Bike the Drive is an end of summer tradition enjoyed by thousands of Chicago area residents. This year Metra is making getting there even easier and more environmentally friendly by adding extra service and bike cars to two of its lines on Sunday, Sept. 4.
“Our weekend ridership has continued to be strong as people consistently rely on us to provide a safe, reliable and affordable travel option for more than just their weekday commute,” said Metra Executive Director/CEO Jim Derwinski. “Adding service as well as a bike car on the UP Northwest Line and bike cars on the Metra Electric Line for Bike the Drive is one more way we can meet the needs of My Metra’s customers by trying a new service.”
Bike the Drive is Chicago’s largest cycling event. Between 6:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 4, the northbound and southbound lanes of Jean Baptiste Point Du Sable Lake Shore Drive will be closed to cars and open to bikes. The 30-mile route, which provides a unique way to enjoy sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline, stretches from 57th Street on the city’s South Side to Hollywood Avenue on the North Side.
Metra will offer one extra inbound train on the UP Northwest Line, departing from Crystal Lake at 5:15 a.m. and arriving in downtown Chicago at 6:40 a.m. An extra outbound train will depart from downtown’s Ogilvie Transportation Center at 1:30 p.m. Each train will be equipped with one bike car with 15 bike racks. These cars are in addition to the spaces in the priority seating area of each ADA-accessible railcar that can also be used to secure bicycles.
On the Metra Electric Line, at least one bike car with eight bike racks will be added to Trains 8302 and 802, in addition to the spaces in the priority seating area of the accessible cars. Train 8302 is scheduled to depart from South Chicago (93rd Street) at 5:39 a.m. and arrive at downtown’s Millennium Station at 6:16 a.m. Train 802 will depart from University Park at 5:40 a.m. and arrive at Millennium at 6:49 a.m. For the trip home, Metra Electric trains 815, 8317, 8321, and 823 will be equipped with a bike car. Detailed schedule information for all Metra lines can be found at metra.com.
Funds raised through Bike the Drive benefit the Active Transportation Alliance, a non-profit advocacy organization working to improve conditions for walking, biking, and public transit throughout Chicagoland. For more information and to register for the event, go to the Bike the Drive website: https://bikethedrive.org/