Since the advent of thebicycle in the 1860s,Chicago has been distinguished as one of the premier cycling locations in theUnited States, with such public cycling destinations asGrant Park,Burnham Park and theChicago Park District'sLakefront Trail.
Early bicycles arrived in Chicago in the 1860s. By 1900, there were 54 bicycle clubs with more than 10,000 members.[1] Bicycleadvocacy has been present in Chicago since the early days of the city.Carter H. Harrison II, a mayoral candidate, was an advocate for cyclists. One of hiscampaignposters presented him as "Not the Champion Cyclist; But the Cyclists' Champion." Harrison won the mayoral election and attributed his victory to strong support from cyclists,[citation needed] and rewarded his supporters with a bike path alongSheridan Road fromEdgewater toEvanston. By the late 1890s, Chicago was the "bicycle-building capital of America". According to the 1898 Chicago Bicycle Directory, approximately two-thirds of the country's bicycles and accessories were manufactured within 150 miles (240 km) of the city.
MayorRichard J. Daley, like Harrison, was a supporter of bicycling. When he was inaugurated, the city had a limited number of bike paths. By the 1970s, Daley's administration had built a large network of lakefront bike paths, bicycle lanes on the road, a 34-mile (55 km) bicycle route and rush-hour bicycle lanes onClark Street andDearborn Street.
In the 2000s, Chicago roads and trails saw an increase in the number of bicyclists.[2] This can, in part, be attributed to mayorRichard M. Daley. Daley said, "My goal is to make the City of Chicago the mostbicycle-friendly city in the U.S." Daley created a Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Council (MBAC) in order to encourage bicycling in the city.[3]
The Council created theChicago Department of Transportation Bike Program, a multimillion-dollar program funded primarily by FederalCMAQ funds,[4] in order to achieve this end. The program, whose efforts are guided by theBike 2015 Plan, approved in June 2006, has created over 100 miles (160 km) of new bike lanes, installed 10,000bicycle racks, and installed 165 miles (266 km) of signed bike routes in 2006. The city has also sponsored events to promote biking, such asBike The Drive,Bike to Work Rally, theL.A.T.E. RideArchived 2016-12-09 at theWayback Machine, the Commuter Challenge, and many other events. In November 2001,Bicycling magazine honored Chicago as the "Best Cycling City in the United States" of cities with more than one million residents.[5]
AllChicago Transit Authority (CTA) &Pace buses are equipped with bicycle racks that accommodate two bicycles each, available for use at all times. Bicycles are allowed to board any Chicago Transit Authority train ("the 'L'"), except during the hours of 7–9 am and 4–6 pm on weekdays, up to two bikes per car. Bicycles are not allowed on trains on July 3 or 4.[6] Folding bicycles, however, are allowed on CTA vehicles at all times.[7]Metra, the commuter rail system, allows bicycles to ride onreverse commute, non-rush hour, and weekend Metra trains for no extra cost. Metra timetables list certain blackout dates and specify which trips disallow bicycles; folding bicycles are allowed at all times.[8] This policy began in 2005.
Most CTA rail stations have indoor, outdoor or outdoor sheltered bicycle parking. The Chicago Bicycle Program'sBike Parking website displays all stations and denotes the quantity and type of bicycle parking available. Most Metra stations have bicycle parking available.
Starting in 2008, high capacity bike parking was constructed at four CTA rail stations:Damen (CTA Blue Line),Sox-35th (CTA),Jefferson Park (Metra-CTA), andMidway (CTA).[9]
_(14581469364).jpg)
Divvy, abicycle sharing system, was launched on June 28, 2013, with 750 bikes at 75 stations. It has since expanded to 580 stations,[10] making it the largest bike share system in North America in area covered,[11] including 2016 expansions to near suburban communities includingEvanston andOak Park.[12] Oak Park ended its partnership with Divvy in January 2018, and the stations and bikes were subsequently removed soon after.[13]
According to the CDOT, Chicago has just over 111 miles (179 km) of dedicated bike lanes covering much of the city. There are also several miles of roads signed and marked withshared lane markings (consisting of bike andchevron symbols, or bike symbols and arrows). As of August 2008, there are approximately 27 miles (43 km) of these types of shared bike lanes throughout the city. The Milwaukee Avenue bike lane and marked shared lane is one of the most popular on-street bikeways in the city: between 2003 and 2008, the number of bicyclists riding on the street has increased 377%.[2] CDOT is counting the number of bicyclists on other city streets in 2008 and 2009.[2]
The City of Chicago publishes aBike Lane Design Guide. The Bicycle Parking Program within the CDOT Bicycle Program lists almost 8,000 bike racks at over 4,000 locations in the city limits.[15] More than half of the CTA 'L' stations have indoor or sheltered bike parking available to protect bicycles from inclement weather.[16]
TheMcDonald's Cycle Center inMillennium Park was opened on July 16, 2004, just east of the Pritzker Pavilion. The building has indoor parking for bicycles, bicycle repair, showers, rental, lockers, and a cafe.[17]
TheChicago Park District maintains an 18-milemulti-use path along Lake Michigan called theLakefront Trail.
The monthlyCritical Mass ride draws thousands of participants in the summer months. Participants gather atDaley Plaza on the last Friday of every month at 5:30 PM for a free ride.
TheLATE Ride, sponsored by theFriends of the Parks, is an annual overnight tour of Chicago neighborhoods.
Active Transportation Alliance hosts its annualBike The Drive andBoulevard Lakefront Tour.
Each summer, theMayor's Office of Special Events (MOSE) hosts Bike Chicago,[18] a series of bike friendly events around the city. MOSE and CDOT jointly operate the online calendar of events.[19]
