Tips for riding safely in traffic Register your Bike Biking around town is a great way to save money,

Obey Traffic Signals and Signs improve your quality of life, and reduce total carbon
Always stop at red lights, look ahead and anticipate.
Serial Code
emissions in Evanston. The City provides many bike
routes and designated bike lanes in an effort to make
XX123XX biking around town easy, safe and enjoyable.
Use Hand Signals The City of Evanston welcomes all bicyclists to enjoy
Hand signals are important because they communicate to others what you
intend to do, especially motorists. our paths, bike lanes and our city!
For information, please email bikes@cityofevanston.org; or call/text 847-448-4311

Ride with the Flow of Traffic

Riding against traffic is illegal and dangerous. Obey one-way signs on streets Registering your bike is a quick and easy way to protect your property and provide a
and bike lanes. record of your bike in the event it is lost or stolen. To register your bike, follow these
three easy steps:
1 Locate your bike serial number under your bike (snap a picture for your records).
2 Visit bikeevanston.org/registration to enter your serial number and complete the form.

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Dont Pass on the Right 3 Ride over to the Evanston Police Department (EPD) to pick up your green registration

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Motorists may not look for or see a bike passing on the right. sticker and affix it to your bike. EPD is located at 1454 Elmwood Ave. and is open

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24/7, 365 days a year.

Follow Lane Markings Evanston Bike Benefits

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NEVER turn left from the right lane OR continue to ride straight in a

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turn-only lane.
Get discounts and deals for bicyclists in Evanston! Bike Benefits is part of a

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national network that promotes biking and helmet use across the U.S. Learn

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more at bicyclebenefits.org. Here is a list of participating local businesses:

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Hewn Bread Lollie
Be Seen. Use Lights. 810 Dempster St., 847-869-4396 1312 Chicago Ave., 847-328-7303
The law requires cyclists to use a bright headlight and a rear reflector or hewnbread.com lollieshop.com
taillight in darkness or when visibility is poor. Using a flashing light even during Offer: 10% off all items! Offer: 10% off (excluding sales)
the day makes a cyclist more visible to others. Wear light-colored clothing with
reflective tape for extra protection. Sketchbook Brewing Company Potbelly Sandwich Works
825 Chicago Ave., 847-859-9051 630 Davis St., 847-328-1800
sketchbookbrewing.com potbelly.com
Ride in a Straight Line Offer: 10% off all items! Offer: Free cookie or fountain drink

B ik e M a p
Whenever possible, ride in a straight line to the right of traffic. Cyclists should The Wine Goddess with salad or sandwich purchase
also ride a car doors width away from parked cars.
702 Main St., 847-475-9463
winegoddess.com
Offer: 10% off all retail items!

Give an Audible Warning

Bikes and Transit
Before passing, give a clear signal by using your voice, bell or horn. Cyclists BICYCLE
should also give the person they are passing time to respond. Be sure to FRIENDLY
watch for their reaction. To ensure you can hear audible signals, do NOT wear
COMMUNITY
headphones while biking.
SILVER
While many commuters turn to public transportation as an affordable alternative to driving a car, the bus
and/or train stop may be a considerable distance from your final destination. With that in mind, public
B Choose the Best Way to Turn Left transit allows bikes on buses and trains, and almost all stops in Evanston have bike parking nearby.
When preparing to make a left turn, bicyclists must choose from two styles
of turns: vehicular and pedestrian.
Chicago Transit Authority

