It's Not Too Late To Sign Up To Bike The Drive

By Chuck Sudo in Arts & Entertainment on May 23, 2013 6:40PM

Spots are still available for the 2013 MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive May 26, one of our picks for the best bike rides in the Chicago area.

As I wrote in that post a few weeks back, Bike the Drive rivals New York City's Five Boro Bike Tour in scope and beauty; it may eclipse the Five Boro in the latter with its scenic views of the lakefront on a car-free Lake Shore Drive.

Amazingly, the event isn't sold out. Active Transportation Alliance marketing director Ethan Spotts told Chicagoist people interested in joining the ride may sign up online until noon Saturday. You can still register on-site on the 26th, "but it’s more expensive, the lines will be long, you won’t get a T-shirt and you may miss out on precious time for car-free bicycling," Spotts said.

The event's capacity is 25,000 riders and participation has ranged between 19-20,000 riders the past six years, with a high of 22,000 riders in 2011.