#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.
Ward 1/6/7 Bike Plan Meeting
Don’t miss this generational opportunity to advocate for better biking and safer streets in Evanston!
Tips to maximize your impact at the meetings:
#1: Suggest specific corridors and improvements.
“We need protected bike lanes on Main St from the Channel to Ridge for better east-west connectivity.”
“Install a bike and pedestrian path along Sheridan Road from Calvary Cemetery to Clark Square Park to extend our lakefront trail.”
“Upgrade the Church and Davis Street lanes downtown with concrete barriers to stop illegal parking by cars/ trucks.”
“Create a greenway on Lincoln/Harrison Street connecting Skokie’s Old Orchard Trail to Sheridan Road and Northwestern.”
#2: Emphasize comprehensive and high-quality design standards.
“Evanston needs a bike network for All Ages and Abilities.”
“Paint is not protection. Busy roads need protected lanes, not just signs and ‘shared lane’ markings.”
“We need raised crosswalks, bus boarding islands, and protected bike lanes/intersections included in all major street projects.”
“Neighborhood greenways, protected lanes, and off-street paths are safe and comfortable for the entire population, from children to seniors, enabling cycling to become a viable daily transportation mode for everyone.”
#3: Be prepared to address potential concerns thoughtfully and positively.
“Studies show 2/3rds of people are interested in biking but are concerned about safety.”
“Bike lanes reduce parking/road congestion and sidewalk riding, making our streets safer for everyone including drivers and pedestrians.”
“Over half of all car trips in the US are less than 3 miles, equivalent to a 20-minute or less bike ride. With the same door-to-door convenience of cars, converting even a fraction of these trips to bikes would bring huge societal benefits.”
“Biking is good for our planet, our health, and our local economy.”
“A bike is affordable transportation for those who cannot afford the $12,000 average annual cost of car ownership.”
Make sure your voice is heard!
Bring a neighbor, bring a friend, and let's pack these meetings!
March 2026 Meeting
Are you passionate about making Evanston a more accessible, sustainable, and connected city? On the second Tuesday of each month, we host a meeting at Evanston Public Library to discuss and plan local transportation advocacy efforts. Whether you’re a bus or rail commuter, a biking enthusiast, or simply someone who believes in safer streets, your voice matters. We discuss current transit projects, stay up to date on local policy changes, and brainstorm creative solutions to improve mobility for everyone in our community.
After the business is done, the conversation continues! Walk or roll with us to a nearby bar/restaurant for our post-meeting Happy Hour, a laid-back opportunity to connect over drinks and good food. It’s the perfect space to unwind, network, or just to make new friends who share your vision for a vibrant Evanston. Come for the advocacy, stay for the community. We hope you’ll join us!
Please note, due to previously scheduled events in the library, the March Meeting will be held in the first floor Small Meeting Room instead of our usual third-floor space.
April 2026 Meeting
Are you passionate about making Evanston a more accessible, sustainable, and connected city? On the second Tuesday of each month, we host a meeting at Evanston Public Library to discuss and plan local transportation advocacy efforts. Whether you’re a bus or rail commuter, a biking enthusiast, or simply someone who believes in safer streets, your voice matters. We discuss current transit projects, stay up to date on local policy changes, and brainstorm creative solutions to improve mobility for everyone in our community.
After the business is done, the conversation continues! Walk or roll with us to a nearby bar/restaurant for our post-meeting Happy Hour, a laid-back opportunity to connect over drinks and good food. It’s the perfect space to unwind, network, or just to make new friends who share your vision for a vibrant Evanston. Come for the advocacy, stay for the community. We hope you’ll join us!
Our April Meeting will be held in the third floor Falcon Room.
April 2026 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.
May 2026 Bike Ride
Pedal through Evanston and the North Shore as part of this collaboration between ETA and Downtown Evanston. From May through October, we're bringing you monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit!
All of the rides will start and end in Fountain Square. The rides are free, but please register in advance for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage-it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
May 2026 Meeting
Are you passionate about making Evanston a more accessible, sustainable, and connected city? On the second Tuesday of each month, we host a meeting at Evanston Public Library to discuss and plan local transportation advocacy efforts. Whether you’re a bus or rail commuter, a biking enthusiast, or simply someone who believes in safer streets, your voice matters. We discuss current transit projects, stay up to date on local policy changes, and brainstorm creative solutions to improve mobility for everyone in our community.
After the business is done, the conversation continues! Walk or roll with us to a nearby bar/restaurant for our post-meeting Happy Hour, a laid-back opportunity to connect over drinks and good food. It’s the perfect space to unwind, network, or just to make new friends who share your vision for a vibrant Evanston. Come for the advocacy, stay for the community. We hope you’ll join us!
Our May Meeting will be held in the first floor Small Meeting Room.
2026 Ride of Silence
The Ride of Silence, held during National Bike Month, is a silent, slow-roll procession to honor vulnerable road users who have been killed or injured while cycling on public streets. Cyclists from across the globe take to the roads this night in unity. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. You can read Jeff Balch’s article in the Evanston Roundtable about the 2024 Ride of Silence here: https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/05/16/ride-of-silence-honors-cyclists-killed-while-biking/
This is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no registration fees. We will depart from Wheel & Sprocket at 1027 Davis St in Evanston, traverse both Evanston and Skokie over a distance of approximately ten miles, before returning back to where we started. This event is held in collaboration with Skokie Bike Network.
