EDGEWATER — Cyclists will get the chance to strut their stuff this Saturday at the first Edgewater Bike Parade, which organizers say could draw 50-100 participants.
Sponsored by the Go Edgewater initiative, participants are encouraged to deck out their bicycles — and themselves — with decorations in order to win prizes for best dressed cyclist (for an individual, couple and family) and best decorated bike.
Grand prize winners will get tickets to Taste of Bryn Mawr on June 25, while others may win an Edgewater cookbook, neighborhood-themed posters (designed by a local artist), beach bags, T-shirts, bike lights, magnets and more, according to Maggie Melin, the Go project coordinator for Active Transportation Alliance.
Beginning at 9 a.m., cyclists will meet at the Thorndale Red Line station, where an hour later the parade will begin traveling westbound on Thorndale Avenue to its stopping point at Senn High School on Glenwood Avenue.
Melin said she is still looking for local musicians to volunteer their melodic skills.
Waiting at the end of the route will be a block party with DJ Dan the Bicycle Man, a bike rodeo, raffles and free bike tune-ups. The bike rodeo will have multiple obstacle course stations and activities for kids to learn bike handling and safety skills, Melin said.
Refreshments will be provided by Whole Foods, Metropolis Coffee and Active Transportation Alliance.
Recently, cycling has become a hot topic in the North Side neighborhood.
Last week, Ald. Harry Osterman (48th) and Michael Amsden of the Chicago Department of Transportation held a community forum where they announced plans to install a contra-flow bikeway along sections of Glenwood Avenue where auto traffic goes only one direction.
According to community demographics, 4-7 percent of people in Edgewater bike to work three to five times more a week on average compared to the rest of the city.
Anyone interested in playing music for the event should contact Melin at maggie@activetrans.org.
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