Registration is now open!
Join us on Sunday, August 31, 2025

REGISTER NOW

 

 

 

Registration is now open!

Join us on Sunday, August 31, 2025

REGISTER NOW

 

 

Bike the Drive is a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance

Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit advocacy organization working to improve conditions for walking, biking, and public transit throughout Chicagoland.

Already registered and need to log back into your registration account? Log in here. When logging back in, please sign your waiver, if needed, and make sure everyone for whom you have registered has also signed their waiver. More here.

New for 2025, the first 2,500 registrants will receive a complimentary 2025 Bike the Drive official T-shirt featuring moisture-wicking fabric. An Ultimate Bike the Drive package is also now available for purchase, which includes access to the ride, the 2025 Bike the Drive official T-shirt and an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast. For more information visit our Register page.

active transportation alliance logo

Event Info

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ABOUT THE RIDE

Watch our video of Active Transportation Alliance’s Bike the Drive

Grab your bike and reconnect with friends and family on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Whether you’re new to biking or a seasoned veteran, biking with your family or with friends, Bike the Drive is an event to remember. With sweeping views of the lake and skyline, you’ll enjoy fresh air and the wind on your face!

Ride as little or as much of the 30-mile course as you’d like, and then enjoy a post-ride festival in Grant Park. No bike? No problem! Rentals are available.

Don’t miss this once-a-year event when bicycles reign on DuSable Lake Shore Drive.

Register

FAQ

Bike the Drive is a rain or shine event. No refunds allowed.

We no longer offer packets. Instead, your eTicket will be emailed to closer to the event. Please print your eTicket/rider number and affix to your bike and helmet number prior to entering DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Event t-shirts, ride guides, and 30-Mile Challenge medals can be picked up in the festival. We will also have a small amount of BTD merch available for purchase.

You’ll need to print your rider number (eTicket). Bring some layers as it can be chilly in the morning and get warmer into the day. Also, bring sunscreen, water and bike lights for your commute to the ride. Sunrise is roughly 6:20 am.

Bike the Drive will be held rain or shine. If there is a serious weather warning, volunteers will direct riders to a safe location along the route. Please check our website for the latest information leading up to the event.

For your safety, all participants should start at one of the below locations. We strongly discourage starting at any other point along the route. Starting locations: Main Festival (Grant Park), Bryn Mawr Ave., Fullerton Ave., Oakwood Blvd., and Museum of Science & Industry.

Reach more than 20,000 participants who are interested in an active lifestyle! Join us as a sponsor of Bike the Drive. Sponsorship opportunities (cash and in-kind, from $1,200 to $65,000) for this event. Want more information? Please contact our Director of Development, Julie Strand, at 312-216-0460.

Our rule is “if you pedal you pay.” All youth on their own bikes or tag-alongs must register. For those in trailers or child bike seats, registration is not required.

With all four lanes of DuSable Lake Shore Drive closed to car traffic in both directions, there is plenty of space for participants to spread out during the ride. While two outdoor rest stops and a festival in Grant Park will be open to participants, no one is required to stop at these locations. Our top priority is the health and safety of our event participants.

We apologize for the trouble! If you are trying to register on a phone, please try registering on a desktop instead. If you’re still having trouble, contact btdinfo@activetrans.org, describe your issue in detail, and we’ll get back to you ASAP. You may also call our customer service line at 844-299-2087.

No. For the safety of all participants, only bikes will be allowed on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. (only Class 1 & 2 eBikes are allowed with a speed limit of 20 miles per hour; please remember to fully charge your eBike and bring your charging cable just in case!)

Bikes can be rented from local Chicago outfitters. Please visit our bike & helmet rental page for more info.

We have a special parking option with Millennium Park Lakeside Garage. Please visit the Event Info section of this website to learn more.

MORE FAQS

Visit Our Gallery

participants riding through the course
participants riding through the course
participants riding through the course
participants riding through the course
participants riding through the course
VISIT GALLERY

What participants have said about Bike the Drive

“Great event; first time riding and will not be my last. Everyone was so nice and we had a great time.”

“Absolutely great ride. Well organized. Kudos to everyone involved in planning.”

“I drove up with a group from Indianapolis and we had a great time doing this event! We loved the scenery, the people and the route.”