive director Amy Rynell, began riding early.

Madison concluded: “One: that Chicago is a bike city. And then two: that we will continue to lead and turn our city into a world-class bike destination.” DuSable Lake Shore Drive reopened to car traffic at 11:30 a.m.