June Adult Social Ride
Join our free social rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, andregister ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Lincoln-Harrison Family Ride
Join us for a family friendly bike event in support of a safe and direct east-west cycling route for North Evanston. A neighborhood greenway along Lincoln and Harrison Streets would connect Central St businesses, schools, Metra and CTA stations, parks, Northwestern University, the new Ryan Field, the Sheridan Road protected bike lanes, and the Old Orchard, Channel and Lakefront Trails.
All ages and abilities are welcome!
Questions can be directed to Kelly@macksbikeandgoods.com
Summer Transit Hike
Who says you need a car to reach and explore the great outdoors? Our transit hikes are seasonal excursions to forest preserves, river trails, and other special outdoor destinations. The trips are organized around existing public transit options, Metra, CTA, and Pace, showing how outdoor adventure is accessible to anyone without the hassle of driving or parking.
These are low-stakes, fun, and free group experience (outside of purchasing your own ticket/fare). Rain or shine, so bring boots and a jacket depending on the weather! There’s an optional post-hike lunch back in Downtown Evanston afterward.
July Adult Social Ride
Join our free community rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, and register ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Bike the Stars Family Ride
Attend the Chicago Stars women’s soccer game at Martin Stadium on the Northwestern campus. The Evanston ride will leave at 4:00PM from Baker Park in the 3rd Ward at the intersection of Forest & Keeney, and head north along the lakefront trail.
We have a link for purchasing tickets with the group or feel free to buy tickets in your own preferred section. Bring the whole family and join with friends for soccer fun on the lakefront, by bike!
August Adult Social Ride
Join our free community rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, and register ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
September Adult Social Ride
Join our free community rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, and register ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
October Adult Social Ride
Join our free community rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, and register ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
End of Year Celebration
Let’s enjoy each other’s company, reflect on recent advocacy accomplishments, and celebrate our shared vision for a safer, more sustainable, and better connected Evanston. No ticket or entry price, but please RSVP in advance below. We’ll have a raffle to raise funds in support of ETA’s mission. Food and beverage available for individual purchase.
Ride of Silence
The Ride of Silence, held annually during National Bike Month, is a silent, slow-roll procession to honor those who have been killed or injured while cycling in our community. Cyclists from across the globe take to the roads this night in unity every year, with an estimated 400+ rides across multiple continents.
This is a free ride which goes no faster than 12 mph. All participants must wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. The route is roughly 10 miles taking approximately one hour total, traversing both Evanston and Skokie, before returning back to where we started. This event is held in collaboration with Skokie Bike Network.
May Adult Social Ride
Join our free community rides for adults of all speeds and abilities, exploring the beauty of Evanston and the North Shore. Meet us at Fountain Square at 5:30PM on the first Tuesday of each month (May through October). Please bring a helmet and a bike light to be sure you get home safely, and register ahead of time here with Downtown Evanston, our event sponsor.
This ride will end with an optional happy hour at Ridgeville Tavern in downtown Evanston, where we draw for a $25 Evanston E-Gift Card and all those in attendance can enjoy a 10% discount on food & beverage purchases.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Spring Transit Hike
Who says you need a car to reach and explore the great outdoors? With our Transit Hikes series, the best trails are just a train or bus ride away. We curate seasonal excursions that take you from Evanston to beautiful forest preserves, river trails, and hidden green spaces of the North Shore and Chicago. It’s the perfect way to discover new destinations without the hassle of parking or traffic.
These hikes are part navigation workshop, part nature walk. We’ll show you exactly how to utilize the CTA, Metra, and Pace to access leisure spots. Whether you’re a seasoned hiker or just looking for a breath of fresh air, grab your Ventra card and lace up your boots. You must purchase your own bus/train ticket(s) and bring footwear fit for potentially uneven terrain. And we’ll be hiking rain or shine, so bring a jacket if you need!
The full Transit Hike schedule will be published in March.
Meet & Greet: Life After Cars
We’re so excited to be hosting Sarah Goodyear and Doug Gordon, co-hosts of the hit podcast The War on Cars and authors of the national bestseller Life After Cars: Freeing Ourselves from the Tyranny of the Automobile.
Meet & Greet: Talk to the authors, ask your burning questions and hear the stories behind the book.
Book Signing: Copies of Life After Cars will be available for purchase and signing.
Support Pro-Bike Businesses: This event is sponsored by Booked Evanston and Sketchbook Brewery, champions of the Chicago Ave Protected Bike Lane project.
Whether you’re a passionate cyclist, a transit enthusiast, or just an advocate for safer streets in your neighborhood, come grab a pint and connect at this special, FREE event! RSVP Below, space is limited:
#93 Dodge Bus Crawl
Saturday, February 28th we’re celebrating the extension of CTA Route #93 to Logan Square with a bus crawl! Like a bar crawl, but using a bus to get between stops, we’ll visit several bars and breweries while talking about transportation advocacy and raising awareness (and ridership) for this improved service!
Schedule
12:00 Noon: Depart Davis CTA station bus stop
Benson Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
Stop #1, ~12:25 PM: Cali’s Corner
2800 W Touhy Ave, Chicago, IL 60645
www.caliscorner.co
Stop #2, ~2:10 PM: Nighthawk
4744 N Kimball Ave, Chicago, IL 60625
www.nighthawkchicago.com
Stop #3, ~3:50 PM: Burning Bush Brewery
4014 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618
www.burningbushbrewery.com
Stop #4, ~5:30 PM: Harding Tavern
2732 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60647
www.thehardingtavern.com
Stop #5, ~7:45 PM: Ridgeville Tavern
1520 Sherman Ave, Evanston, IL 60201
www.ridgevilletavern.com
Food and non-alcoholic drinks will also be available at almost all of the stops. Come for all or just a part of the bus crawl, heading back to Evanston early via the #93 at any time.
Besides buying your own drinks/food, the only required purchase is a CTA Day Pass that will cover your bus fare for the entire event. These 1-Day Passes can be purchased for $5 via the Ventra App or at Ventra Ticket Vending Machines (TVM's).
Please drink responsibly and plan ahead to use transit, a taxi/ridehail, or designate a sober driver on your way to/from this event.
Fall 2025 Transit Hike
Your guide to getting out to nature without a car! Our first-ever Transit Hike will depart Evanston on UP-N Train #807 at 8:55AM, arriving to Fort Sheridan at 9:31AM to see the Openlands Lakeshore Preserve and Overlook, with a panoramic view of Lake Michigan at (hopefully!) peak fall colors. We’ll return on UP-N Train #814 at 12:48PM and get back to Evanston between 1:20 and 1:25PM…