General
Do I get anything special if I am an Active Trans member?
Why should I pay when I can just ride on the Lakefront Trail?
Does MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive partner with any charity partners?
Can I participate in MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive with inline skates?
I don’t have a bike. What should I do?
Why should I become a member of the Active Transportation Alliance?
Registration
What does the registration fee go toward?
Do I become an Active Trans member when I register?
Do I get Active Trans member discounts if I was a member of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation?
I’m having trouble registering online.
I would rather not register online.
How do I know my registration was received?
My children are riding in a trailer – do I need to register them?
What about tandem or tagalong participants?
Can I pick up my packet on the day of the event?
Why is there a $3 increase starting May 10?
What should I do if my packet has not arrived in the mail?
Can I register the day of the event?
I’ve registered, but I’m not receiving information about the event.
Why do I have a 5% transaction fee added to the cost of registration?
The ride
Why is it required to wear a rider number?
Can I start biking anywhere along the route?
Can I start the ride at 5 a.m.?
I’m not sure I can ride 15 or 30 miles
How many times can I ride the route?
What happens if I don’t think I can make the time cut-offs?
What safety concerns should I be aware of?
What emergency medical assistance will be available at the event?
Can I go straight home after the ride or do I have to go to the post-ride festival?
Still have questions? Contact us at 312.427.3325 x 251 or btd10info@activetrans.org.
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- Attend any packet pickup location, with several multi-day pickup locations available.
- Portions of the north route of Lake Shore Drive are newly paved.
- Rider and helmet numbers and helmets are required. This is for your safety, for access to rest stops along the route, and to easily find professional photos of yourself on the ride. Register your number now so you can know right when photos are posted!
- Checkpoints to ensure the event is attended by paying participants only.
Yes! MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive relies on volunteers before, during, and after the ride. From data entry, to working as a course marshal, to helping with teardown, your skills can help the event be the best it can be. We will work with you to find the most rewarding use for your talents and limited time. Visit the volunteer page or contact our volunteer manager at 312.427.3325 x223 or email margaret@activetrans.org .
Do I get anything special if I am a member?
Yes! You get a $5 discount on your event registration. We’d love to meet you! Stop by the Active Transportation Alliance tent at the post-ride festival for special goodies, news on recent victories and to learn about what’s next for biking, walking and transit. Thank you for your continued support! Not a member? You can add a membership to your registration. See you soon!
Will Metra allow bikes?
Metra does allow bikes, but Metra trains won’t be running early enough to get you to MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive.
You can bring your bike on CTA buses and trains. Find out more at www.transitchicago.com or here.
Why should I pay when I can just ride on the Lakefront Trail?
Thanks for asking! There are several reasons.
- MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive is a fundraiser that benefits the Active Transportation Alliance’s work to improve biking, walking and transit. Your registration allows us to continue our fight to make walking, biking and transit safe and easy.
- For the view. Lake Shore Drive is built higher than the Lakefront Trail, giving you an unparalleled view of the city and lakefront.
- For the unique experience. Lake Shore Drive is usually miserably filled with cars; but during this event, the historic road is a tranquil bicycle utopia.
Does MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive partner with any charity partners?
Yes! MB Financial Bank is proud to partner with the American Diabetes Association’s Tour de Cure and the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s Team CF. Join any of these charity teams and enjoy a car-free Lake Shore Drive!
Can I participate in MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive with inline skates?
No. Inline skates and Trikkes are not allowed for the safety of all participants.
I don’t have a bike. What should I do?
MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive participants are eligible for bike rental discounts! Find out more here.
Why should I become a member of the Active Transportation Alliance?
Members are the momentum we need to build a movement around biking, walking and transit. We envision a region with half as many crashes and one where half the population gets around on foot, by bike and on transit. We need members to make that happen!
Active Trans members receive the Chicagoland Bike Map, discounts at local businesses and events, subscriptions to our newsletter and bi-monthly bulletin, and up-to-date information that affects you. Don’t go another day without being a member!
