FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Clare McDermott, Active Transportation Alliance
(773) 391-7709
[email protected]
Larry Magnesen, Fifth Third Bank
(312) 704-5564
[email protected]
People on bikes have DuSable Lake Shore Drive all to themselves this Sunday
Spend time with friends and family during Labor Day weekend at one of the best bike rides in the nation
CHICAGO, Aug. 30, 2021 — After Fifth Third Bike the Drive was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, this iconic Chicago event is returning this Sunday, September 5 better than ever. The event, which is celebrating its 20th year, allows ample space for people biking to spread out on all eight lanes of the Drive while enjoying the incomparable views of the city skyline, the lovely parkland, and the big lake.
Held as a fundraiser for the Active Transportation Alliance — a non-profit organization dedicated to making walking, biking, and transit safer, more convenient, and more equitable — the event clears all car traffic from the Drive before opening Chicago’s biggest and best bike ride.
“As the summer winds down, we all need to treat ourselves to special experiences with friends and family, and Fifth Third Bike the Drive is the perfect way to do that,” said Amy Rynell, executive director of Active Transportation Alliance. “And what better way to show your support for healthy, clean mobility options than getting on your bike for this epic outdoor event.”
The event kicks off at 5:30 a.m. when people can start riding between Bryn Mawr Avenue on the north and 57th Street on the south. Between 8 a.m. and noon, participants can visit the festival in Grant Park. Register for the event at 53bikethedrive.org.
The full route stretches 30 miles and participants are encouraged to ride as little or as much of the course as they would like. Riders who want to tackle the full route can sign up for the 30-mile challenge during registration and will get a 30-Mile Challenge commemorative medal.
“We’re really excited to be the sponsor of Fifth Third Bank Bike the Drive,” said Mark Hoppe, Region President of Fifth Third Bank (Chicago). “It’s a terrific event — one of a kind — and it’s a community event. The community gives us so much, and we want to give back.”
The Active Transportation Alliance is working closely with various city agencies, including the Chicago Department of Public Health, to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for all event attendees, vendors, and sponsors.
With all eight lanes of the Drive closed to car traffic in both directions, there is plenty of space for participants to spread out during the ride. In addition:
- Person-to-person contact is limited thanks to print-at-home rider materials.
- 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.
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.
- Regardless of vaccination status, everyone will be asked wear a mask when you are in the festival area and whenever you can’t maintain a distance of 6 feet from others.
This guidance is subject to change based on updated health and safety guidelines from either the City of Chicago or State of Illinois. We will provide updates accordingly.
- Photos available upon request.
- Please use the full name of event: “Fifth Third Bike the Drive.”
- Please consider using B Roll footage from 2019 when Fifth Third Bank was the title sponsor.
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About the Active Transportation Alliance
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that advocates for walking, bicycling and public transit to create healthy, sustainable, and equitable communities. The organization works to build a movement around active transportation, encourage physical activity, increase safety, and build a world-class transportation network. The Active Transportation Alliance has more than 20,0000 members and supporters in the Chicago region. For more information about the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.
About Fifth Third Bank
Fifth Third Bancorp is a diversified financial services company headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, and the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank, National Association, a federally chartered institution. As of June 30, 2021, the Company had $205 billion in assets and operates 1,096 full-service Banking Centers, and 2,369 Fifth Third branded ATMs in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Florida, Tennessee, West Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, Fifth Third provides its customers with access to approximately 53,000 fee-free ATMs across the United States. Fifth Third operates four main businesses: Commercial Banking, Branch Banking, Consumer Lending, and Wealth & Asset Management. Fifth Third is among the largest money managers in the Midwest and, as of June 30, 2021, had $483 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $61 billion for individuals, corporations and not-for-profit organizations through its Trust and Registered Investment Advisory businesses. Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com. Fifth Third’s common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol “FITB.”