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]
After a 2020 hiatus, Chicago’s biggest and best bike ride returns September 5 amid a cycling boom
Fifth Third Bike the Drive provides a perfect opportunity to reconnect with friends and family while enjoying fresh air, wide open spaces, and tremendous views of the lake and skyline.
CHICAGO, June 9, 2021 — After the event was cancelled last year because of the pandemic, Fifth Third Bike the Drive has returned with a renewed level of excitement by people eager to get out and enjoy the best the region has to offer. The event, which is celebrating its 20th year, will hold a special allure for many who rekindled their love of biking during the past year as bikes became their go-to mode of transportation.
Held by the Active Transportation Alliance — a non-profit organization dedicated to making walking, biking, and transit safer, more convenient, and more equitable — the event will offer nearly five hours of car-free riding alongside the city’s most treasured asset, Lake Michigan.
“After such a difficult year, this is a great moment for Chicago when so many people can safely experience the utter joy of biking with 20,000+ of their neighbors on Lakeshore Drive. Even better, participants can feel proud that they’re supporting efforts to make walking, biking, and transit safe and easy options for getting around Chicagoland,” said Amy Rynell, executive director of Active Transportation Alliance. “Cancelling the event in 2020 and losing the registration revenue made for a challenging year for Active Trans. We deeply appreciate Fifth Third’s commitment to this event — and especially their full support last year, despite the event’s cancellation.”
This 20th annual Fifth Third Bike the Drive will kick off at 5:30 a.m. when people can ride between Bryn Mawr Avenue on the north and 57th Street on the south. The event includes a festival with booths from 8 a.m. until noon. Participants are encouraged to begin riding by 7 a.m. to enjoy the car-free riding as long as possible. 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. These riders will get a 30-Mile Challenge commemorative medal.
“Fifth Third Bank is excited to bring people together and reintroduce them to one of the best experiences in the region — one that we were so sad to miss in 2020,” said Mark Hoppe, Region President of Fifth Third Bank (Chicago). “This is just one of the many shared events and commitments we continue to support. We love building community and we love supporting a highly effective organization like Active Trans that’s creating a healthier, safer region with better transportation options.”
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. Preparations for the event will align with Chicago’s re-opening framework and will strictly adhere to local and state coronavirus guidelines.
We recognize guidance is likely to change between now and September 2021. For this reason, the event will provide specific guidelines to registered participants in the weeks leading up to the ride.
Pricing for participation is lower for early registrants. Details are available on the registration site.
Non-profit organizations and community groups interested in bringing youth (17 years of age and younger), who would not otherwise be able to participate in the event, are invited to apply for complimentary registrations. Learn more at 53bikethedrive.org.
Photos available upon request.
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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
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 March 31, 2021, Fifth Third had $207 billion in assets and operated 1,098 full-service banking centers and 2,383 ATMs with Fifth Third branding 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 March 31, 2021, had $464 billion in assets under care, of which it managed $58 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.” Fifth Third Bank was established in 1858. Deposit and Credit products are offered by Fifth Third Bank, National Association. Member FDIC.