What does the registration fee go toward?
All proceeds from MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive support the Active Transportation Alliance’s work to make the region better for biking, walking and transit. In fact, 86 cents out of every dollar raised goes directly back into advocacy efforts that make your community a better place for biking and walking. We are a 501(c)3 non-profit that has been making bicycling better in Chicagoland for 25 years. Visit www.activetrans.org to learn more about our mission and work.
Your fee also pays for the event’s cost. Bike the Drive’s costs include food, route closures, Chicago Police and barricades, toilets, tents, permits, staff time and countless other items. We wouldn’t be able to produce this event if your registration fee didn’t offset some of those costs.
See our sign-up page for information on registering.
Right now! Don’t wait! Click here to register and see available discounts.
Do I become an Active Trans member when I register?
No, and we wish you would join! The Gold Package includes membership, and registration for MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive and Boulevard Lakefront Tour (Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010). The Platinum Package includes all the benefits of the Gold Package, plus a ticket to the biggest party of the year – Bike Town Bash on Dec. 4, 2010. Learn about the many benefits of membership here!
Do I get Active Trans member discounts if I am a member of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation?
Your Chicagoland Bicycle Federation member card is the same as and Active Trans member card. Members of the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation automatically became Active Trans members and qualify for all member discounts with a valid membership ID.
I’m having trouble registering online
If you have trouble signing up online, please contact Rebekah Broussard at rebekah@activetrans.org or 312.427.3325 x225.
I would rather not register online.
No problem. Attend any packet pickup location to register and receive ride materials on the spot. Or download this form and send it in before before May 14, 2010. Please note there is a $5 processing fee on all paper registrations.
You can also download a registration form here.
How do I know my registration was received?
When you submit your registration a confirmation screen will appear. Please print this for your records. You should also receive an e-mail confirmation almost immediately. These confirmations offer proof that your online registration was processed. If you do not see either confirmation, your registration has not been processed!
The charge on your credit card will appear as TBD. You will also see a small charge for the online processing fee.
Questions? Contact Rebekah Broussard at rebekah@activetrans.org or 312.427.3325 x225.
You can register youth participants (17 and under) for $15 each, which includes a T-shirt. All paid registrants, including children, are required to wear rider and helmet numbers. If you sign up for the Gold Package, you can sign up a youth for MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive for $20, which includes a T-shirt.
My children are riding in a trailer – do I need to register them?
If you pedal, you pay. Children in trailers do not need to register.
What about tandem or tagalong participants?
If you pedal, you pay. Each person must register and wear their rider and helmet numbers.
No. The event happens rain or shine.
Registration for MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive is non-refundable. All proceeds from the event support the non-profit Active Transportation Alliance’s work to make Chicagoland safer and more fun for all transportation users. Thank you for your support!
Choose between premium and standard shipping or pickup options to receive your ride packet. New this year: Premium shipping includes your T-shirt while standard shipping does not. Also new: Pick up all your materials at a packet pickup location near you! Registration confirmation is required to pick up your packet. Remember, you can pick up any family members’ or friends’ packets as long as you have the appropriate confirmation.
The last day to register and get your packet mailed to you is Friday, May 14. After that date, registering participants must attend a packet pickup location.
Can I pick up my packet on the day of the event?
Yes but it is highly recommended that you pick up your packet before the day of the event in order to avoid long lines, which cut into your time of bicycling bliss.
Why is there a $3 increase starting May 10?
We charge a fee starting May 10 to offset the additional resources it takes for us to order last-minute T-shirts and food for the rest stops and to process and manage registrations closer to the event.
Sign up early and avoid the increase! Check out the discounts here, and look for coupon codes in our advertising and through our sponsors or partners.
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What should I do if my packet has not arrived in the mail?
Your packet should arrive by mid-May. If you haven’t received yours and you think you should, call Rebekah Broussard at 312.427.3325 x 225 or email her at rebekah@activetrans.org.
Can I register the day of the event?
