Released: Sunday, May 30, 2010

Contact: Margo O’Hara, Director of Communications
Active Transportation Alliance
312.427.3325 x224
312.282.5088 mobile
margo@activetrans.org
photos available

20,000 cyclists kick off Chicago summer on a car-free Lake Shore Drive for ninth annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive

Cyclists kicked off Chicago’s summer today by cruising down a car-free Lake Shore Drive and enjoying unparalleled views for the ninth annual MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive.

About 20,000 bicyclists – young, old, couples, friends and professionals – spun their wheels up and down a car-free Lake Shore Drive for the annual fundraiser that benefits the Active Transportation Alliance’s work to improve biking, walking and transit.

“Summer in Chicago has begun! Families and friends are cruising up and down a car-free Lake Shore Drive and having the time of their lives,” said Active Transportation Alliance Executive Director Rob Sadowsky. “Twenty-thousand cyclists transformed this highway into a wonderful bicycling utopia.”

Lake Shore Drive opened to bicyclists at 5:30 a.m. From downtown Chicago, participants had eight lanes and 15 miles of open highway to bike as much as they liked north to Bryn Mawr or south to the Museum of Science and Industry.

After the event, bikers gathered in Grant Park to lounge, eat pancakes from Goose Island, listen to music, check out sponsor booths and win give-aways. Beatles Tribute band entertained festival-goers with tunes everyone can remember.

“I had a great morning riding Lake Shore Drive with my family,” says Mitch Feiger, president & CEO, MB Financial, Inc. “This was MB’s first year as title sponsor and we were proud to support the tremendous work and mission of Active Transportation Alliance and to help bring this kickoff-to-summer event to Chicagoland. We look forward to continuing our relationship at next year’s MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive.”

The MB Financial Bank Bike the Drive is sponsored by NBC, Telemundo, Columbia, SRAM, Schwinn, RoadSafe, Fairmont Chicago, Kozy’s, IGO, Clif 2 Mile Challenge, WDRV, REI, Caribou Coffee, Whole Foods, Brookfield Zoo, ZYM, Michigan Apples, Goose Island Brew Pub, Chicago Parent and Jamba Juice.

ABOUT ACTIVE TRANS
The Active Transportation Alliance is a non-profit, member-based advocacy organization that works to make bicycling, walking and public transit so safe, convenient and fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. The organization builds a movement around active transportation, encourages physical activity, increases safety and builds a world-class transportation network. Formerly the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation, the Active Transportation Alliance is North America’s largest transportation advocacy organization, supported by more than 6,000 members, 1,000 volunteers and 35 full-time staff. For more information on the Active Transportation Alliance, visit www.activetrans.org or call 312.427.3325.

ABOUT MB FINANCIAL BANK
MB Financial Bank is a locally operated financial institution that has been delivering competitive personalized service for 100 years to businesses and individuals who live and work in the Chicago metropolitan area. MB has nearly 90 locations throughout the Chicagoland area.

MB Financial Bank is the Illinois local operating unit of MB Financial, Inc., a financial services holding company which is traded on the NASDAQ as "MBFI." MB Financial, based in Chicago, has more than $10 billion in assets. Information about MB Financial can be found at www.mbfinancial.com.

###