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While the Chicago region’s population grew by 18 percent since 1980, the traffic increased by 66 percent in the same period.

How local groups energize Chicagoland’s Bike Month

Oct 30, 2024 | by Maggie Melin Czerwinski

Each year in May, Chicagoland celebrates Bike Month with exciting bike-related activities like community rides, educational workshops, and repair clinics.

While the Active Transportation Alliance plays a role in organizing some of these events, most are led by passionate grassroots groups and local municipalities.

These organizations are the true champions of local biking culture, quietly making a big impact by empowering people with biking skills and confidence right in their own neighborhoods.

To help nurture these on-the-ground grassroots efforts, each year we offer small stipends to a number of local groups.

The stipends are intended to give their initiatives during Bike Month and throughout the summer a boost, bringing more resources and energy to local communities.

While these events are a ways behind us in the calendar year, we still want to acknowledge the important work these groups were doing during Bike Month and beyond:

 

BIKES 4 BELMONT CRAGIN BIKE RIDE

  • The Northwest Center (NWC) hosted an annual Bikes 4 Belmont Cragin 5-mile ride to highlight the NWC’s transportation achievements, such as the addition of a new docked Divvy station, the completion of the Belmont Cragin bike network, and the installation of wayfinding signs for cyclists.
  • The event also served as a call to action for residents to support upcoming transportation campaigns and raise awareness about local mobility challenges.

 

 

SOUTHSIDE CRITICAL MASS CHICAGO — WEAR ORANGE FOR GUN VIOLENCE AWARENESS BIKE RIDE

  • Southside Critical Mass Chicago held its annual Wear Orange for Gun Violence Awareness bike ride, honoring Hadiya Pendleton and others killed or injured by gun violence.
  • With 150 participants—its largest turnout ever—the event celebrated the group’s mission to promote health, support local businesses, and build safer neighborhoods through biking.

 

NORTH LAWNDALE “SOULIDARITY” BIKE RIDE

  • The North Lawndale “Soulidarity” Bike Ride was organized by Equiticity, Únete La Villita, and the Little Village Environmental Justice Organization (LVEJO).
  • With dozens of riders participating, the ride aimed to foster dialogue and strengthen community bonds between North Lawndale and Little Village residents. Afterwards, riders enjoyed food, refreshments, and information about other local initiatives.

 

 

CYCLE BROOKFIELD’S FIRST FRIDAY SOCIAL SLOW RIDE

  • Cycle Brookfield’s key Bike Month event, the First Friday Social Slow Ride, is a family-friendly event, which kicked off in May and continues throughout the year.
  • Cycle Brookfield also hosted their annual bike safety check where volunteers inspect and repair bikes for free.

 

CHICAGO FRIENDS SCHOOL ICE CREAM RIDE

  • Chicago Friends School in Edgewater organized a 5-mile bike ride for students, friends and family. Participants wore school colors and stopped for ice cream along the route.
  • The ride aimed to draw attention to both the school and the importance of bike safety for younger riders while fostering connections among families.

 

BENSENVILLE’S BIKE SAFETY WORKSHOP FOR YOUTH

  • In partnership with the Bensenville Youth Coalition, School District 2, and the Bensenville Park District, the Village of Bensenville hosted a bicycle safety workshop in celebration of Bike Month.
  • Thanks to the Bensenville Youth Coalition’s donation of used bikes, eight children left the event with bikes of their own bike. A certified instructor from Ride Illinois taught attendees how to ride their new bikes safely.

 

RIDE RIVERSIDE’S MUSICAL BIKE MONTH CELEBRATION

  • Ride Riverside’s event featured an exciting blend of biking and live music, drawing 85 participants. To kick off their second community ride, local musicians performed while volunteers powered the sound system by pedaling a stationary bike generator.
  • The event was a fun and interactive way to showcase sustainable energy and spread the word about Ride Riverside’s new monthly slow rides for all ages and abilities.

 

STREAMWOOD PARK DISTRICT’S FAMILY NEIGHBORHOOD BIKE RIDES

  • Streamwood hosted three family-friendly neighborhood bike rides led by a certified cycling instructor. The casual rides covered about 5 miles each, and brought in many families, enjoying local paths.
  • The park district also offered an event to introduce families to safe biking.

 

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS READ & RIDE EVENT

 

Top photo of the North Lawndale Soulidarity Ride courtesy of Streetsblog Chicago and Cameron Bolton; top middle photo of the Southside Critical Mass Ride courtesy of Danielle McKinnie; botton middle photo courtesy of Bike Brookfield; and bottom photo courtesy of the Riverside-Brookfield Landmark and Trent Brown.