Yes, if the ride is not sold out. Day-of-event registration is $55 and does not include a T-shirt.
I registered but haven’t received any email updates
Your spam filter might be blocking our messages. Check your junk mail for event communications and add “donotreply@activetrans.org” to your list of safe senders. We cannot keep you informed if we cannot reach you.
Why do I have a 5% transaction fee added to the cost of registration?
The 5% registration covers the cost of processing the credit card with the credit card company. This fee is standard among all major registration sites including sites like Ticketmaster, SignMeUp and Active.com.
Go here for directions and parking information.
There is no on-site parking provided for any participants, volunteers, sponsors/vendors, or staff. See our directions and parking page for more information.
Rider and helmet numbers and helmets are required. In addition, bring your bike, appropriate clothing and spending money. See the event info page for more information.
Why is it required to wear rider and helmet numbers?
Your rider numbers and wristbands are proof that you have paid for this fundraiser. We will be asking registrants to show their numbers at checkpoints along the route. Your rider and helmet numbers are required for safety and so you can easily access professional photos of you on the route. You can register your number before the event and get notification once photos have been posted
For your safety, all participants must start downtown at Columbus and Jackson. Visit the event info page for more information. Event participants can stay at the Fairmont Hotel (less than a mile from the start/finish) for a special discounted rate. Details here!
Can I start biking anywhere along the route?
No. For the safety of all participants, riders must enter Lake Shore Drive at the designated start area at Columbus and Jackson.
What if it rains?
MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive will be held rain or shine. If there is a serious weather warning, please check our website or call the event hotline at 312.427.3325 x251 for further information.
Refunds are not available. Your investment in this event directly supports our work to make Chicagoland better for bicyclists, pedestrians and transit users. Thanks for your support!
When should I arrive?
Visit this page for suggested guidelines on when to start your ride. We encourage you to start early—sunrise is at about 5:21 a.m. on Sunday, May 30. Take advantage of a beautiful morning on the lakefront! Allow adequate time to park your car or travel by public transportation.
If you choose to pick up your packet that morning, allow time to wait in line. We strongly recommend that you attend an earlier packet pickup location, if possible, to avoid long lines and a delayed start.
The Chicago Police and the Office of Emergency Management and Communications set the schedule. Participants will not be allowed to start after 9 a.m., and car traffic will be restored to Lake Shore Drive by 10:30 a.m.
Can I start the ride at 5 a.m.?
No. The event begins at 5:30 a.m. (with police approval). Strict cutoff times are necessary to ensure safety for all participants in closing and reopening Lake Shore Drive. Please do not endanger yourself and others by ignoring the rules. Visit this page for more information.
I’m not sure I can ride 15 or 30 miles
What if I get tired?
Rest areas with water, refreshments and toilets will be located along the route. Find out what kind of rider you are here.
How many times can I ride the route?
As many times as you can! Lake Shore Drive is 15 miles long. Bike just the southern loop (15 miles), the northern loop (15 miles) or the whole thing (30 miles)!
What happens if I don’t think I can make the time cut-offs?
Start early to enjoy a longer ride. Depending where you are riding at cut-off time, you may either be turned around to head back to Grant Park or re-routed onto the Lakefront Path. Please watch out for cars once you leave Lake Shore Drive—the roads that cross under Lake Shore Drive will be open to car traffic.
What safety concerns should I be aware of?
Visit this page to find out more.
What emergency medical assistance will be available at the event?
There will be three ambulances along the route: one at Columbus/Jackson, one at Belmont Avenue and one at 312st Street. In addition, there will be about 40 ride marshals riding the route who act as the eyes and ears of the event. In case of an emergency, they have radio contact with the ambulances, SAG vehicles and ride marshal manager.
Can I go straight home after the ride or do I have to go to the post-ride festival?
You don’t have to go to the post-ride festival, but that it will be a blast! We’ll have exhibitors, demos, entertainment and food. Take the time to hang out with your friends and family in Grant Park.
.JPG)
