
ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE’S BICYCLE COMMUTER CHALLENGE
Beginning May 27, the Bike Commuter Challenge (sponsored by Keating Law Offices) is a month-long biking competition in which 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.BIKE COMMUTER CHALLENGE CELEBRATION STATIONS
During Bike Month, join us at one or more of our pop-up hang outs at different locations. Score some swag and snacks on your afternoon commute and chat with other bike commuters, Active Transportation Alliance staff, and volunteers.- May 28, Wednesday, 4:30-6:30 p.m., 606 Trail at Damen Ave.
- June 11, Wednesday, 4:30-6:30 p.m., Museum Campus on the Lakefront Trail
- June 13, Friday, 7:30-9:30 a.m., Metra station (to be announced)
RIDE OF SILENCE 2025 ON MAY 21
This annual bicycle ride honors those who were recently injured or killed while biking or walking. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Ride of Silence.
In Chicago, riders will be gathering at Queen’s Landing at 5:30 p.m. and depart at 6 p.m. Please register if you’re participating in the Chicago ride. Active Transportation Alliance is one of the organizers for the Chicago Ride of Silence.
Each year, rides are held in a number a suburban communities.
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- Friends of Elk Grove, 6:30 – 8 p.m. @ Al Hattendorf Center, 225 E. Elk Grove Blvd.
- Elmhurst, 7 p.m. – 8:15 p.m. @ First Street in front of Elmhurst Police Station.
- Naperville, 7 p.m. @ Trader Joe’s parking lot near Rocco’s Pizza (44 W Gartner Rd, Naperville)
- Skokie Bike Network, Evanston Transit Alliance & Evanston Bicycle Club, 7 – 8:25 p.m. @ Wheel & Sprocket, 1027 Davis Street, Evanston.
- Villa Park, 6:45 p.m. @ Villa Park Police station, 40 S. Ardmore.
NATIONAL BIKE & ROLL TO SCHOOL DAY
On Wednesday, May 7, dozens of schools in Illinois will be participating in National Bike & Roll to School Day. Towns with schools participating include Bartlett, Batavia, Berwyn, Carpentersville, Chicago, Elmhurst, Evergreen Park, Palatine, Schaumburg, St. Charles, Warrenville, and West Dundee Use this website to learn which schools in your county or city are participating.BIKE MONTH HAPPENINGS IN CHICAGO
- May 29: Streets Calling Season Opener Kick-Off Ride, featuring a DJ and swag give-a-ways beforehand. Meet up at W. 24th St. and S. Federal St., Park No. 540. Meet up at 7 p.m., ride out at 8:30pm. Sponsored by Active Transportation Alliance and FK Law.
- May 7: 40th Ward Infrastructure and Development Town Hall, Waldorf School, presentation from 6 – 7:30 p.m. on all the construction and development projects happening in the 40th Ward
- May 17: Biking out Negativity bike ride, noon to 5 p.m., 3147 West Douglas Boulevard
- Biketropolis Chicago World’s 1893 World’s Fair Route for Chicago Bike Month, self-guided route will be released the final week of May.
- June 8: Uptown History Bike Tour, 1 – 2:30 pm, with 46th Ward Neighbors United and Broadway Bikes
- July 26: We Keep You Rollin’ Legacy Ride
- August 16: Street Love Ride, 8 p.m. to 10 p.m., 3147 West Douglas Boulevard
BIKE MONTH HAPPENINGS IN SUBURBAN COMMUNITIES
We’ll share more suburban events here as they become available.- May Cycle Brookfield Events
- May 2: First Friday Slow Roll Social Ride
- May 10: Spring Tune Up
- May 17: Oak to Oak 20m Member Ride
- May 4: City of Geneva Bike Rodeo, 12-2 p.m., Wheeler Park north parking lot, 822 N. First St., Geneva
- May 4: Highland Park District’s The Empire Bikes Backs Bike Ride, 9:30 – 11 a.m., Wayne Thomas Elementary School, 2939 Summit Dr., Highland Park
- May 6: Evanston Transit Alliance & Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass adult and family bike ride, Fountain Square, Evanston, 5:30 p.m.
- May 2025 Evanston Rides — Evanston Transit Alliance
- May 7 & May 8: Illinois Bike & Walk Summit in Springfield
- May 9: Ride Riverside Slow Rolls, 6 p.m., Riverside Train Station
- May 10: 1:30 pm, Metra to Union Station & group bike ride, Skokie Bike Network’s Ride to the Chicago Fire Game: Community Rides – Skokie Bike Network
- May Elgin Community Bikes Events.
- May 10: Tim-bitious ambitious ride, 10 a.m.
- May 12: Full Moon Ride, 9pm
- May 18: Far Westside Slow Roll, 11 a.m.
- May 17-18: Pedalpalooza in McHenry County, fundraiser for Heart Health and scavenger hunt around the county|
- May 17: City of Warrenville Bike Rodeo, 9am to 11 a.m., Stafford Place parking lot 28W701 Stafford Place, Warrenville
- May 18: Bike Walk Niles, Ride to the Top of the Niles Leaning Tower, 9 a.m., 8030 W Oakton St., Niles
- May 18: Project Mobility: 2025 Everybody Rides, multiple rides 6 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., St. Charles, Campton Hills Road and Peck Rd.
- May 21: Climate Action Lobby Day in Springfield
- May 30: Streamwood Biking, family friendly bike rides every other Friday
- May 31: Forest Park Bike Safety Carnival, 9 – 11 a.m., Roos Center Outdoor Pavilion, 7501 Harrison St in Forest Park
- June 1: Evanston Pedal & Play: Spring Bike Fest, 12:30–2:30 p.m., Evanston Main Library
- June 8 – June 13: Ride Illinois Grand Illinois Bike Tour
- July 13: Skokie Bike Network’s Tales from the Trails, 11 a.m. @ Sketchbook Brewery Tales from the Trails 2025 – Skokie Bike Network
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. Ride Illinois offers an interactive bike safety quiz that teaches adults, children, motorists, and truck drivers how to share the road safely. Here are a couple of good articles for people new to biking from 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.CREATE YOUR OWN BIKE MONTH EVENT
If you’re part of a group that is thinking of organizing a bike-related event next year during Chicago Bike Month, you might be inspired by reading through this extensive list of event ideas. If you’re putting on a Bike Month activity, share it with us and we’ll post the event here or link to it.Active Transportation Alliance is able to carry out its work thanks to support and donations from people like you. If you’re not a member of Active Trans, please join us. Already a member? Consider donating to ensure that this important work keeps moving forward.