Summer is all about long days and balmy nights, so why not enjoy it on the bike? Saturday I took part in one of my favorite events of the summer. The Chicago Friends of the Park LATE (long after twilight ends) ride. This is a 25 mile ride through the streets from 2-6am beginning downtown and ending with sunrise and breakfast on the lake. We met up at the Art Institute at 1:00am along with a growing batch of cyclists. It reminded me a bit of a zombie movie--only everywhere pedestrians were turning into cyclists. First I just saw a few cyclists, then several others biking all over downtown meeting up with friends, and adjusting their headlights and helmets and gathering near Grant Park, then more and more gathered. Two friends and I plus 9,000 other riders took to start line about 1:30am. There was a band and they were giving out McDonald's ice coffee and snacks to keep us awake.

We started out going south on Columbus, then turned West on Roosevelt. There is nothing quite like gliding along with so many other riders while the late revelers coming out of the bars open their eyes wide to see a never ending stream of cyclists. I'll never forget the sight of biking up and over the Roosevelt bridge with the skyline on one side and a nothing but 9,000 blinking red tail lights in front.

This September, as with any month, Chicago’s parking meters will be fed with millions of quarters. This month, though, a few of those quarters will reserve the 150-odd square feet of public space not for the temporary storage of personal conveyances but for lively, interactive performance art. Park Yourself will feature dozens of performance artists parking themselves, but not any cars, on streets throughout the city — starting today, 8 September (traditionally the start of the “art season” around the city) and continuing through next Saturday, 16 September, in streetside locations from Hyde Park to Edgewater.

Critical Mass is a large, monthly gathering of bike riders who ride through the city in parade fashion. Everyone is welcome to ride. Go for fun or to show your bike spirit.

Chicago Critical Mass bike rides start from Daley Plaza, Dearborn & Washington at 5:30 pm on the last Friday of each month, regardless of season or weather. They are free and fun. All you have to do is show up with your bike.

Read more about it at the Chicago Critical Mass website.

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