'Bike The Ridge' Opens Evanston Avenue To Cyclists Sunday Morning

EVANSTON, IL — Ridge Avenue in Evanston will be closed to motorists and open to cyclists for four hours Sunday as part of the annual Bike the Ridge event.

Mayor Daniel Biss is scheduled to kick off the event at 9 a.m. at Howard Street and Ridge Avenue, which will be open to bike riders until 1 p.m.

Live music, food trucks and bike repairs will be on offer at Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St., organizers announced.

The city-sponsored event, which is also supported by the Ridgeville Park District and NorthShore University HealthSystem, was first held in 2008 to mark the completion of a Ridge Avenue repaving project.

No motorized bicycles or skateboards are permitted at the event, according to city staff, and city code requires everyone under age 18 to wear a helmet while riding.

Residents along Ridge Avenue planning to use their car before 2 p.m. on Sunday should park on a side street prior to 8 a.m., staff said.

Bicycles are normally forbidden on Ridge Avenue south of Emerson Street, allowing for four lanes of vehicular traffic to proceed at well above the posted 25 mph speed limit on the heavily trafficked thoroughfare.