May is Chicago Bike Month
Throughout the month of May, Chicago Bike Month provides an opportunity to showcase the many benefits of bicycling — and encourage more folks to give biking a try.
The month-long event, which is presented by FK Law, gives Chicagoland residents the opportunity to support the movement for better biking in their community.
WHAT WILL BE HAPPENING?
Chicago Bike Month will include
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- A series of group rides throughout the city, including the Ride of Silence on May 17
- A series of “celebration stations” — pop up biking hang outs where you can meet fellow riders and Active Transportation Alliance staff.
- Bike to school events
- Bike repair clinics
- A film screening
- The Bike Commuter Challenge
COMMUNITY RIDES AND EVENTS IN CHICAGO
Bold listings are events sponsored by Active Transportation Alliance.
- Bikes N’ Roses repair clinics in Roseland. During the month of May, clinics will be offered at St. Anthony’s Parish every Wednesday, 12-6 p.m.
- Bike to School Day: Wednesday, May 3; register your school, get resources
- Southwest Collective Community Ride: Sunday, May 6
- 3rd Annual Garage Sale hosted by BFF Bikes & Working Bikes: Saturday, May 6, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., share resources and swap gear
- Chicago Family Biking: May 7, 14, 21, 27, 28; Kidical Mass neighborhood rides
- Boxing Out Negativity Street Love Ride, Saturday, May 20, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., St. Agatha Church, North Lawndale, Kedzie & Douglas Blvd.
- Chicago Ride of Silence: Wednesday, May 17, gather at 5:30 p.m., start at 6 p.m.; Queen’s Landing, Grant Park (see the route)
- Lecture: Reconsidering the Victory Bike in WWII — Policy, Transportation and Chicago: Friday, May 19, 5 – 6:30 p.m., Northwestern University Transportation Library, Level 5, 1970 Campus Drive, Evanston.
- Bike Commuter Challenge Celebration Stations:
- Monday, May 22, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., 606 Trail at Churchill Park, 2007 W. Churchill St.
- Wednesday, May 24, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Ogilvie Transportation Center, 500 W. Madison
- Thursday, June 8, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m., Field Museum, Lakefront Trail
- Chicagoland Trail Webinar Series: Des Plaines River Trail Updates: May 24, noon – 1 p.m., via Zoom
- Afterglow, a Big Marsh bike race open for everyone: Saturday, May 27, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
- Streets Project film screening: Wednesday, May 31, 6 p.m. (socializing at 5:30 p.m.), at Middle Child Gallery, rm. #950 (inside Mana Contemporary), 2233 S. Throop St., presented by Lyft and FK Law. RSVP here.
- Niles Pride Rainbow Walk: Saturday, June 3, 11 a.m.; meet at Oak Park, 7640 W. Main St., for a one-mile walk/roll/ride around the neighborhood followed by a picnic in the park.
- How to Design for Bikes: Wednesday, June 7, 5:30 p.m.; Daley Plaza; a bike ride through downtown Chicago discussing key pieces of biking infrastructure and design; organized by Chicago, Bike Grid Now!
- Streets Calling Ride: Saturday, June 24, 10 a.m., start at McCormick Place, end location/celebration, 12-3 p.m., the Promontory, 5311 S. Lake Park Ave. W.
COMMUNITY RIDES AND EVENTS IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES
- Arlington Heights Bicycle and Pedestrian Commission: Saturday, May 20, Arlington Heights Community Bike Ride
- Bike Palatine: Tuesdays & Thursdays Casual Rides
- Bike to School Day events in Batavia, Warrenville, Elmhurst, Elgin, Bartlett, Palatine, Schaumburg, Wheaton, Brookfield, Algonquin, Arlington Heights
- Bike Walk Wilmette: Saturday, May 13, Bike collection with Working Bikes at the Gillson Beach parking lot.
- Chicago Area Tandem Society: Sunday, May 14, Ride to the Beach (starts in Aurora)
- Cycle Brookfield: Friday, May 5, First Friday Social Slow Ride
- Elgin Community Bikes: Friday, May 5, Full Moon Ride; Wednesday, May 17, Ride of Silence; Thursday, May 25, Bike Fabulous
- Elmhurst Bicycle Club: Wednesday, May 17, Ride of Silence
- Evanston Bike Club: Wednesday, May 17, Ride of Silence
- Friends of Cycling in Elk Grove: Wednesday, May 17, Ride of Silence; Tuesday, May 23, Cycling Without Age Presentation
- Glen Ellyn Park District, Policy Dept. & Library: Saturday, May 20, Glen Ellyn Bike Rodeo
- Village of Schaumburg (celebrates bike month in June): Saturday, June 3, Fahrrad Tour von Schaumburg; Wednesday, June 21, Bike to Work Day
If your community doesn’t have any events planned, it may help to encourage your local municipality to start planning. Or, if you know people who are willing to help, you can organize your own event.
SIGN UP FOR ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE’S BICYCLE COMMUTER CHALLENGE
Starting May 15, the Challenge is a month-long biking competition where Chicagoland organizations compete to see who can earn the most points by riding their bike.
It’s free to participate! Just sign up, ride your bike, and watch the points roll in.
GET SUPPORT FOR YOUR OWN BIKE MONTH EVENT
If you’re part of a group that is thinking of organizing a bike-related event during Chicago Bike Month, you might be inspired by reading through this extensive list of event ideas.
Also, Active Transportation Alliance is thrilled to offer a series of mini-stipends to support advocacy work and community-based events that celebrate biking during Bike Month — and beyond.
If you’re putting on a Bike Month activity, share it with us and we’ll post the event here or link to it.
LEARN MORE
During Bike Month and beyond, consider supporting our non-profit community bikes shops. These shops not only provide affordable repairs and sell used bikes, but they also play an essential role in promoting how cycling helps create prosperous, healthy, and equitable communities.
Also, Chicago Family Biking offers an extensive list of family-oriented bike rides taking place throughout Chicagoland in coming months.
Looking for some tips that will make your Chicagoland biking trips safer and easier? Here’s a good place to start.
Here are a couple of good articles for people new to biking from our long-time sponsor, REI:
And be sure to check out Active Trans’ massive list of links and resources to help you learn more about walking, biking, and using transit in the Chicago region.
Check back to learn about all the activities and how to get involved in creating a better region for biking.
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