Bike the Drive 2026: Chicago Route, Closures and CTA Reroutes

CHICAGO (WLS) — Thousands of bike riders are set to take over DuSable Lake Shore Drive on Sunday for the 25th annual Bike the Drive.

The popular Labor Day weekend event is expected to create traffic headaches for some drivers traveling to and around the lakefront.

Bike the Drive is organized by the Active Transportation Alliance, a nonprofit group that works to improve conditions for bicycling, walking and public transit.

Participants will ride a stretch of DuSable Lake Shore Drive spanning from Hyde Park on the South Side to Edgewater on the North Side.

This year’s event will also feature several new additions, including DJs at rest stops, a family fun zone at the festival and a mini golf course.

There will be the post-ride festival at Butler Field in Grant Park.

The ride officially kicks off at 6:30 a.m.

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Riders can enter DuSable Lake Shore Drive at any one of the following locations:

DuSable Lake Shore Drive will close to car traffic from 6 a.m. until 11:45 a.m., from Hollywood Avenue south to 59th Street.

Drivers will be able to access the museum campus via 18th Street and can access Navy Pier via Illinois Street.

Northbound Stevenson approaching Martin Luther King Drive will be closed for the drive. By 5 a.m. all lanes on northbound Stevenson will be closed.

All northbound Stevenson traffic will be diverted to the Martin Luther King Drive Exit.

The Stevenson will be fully opened by noon Sunday.