MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive is a celebration of healthy, sustainable transportation. To prolong this great experience, we encourage you to leave the car at home. Instead of driving, please consider biking, using public transit or carpooling to reach the event.
If you need some advice on getting around car-free, check out the Regional Transportation Authority’s web-based Goroo trip planner. The trip planner allows you to plan trips in the Chicago region using public transit trains and buses (CTA, Metra, and Pace). It also gives driving, biking and walking directions.
When arriving at the starting point via the Lakefront Trail after 5 a.m., please cross under Lake Shore Drive at Randolph Street or at the Museum Campus and ride on Columbus Drive to the start/finish area. For your safety, you will not be allowed to cross over Lake Shore Drive at Monroe Street, Jackson Boulevard or Balbo Drive.
Hop on your bike and pedal downtown for the event! You can also take your bike on Metra trains and CTA trains and buses. (Most Metra lines offer one or more trains into Loop in time for the event. Goroo will help lead the way.)
Keep in mind, Lake Shore Drive will be closed to car traffic at 5 a.m.
• Carpooling: Combine your trips to cut down on traffic and expenses.
• Park & Ride: Drive to your local transit station and park there. This is often an easier and more affordable parking option.
• Drop-offs: Unload your riders and their bikes anytime between 4 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at the Congress Circle at Michigan Avenue.
Park at Soldier Field’s North Garage for the MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive
and pay only $10.
Thanks to the Chicago Park District and Standard Parking, you can reserve a parking space and pre-pay for your parking at this great $10 discount rate (pre-paid parking is $10 plus an additional $3.00 service fee). Go to www.soldierfield.clickandpark.com to reserve your space. Pre-paid parking allows access to the garage any time during the day.
You can get $10 same-day non-reserved parking spaces on a first-come, first-served basis and good for up to 12 hours. Cash or credit card payment will be accepted at the garage. Pay $10 parking rate on the day of the event only if you enter the garage between 4 a.m. and 10 a.m. on Sunday, May 27. After 10 a.m. the rate will be $19 for less than 4 hours and $22 for 4 -12 hours.
Here is a printable map showing the location of the North Garage. If you have additional questions, please call the Soldier Field Parking Hot-line at 312.235.7701, or go to www.soldierfieldparking.com.
Access this garage during the event via eastbound I-55, the detour and barricades will guide you north along the easternmost lane north to 18th.
Or from Roosevelt, the detour and barricades will guide you south along the westernmost lane to 18th.
Here are a few other parking garage options. Keep in mind, though, these do not offer special pricing. Always be aware of parking garage clearance heights if you stow your bike on the roof of your car. Contact the following facilities for hours, cost and overhead clearance by calling 312.616.0600:
• Grant Park North Garage; Accessible directly from Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Madison streets.
• Grant Park South Garage; Accessible directly from Michigan Avenue between Congress and Jackson streets.
• East Monroe Street Garage; Accessible only from southbound Columbus Drive between Randolph and Monroe streets.
• The Millennium Park Garage; Accessible only from southbound Columbus Drive between Randolph and Monroe streets.
Check out more parking options.
GPS coordinates for starting point:
N 41° 52.780 W 087° 37.482
16T E 448166 N 4636604
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