Links

Explore the links below for more information on biking, walking and transit.

Looking for clubs and groups that operate in a specific part of Chicagoland? Check out the In Your Community pages for more resources.  

 

Photo courtesy of Dero

 

Bicycling Resources

Crash Support Helpline Get help if you’ve been in a crash while walking or bicycling in Chicagoland.

Chicago Family Biking Empowering families to bike in Chicago with education, advocacy and community building events.

The City of Chicago Bicycle Program Learn about biking events, programs, and resources in Chicago.

Cycling Without Age A global organization that provides the elderly free rides on trishaws. Illinois has three chapters: Elk Grove Village, McHenry County, and North Shore Chicago.

Request bike racks in Chicago Request a new bike rack or search for existing racks in Chicago.

Preventing bike theft Tips for bike theft prevention

Chicago Stolen Bike Registry Report and view documented bike thefts in Chicago.

Report abandoned bikes Submit reports of abandoned bikes for pickup by the city.

Register your emergency contact Link emergency contacts to your driver’s license in case of a crash.

Bicycle Laws Learn laws, rights, and responsibilities for cyclists in Chicago.

Bike Safety Tips Find out solutions for common bike safety issues.

City of Chicago’s Bicycling Safety Videos Links to videos about biking in Chicago

Ride Illinois Nonprofit organization dedicated to improving bicycling conditions throughout Illinois

Better Streets Chicago Advocates for better walking, biking, and transit infrastructure.

Chainlink Connect with a community of more than 9,000 bicyclists.

Windy City Cycling Club Chicago’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender bike club

Queer Cycling Chicago Recreational and social group for queers and friends/allies of queers.

Out Our Front Door Organizes overnight bike rides in the region. 

Hub312 Cycling Center Indoor bike parking, locker rooms, repair services, and bike rentals in Millennium Park.

Illinois bike shops Listings provided in an Excel spreadsheet.

Bike Lane Uprising Focused on making cycling safer by making it easy to report bike lane obstructions. 

 

Bike and Scooter Sharing

Divvy Chicago’s bike sharing system operated by the Chicago Department of Transportation.

Scooter Sharing Learn about Chicago’s scooter sharing program.

 

Local Advocacy Groups & Bike Clubs (after clicking link, scroll down)

West Suburbs

North Suburbs

South Suburbs

Chicago West & Southwest Sides

Chicago South Side

Chicago North Side

 

Bike Education

Blackstone Bicycle Works Full-service Woodlawn bike shop and education center for area youth

Chicago Bike Ambassadors The City of Chicago’s team of bike safety and education specialists

Lesson Plans and Curricula  Educational resources for teachers on bike safety curriculum

West Town Bikes Community bicycling workshop

The Recyclery Used bicycle project seeking to restore and reuse donated and discarded bikes

Project Mobility Nonprofit commited to creating adaptive bikes for those who need them

League of American Bicyclists services in Chicago Bike safety courses and information for the Chicago area

Women Bike Chicago Group that seeks to empower more women to ride bikes for transportation and recreation

 

Trails Resources

Chicago Area Mountain Bikers Guides, forum, and information for mountain biking in the Chicago area

Cook County Forest Preserve Trails Cook County has more than 350 miles of paved and unpaved trails.

DuPage County Bikeways Homepage Explore all the bikeways in DuPage County.

DuPage County Bikeways Mapping App Real-time app locates you on bike trails using GIS data of DuPage County

DuPage County Bikeways Map PDF document showing trails and bikeways in DuPage County

Friends of the Bloomingdale Trail Explore information on the Bloomingdale Trail and The 606.

Friends of the Calumet-Sag Trail Discover 30 miles of trail running along Sag Channel and The Calumet River.

Friends of the Great Western Trails Volunteering and community information for the Great Western Trails

Grand Illinois Trail Information on this 500+ mile scenic trail 

Illinois Prairie Path A guide and information on the nation’s oldest rail-to-trail conversion

Old Plank Road Trail A 22-mile paved trail running through Chicago’s south suburbs

Salt Creek Greenway Trail Updates and information about this regional trail running through Cook and DuPage counties

Friends of the Major Taylor Trail Chicago southwestern trail connecting two forest preserves across 7 miles. Future entry point for the Cal-Sag Trail.

 

 

Commuting

Bike commuting Active Trans’ resources for bicycle commuters

Chicago Bike Map Interactive bike map for the city of Chicago

Pace Rideshare A free carpool and ridesharing service for the Chicagoland area

 

Bicycle Jobs and Services

Bike and Roll Chicago Bicycle rental and tour information

Bobby’s Bike Hike Bike rentals, group tours, and community bike shop

Dero’s Guide to Bike Parking Basic guidelines for creating bike parking 

 

Bike Shops

Bike Shops in the Active Trans member discount program Shops offering a discount to Active Trans members 

 

Bikes on Transit

CTA Bike & Ride How to bring your bike on buses and trains

Bikes on Pace How to travel on Chicago’s suburban buses with your bike

Bikes on Metra A guide to travel by Metra train with a bike and e-scooter

Watch a video How to put your bike on a CTA bus

 

Pedestrian Resources

Walk Score Discover Chicago’s most walkable communities

The Chicago Pedestrian Plan Information on making Chicago walkable

Walk to School Day — Illinois Information for celebrating National Walk to School Day

Active Trans’ Safe Routes efforts Active Trans’ work in the national movement

Illinois Dept. of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Illinois’ Safe Routes efforts

 

 

Transit Resources

CTA Chicago Transit Authority, trains and buses serving Chicago

RTA Regional Transit Authority, coordinates public transit for Northeastern Illinois

Metra Commuter rail agency, Metra trains serve Cook, DuPage, Will, Lake, Kane, and McHenry counties 

Pace Provides bus service primarily to Chicago’s suburbs

Amtrak Provides intercity passenger transportation and connects 500 destinations in 46 states 

NICTD Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, South Shore Train line from Chicago to Indiana

Transit Benefit Fare Program Employees can save on transit fares by paying pre-tax through an employer

 

Car Sharing 

Getaround  Peer-to-peer carsharing service described as an “Airbnb for cars”

Zip Car Cars parked in designated spots in some city neighborhoods you can rent by the hour

 

Blogs

Streetsblog Chicago Local news on sustainable transportation issues 

 

 

 

 Looking for more clubs and groups that operate in a specific part of Chicagoland? Check out the In Your Community pages for more resources.  

Are we missing anything? Contact ted@activetrans.org with your suggestions.