Bike Chicago- Chicago, IL

Published On: Mar 14, 2007


Out of all of the premier events that go on in the Chicago, Illinois area every year, one of the most exciting events is the annual Bike Chicago. This citywide initiative is an effort to make the entire city of Chicago more bicycle friendly by not only promoting the benefits of biking, but also stressing the importance of making the city more amenable to the presence of the cyclists themselves. It is a great event sponsored by the magnificent city of Chicago that will, hopefully, begin to attract more national attention and spread the word about the importance of changing the face of transportation within our communities.

Bike Chicago began in its rudimentary form in 1991, when the city of Chicago decided to hold its 1st annual Bike to Work day. From there, and with the growing popularity of bicycling as both a sport and preferred transportation mode for many, the program evolved into a Bike Weekend, to a month of biking, to the five month time-frame that now encompasses the Bike Chicago program and event. From May until September of this year, Chicagoans and non-residents of the city alike are encouraged to use bicycles as a primary method of transportation. From destinations such as school, work, and recreation areas, people are encouraged, through the message of the Bike Chicago program, to cycle their way there rather than drive.

The City of Chicago recognized early on the detrimental effects of so many cars and trucks on the road to our environment, as well as the toll that all of this was taking upon our health. So they decided to fight back with the Bike Chicago event annually. Leaders in Chicago identified the many economic, environmental, and physical benefits that go along with everyone getting out of their cars and onto bicycles for transportation, and have turned those positive messages into one of the most visible and recognizable events that the city sponsors.

This year, Bike Chicago will feature even more in the way of interest to some residents who, perhaps, have not been involved with the highly successful program in the past. Bike Chicago will feature tours on bikes of various neighborhoods of interest to both those who live in Chicago and those from outside of the city. The event will also feature classes on cycling and basic bicycle maintenance. There is sure to be something during the Bike Chicago programming to appeal to many people from varying walks of life.

Another great reward of the high visibility of Bike Chicago is that it gives the event planners and the City of Chicago the forum from which to stress biker safety. The most basic rules to follow to be safe when cycling are to wear a helmet and maintain an awareness of your surroundings at all time. Bike Chicago also encourages participants to yield to pedestrians, stay off sidewalks, and to always check your bike’s maintenance, such as brakes and tires. All of these things help to ensure a safe participation pattern in the Bike Chicago events, and the entire cycling community.

Bike Chicago has been a highly influential and successful event in Chicago for the past 17 years and looks to continue as such for numerous years to come. As the popularity of biking soars so will the continued successes such as these, and it is with great hope that one looks at the Bike Chicago events and wishes to see more events like this unfold nationwide.



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