2015 Bike Events Schedule

The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) is the operator of mass transit within Chicago and some of its
(A) Vehicular Turn surrounding suburbs. All CTA buses are equipped to hold two bikes on the front of the vehicle during
A A vehicular-style turn, as the name implies, mimics the procedure of a travel. If you are taking a CTA train, you are allowed to bring your bike with you in the train car.
motor vehicle. The bicyclist moves (after signaling) to the left turn lane The only time bikes are not permitted on the train is during weekday rush hour periods from 7am to 9am
or left side of the lane, if a left turn lane does not exist. Proceed with the and 4pm to 6pm. For more information about the CTAs bike services, please call 888-YOUR-CTA
turn according to traffic signals. May 1113 Lets Roll Together Week Sept. 13 Streets Alive!
(888-968-7282) or visit transitchicago.com.
June 1219 Bike Commuter Challenge Sept. 20 North Shore Century Ride
(B) Pedestrian or Box-Turn
When executing a pedestrian-style turn, the bicyclist remains on the right Metra Rail June 1526 Evanston Safety Town Sept. 27 Bike the Ridge
hand side of the roadway and proceeds through the cross street, stopping Metra, the northeast Illinois commuter rail system, allows commuters to bring their bikes on the trains. June 29July 10 Evanston Safety Town Oct. 1 Pedal Bright
at the corner. From this point, the bicyclist may proceed in the new However, on weekdays, bikes are not permitted on trains heading toward Chicago before 9:30am, in Light Give-away
addition to trains leaving from Chicago from 3pm to 7pm. For a complete list of Metras bike rules, please
July 1324 Evanston Safety Town
direction, yielding to traffic and obeying traffic signals.
call 312- 322-6777 or visit metrarail.com. July 1921 Lets Roll Together Week To learn more about these upcoming events,
Sept. 1113 Lets Roll Together Week visit BikeEvanston.org
Pace Suburban Bus
Helmet Safety Pace Suburban Bus is the local public transportation agency for the Chicago areas suburbs. All Pace
All cyclists are encouraged to wear helmets. To ensure you are wearing
your helmet correctly, be sure to follow the steps below:
Position the helmet to your eyes; use 2 fingers above your eyebrows.
buses are equipped to hold two bikes on the vehicle during travel. For more information about Paces
bike service, please call 847-364-PACE (7223) or visit pacebus.com. Local Bike Shops
You should be able to look up and see the rim of the helmet. The helmet Bucephalus Bikes The Pony Shop

Safety Tips
should sit on top of your head in a level position, and should not rock 1424 Lake St., 847-864-0924 1224 Chicago Ave., 847-864-5775
forward, backward, or side to side. bucephalusbikes.com ponyshop.com
Check your ears. The straps from the helmet should form a V under Everyday Cycles and Motion Wheel & Sprocket
your ears when buckled.
941 Chicago Ave., 847-563-8362 1027 Davis St., 847-864-7660
Use 1 finger space below your chin. Open your mouth as wide as you can. everyday.bike wheelandsprocket.com
If you cant feel the helmet hug your head, you may need to tighten the straps.

Biking in Downtown Evanston

Lets Roll Together and Be a PAL
Ride on the streets, use the protected bike lanes. Biking on sidewalks in the
Downtown Evanston Business District is prohibited. This area is bounded by
Ridge Ave. on the west, Lake St. on the south, Hinman Ave. on the east and
(Predictable, Alert and Lawful)
WALK BIKES Emerson/Clark St. on the north. Violators will be fined.
Lets Roll Together is a city-wide bike safety campaign motto that was created to improve
ON respect between all road users (i.e., cyclists, pedestrians and motorists) in Evanston. As a
SIDEWALK part of the campaign, Lets Roll Together Bike Safety Week events were planned as a way
to educate all road users on proper ways to use the roads safely. When biking in Evanston,
WALK YOUR BIKE we ask that all cyclists follow the P.A.L motto:
Be Predictable: Travel in a predictable way; do NOT make sudden unexpected moves.
Be Alert: Pay attention to your surroundings and others.

Bike Security Tips

Be Lawful: Obey traffic laws, whether in a car, on a bike, or on foot.

PAL campaign theme and graphics courtesy of Arlington County Commuter Services, Arlington, Virginia. So Lets Roll Together on our roads and be a PAL! For more information, visit BikeEvanston.org.

& Bike Parking Locations

Always Lock Up
Never ever leave your bike unlocked, even if youre leaving it for a short time. A thief can take your bike within
Test Your Bike Safety IQ!
seconds. Be sure to lock your bike to something thats permanently fixed to the ground. There are multiple bike
racks conveniently located throughout Evanston to encourage cyclists to lock their bikes to help prevent theft. Test your road knowledge by taking the
League of Illinois Bicyclists Bike Safety Quiz!
Use Proper Equipment This quiz helps adult bicyclists, motorists,
and child bicyclists learn important laws and
When locking your bike, it is recommended to use a high-quality U-Lock or chain. Using more than one type of
techniques when sharing the road. Take the Safety & Courtesy Tips on Evanston Streets
lock will provide increased security.
quiz online today at bikesafetyquiz.com.

Bike Parking Locations

The City of Evanston provides FREE secured bike parking on the first floor of the 1800 Maple St. Self Park Credits & Contributors: A special thanks to the local bicyclists, bike shops, and community stakeholders who gave feedback
Garage and on the second floor of the Sherman Plaza Self Park Garage. If utilizing the Sherman Plaza garage, throughout this maps development. This map was produced with a grant from the Evanston Bicycle Club.
please use the elevator to get to the second floor.

UPDATED: MAY 2015