Thanks for participating in Fifth Third Bike the Drive 2023.

Please join us next year for another great event.

Thanks for participating in Fifth Third Bike the Drive 2023

Please join us next year for another great event.

Fifth Third Bike the Drive is a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance

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

Due to rising costs from our suppliers and contractors, we’ve increased the cost of Fifth Third Bike the Drive for 2023. As a non-profit organization, this event is our most important annual fundraiser, which helps fuel our advocacy work for better walking, biking and transit across Chicagoland. We’re pleased to announce that participants this year will receive an upgraded wicking t-shirt. Also, we will be providing youth and adult scholarships.

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.

Also, once you register, don’t forget to download the Fifth Third Bike the Drive app. The app will provide you with maps of the route and festival, start and end times, safety information, and plenty of other details about the event.

Over 16,500 riders attended the 21th Annual Fifth Third Bike the Drive in 2022.

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Event Info

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ABOUT THE RIDE

Watch our video of Fifth Third Bike the Drive

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

Whether you’re new to biking, a seasoned veteran, or biking with kids, Fifth Third 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

Fifth Third 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 prior to entering DuSable Lake Shore Drive. Event t-shirts, ride guides, and 30-Mile Challenge medals can be picked up at all three rest stops along the course and in the festival.

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 into the ride, sunrise is at 6:21am.

We are committed to your health and safety.

  • To decrease the chance of congestion, riders can start at a time of their choosing at any of five entry locations along the course.
  • Event t-shirts, ride guides, and 30-Mile Challenge medals will be available at the festival area and at north and south rest stops.
  • Attending the event festival, which will be entirely outdoors in spacious Butler Field in Grant Park, is optional.

In addition, all participants, staff, vendors, and volunteers are asked to:

  • Please stay home if you’re not feeling well or have tested positive for COVID-19 in the 10 days prior to the event.

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. Click here to learn more about our sponsor opportunities.

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.

No. For the safety of all participants, only bikes will be allowed on DuSable Lake Shore Drive. (eBikes are allowed; 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. Stay tuned for link to purchase.

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 Fifth Third 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.”