February 2026 Meeting
At ETA’s February meeting we’ll have a working session dedicated to transportation issues, including our support for a CTA Yellow Line Station.
Followed by Happy Hour at Ridgeville Tavern.
Bike Plan Feedback Meeting- Crown
7–9 PM Tuesday, February 3rd at Crown Center, 1801 Main St with a virtual attendance option: meet.google.com/cpw-ejrt-hsp
Tips to maximize your impact at the meetings:
#1: Suggest specific corridors and improvements.
“We need protected bike lanes on Main St from the Channel to Ridge for better east-west connectivity.”
“Install a bike and pedestrian path along Sheridan Road from Calvary Cemetery to Clark Square Park to extend our lakefront trail.”
“Upgrade the Church and Davis Street lanes downtown with concrete barriers to stop illegal parking by cars/ trucks.”
“Create a greenway on Lincoln/Harrison Street connecting Skokie’s Old Orchard Trail to Sheridan Road and Northwestern.”
#2: Emphasize comprehensive and high-quality design standards.
“Evanston needs a bike network for All Ages and Abilities.”
“Paint is not protection. Busy roads need protected lanes, not just signs and ‘shared lane’ markings.”
“We need raised crosswalks, bus boarding islands, and protected bike lanes/intersections included in all major street projects.”
“Neighborhood greenways, protected lanes, and off-street paths are safe and comfortable for the entire population, from children to seniors, enabling cycling to become a viable daily transportation mode for everyone.”
#3: Be prepared to address potential concerns thoughtfully and positively.
“Studies show 2/3rds of people are interested in biking but are concerned about safety.”
“Bike lanes reduce parking/road congestion and sidewalk riding, making our streets safer for everyone including drivers and pedestrians.”
“Over half of all car trips in the US are less than 3 miles, equivalent to a 20-minute or less bike ride. With the same door-to-door convenience of cars, converting even a fraction of these trips to bikes would bring huge societal benefits.”
“Biking is good for our planet, our health, and our local economy.”
“A bike is affordable transportation for those who cannot afford the $12,000 average annual cost of car ownership.”
Make sure your voice is heard!
Bring a neighbor, bring a friend, and let's pack these meetings on Jan 27 and Feb 3 to support a bike-friendly future for Evanston.
Bike Plan Feedback Meeting- James Park
The first public feedback meeting for the Evanston Bike Plan Update will now be at the James Park Fieldhouse 2133 Mulford St from 5–8 PM Tuesday, January 27th. This was the meeting previously scheduled for the Prieto Center.
Second meeting details remain the same as before:
6–9 PM Tuesday, February 3rd at Crown Center, 1801 Main St with a virtual attendance option: meet.google.com/cpw-ejrt-hsp
Tips to maximize your impact at the meetings:
#1: Suggest specific corridors and improvements.
“We need protected bike lanes on Main St from the Channel to Ridge for better east-west connectivity.”
“Install a bike and pedestrian path along Sheridan Road from Calvary Cemetery to Clark Square Park to extend our lakefront trail.”
“Upgrade the Church and Davis Street lanes downtown with concrete barriers to stop illegal parking by cars/ trucks.”
“Create a greenway on Lincoln/Harrison Street connecting Skokie’s Old Orchard Trail to Sheridan Road and Northwestern.”
#2: Emphasize comprehensive and high-quality design standards.
“Evanston needs a bike network for All Ages and Abilities.”
“Paint is not protection. Busy roads need protected lanes, not just signs and ‘shared lane’ markings.”
“We need raised crosswalks, bus boarding islands, and protected bike lanes/intersections included in all major street projects.”
“Neighborhood greenways, protected lanes, and off-street paths are safe and comfortable for the entire population, from children to seniors, enabling cycling to become a viable daily transportation mode for everyone.”
#3: Be prepared to address potential concerns thoughtfully and positively.
“Studies show 2/3rds of people are interested in biking but are concerned about safety.”
“Bike lanes reduce parking/road congestion and sidewalk riding, making our streets safer for everyone including drivers and pedestrians.”
“Over half of all car trips in the US are less than 3 miles, equivalent to a 20-minute or less bike ride. With the same door-to-door convenience of cars, converting even a fraction of these trips to bikes would bring huge societal benefits.”
“Biking is good for our planet, our health, and our local economy.”
“A bike is affordable transportation for those who cannot afford the $12,000 average annual cost of car ownership.”
Make sure your voice is heard!
Bring a neighbor, bring a friend, and let's pack these meetings on Jan 27 and Feb 3 to support a bike-friendly future for Evanston.
January 2026 Meeting
At ETA’s January meeting we’ll discuss our bike ride and transit hike schedule for 2026 and set organizational goals for the year.
Followed by Happy Hour at Ridgeville Tavern.
2025 End of Year Party
There is no ticket/entry cost. Food and beverage available for individual purchase.
