DuSable LSD shuts down for annual Bike the Drive: ‘It’s exhilarating’

Cyclists are taking over.

Or, at least, they took over DuSable Lake Shore Drive on a balmy Sunday morning before the oppressive afternoon heat took hold.

Around 15,000 cyclists registered for the annual Bike the Drive, where Lake Shore’s ramps are closed to allow cyclists to enjoy the road without the roar and danger of drivers.

“It’s exhilarating,” said Peter Keshen, 33, a first-time participant, about riding down DuSable Lake Shore Drive without the din of traffic.

Keshen was enjoying post-ride pancakes at Butler Field in Grant Park after completing about half of the 30-mile loop.

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Organizers shut down all of DuSable Lake Shore Drive from Hollywood to the Museum of Science and Industry.

But Keshen decided to bike only around half of it: from Grant Park, down to the museum and back again.

It’s the same route Mayor Brandon Johnson took early in the morning.

Bike the Drive has been held every year since 2002, except in 2020.

Ride organizer Amy Rynell, who’s also executive director at Active Transportation Alliance, said the ride is “about showing what’s possible with our roadways.”

When cyclists get to bike on DuSable Lake Shore Drive, they see just how long and big it is. That’s something you don’t usually notice while driving, she said.

“We could do more with them if they were not totally dedicated to cars,” Rynell said.

Marley Patel, 9, enjoyed riding with her parents and a few classmates from Fullerton to Grant Park.

The best part, she said, was stopping over the Chicago River and taking a photo with skyscrapers in the background.

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“This is the only time in your life that you take that picture,” her father Sanjkat Patel said.

Dan Martel, 45, of Irving Park, said he was playing “encouraging tunes” from his portable speaker, including: “You’re the best” from the film Karate Kid, “Lake Shore Drive” by Aliotta Haynes and Jeremiah, and the Beatle’s “Why Don’t We Do It in the Road.”

Most cyclists Sunday did not complete all 30 miles up and down the drive. About 1,000 registered riders signed up for the “30-mile challenge,” Rynell said.

Some took an easier pace.

First-time Bike the Drive rider Vicki Ling rode only three miles because she was dealing with stomach pain. “I still wanted to give it a shot,” the Streeterville resident said.

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times

Tyler Pasciak LaRiviere/Sun-Times