Plenty of capacity so feel free to bring a friend or +1.
Let’s enjoy good company over beer, reflect on recent accomplishments, and celebrate our shared vision for a safer, more sustainable, and better connected Evanston by foot, bike, and transit.
At 7:30PM we will have brief guest presentations, including Noreen Edwards and Mark Metz, who will be recounting their cross country bike ride which raised funds for YMCA’s Men's Residence affordable housing project
November 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library, Community Room 107, to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
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…
October 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library, Community Room 107, to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
October 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
Bike The Ridge 2025
Ridge Avenue will be closed to ALL vehicular traffic between Howard and Church Streets. Bicycles are not allowed on Ridge Avenue at any other time, so come out and enjoy this non-competitive, City-sponsored special event!
Participants will enjoy live music, food trucks, and bike repairs at Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St. Children under age 18 are required to wear bike helmets per City of Evanston ordinance.
Community members are invited to join for the official start of Bike the Ridge at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Howard Street.
CANCELED: September 2025 Meeting
We will not have a September monthly meeting. Members are encouraged to attend the Open House at ETHS in support of Church St Protected Bike Lanes which is at the time of our usual meeting.
September 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
August 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library, Community Room 107, to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
August 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
July 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library, Community Room 107, to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
July 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
June 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library, Community Room 107, to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
June 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
2025 Ride of Silence
On Wed. May 21st at 7:00 PM, the Ride of Silence will traverse and unite the globe as nothing before it. Cyclists will take to the roads in a silent procession to honor cyclists who have been killed or injured while cycling on public roadways. Although cyclists have a legal right to share the road with motorists, the motoring public often isn't aware of these rights, and sometimes not aware of the cyclists themselves.
In 2003, Chris Phelan organized the first Ride of Silence in Dallas after endurance cyclist Larry Schwartz was hit by the mirror of a passing bus and was killed. (Read the full history here...)
(Read Jeff Balch’s article about last year’s ride: https://evanstonroundtable.com/2024/05/16/ride-of-silence-honors-cyclists-killed-while-biking/)
The Ride of Silence is a free ride that asks its cyclists to ride no faster than 12 mph, wear helmets, follow the rules of the road and remain silent during the ride. There are no registration fees. The ride, which is held during National Bike Month, aims to raise the awareness of motorists, police and city officials that cyclists have a legal right to the public roadways. The ride is also a chance to show respect for and honor the lives of those who have been killed or injured.
This ride departs from Wheel & Sprocket 1027 Davis St in Evanston, traverses both Evanston and Skokie, before returning back to where we started. Event in collaboration with Skokie Bike Network.
May 2025 Meeting
Join us the second Tuesday of each month at Evanston Public Library to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan our Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Afterwards, we will bike or walk to a local business for an optional happy hour!
May 2025 Evanston Rides
Get ready to pedal into 2025 as part of Downtown Evanston's collaboration with the Evanston Transit Alliance and Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. From May through October, we're bringing you two fantastic series of monthly bike rides that promise fun, fitness, and a whole lot of community spirit! The adult rides will be led by Evanston Transit Alliance, and the family rides will be led by Chicago Family Biking/Evanston Kidical Mass. All of the rides will either start, end, or pass through some part of Downtown Evanston. All rides are free, but please register in advance here for any dates that you plan to ride so that we can get an approximate head-count. Helmets are required on all rides.
For questions, please email info@DowntownEvanston.org.
Downtown Evanston is easily accessible by bike, bus or train! If you're driving into Downtown Evanston with your bike for one of the adult rides, we recommend parking in the Sherman Plaza Self Park garage--it's only a block away from Fountain Square.
April 2025 Meeting
We continue to meet in the winter- Join us the first Tuesday of each month to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan next year’s Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Meeting locations vary by month so please double check our website, where we’ll post the venue up to a week beforehand. Then walk, roll, or ride your way on down to support ETA and a local business!
March 2025 Meeting
New Location! Meeting at Evanston Main Library (First Floor Community Room #107) followed by Happy Hour at Ridgeville Tavern. Join us in the winter on the first Tuesday of each month to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan next year’s Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Meeting locations vary by month so please double check our website, where we’ll post the venue up to a week beforehand. Then walk, roll, or ride your way on down to support ETA and a local business!
Feb 2025 Meeting
We continue to meet in the winter- Join us the first Tuesday of each month to discuss local advocacy efforts, plan next year’s Evanston Rides events, and socialize with fellow community members. Team up on important Complete Street, Bike Trail, or Public Transit improvement projects. Meeting locations vary by month so please double check our website, where we’ll post the venue up to a week beforehand. Then walk, roll, or ride your way on down to support ETA and a local business!
Bike The Ridge
Ridge Avenue will be closed to vehicular traffic between Howard and Church Streets. Bicycles are not allowed on Ridge Avenue at any other time, so come out and enjoy this non-competitive, City-sponsored special event!
Participants will enjoy live music, food trucks, and bike repairs at Ridgeville Park, 908 Seward St. Community members are invited to join for the official start of Bike the Ridge at 9 a.m. at the intersection of Ridge Avenue and Howard Street.