wellness
Cycling Routes Safe for Families and Beginners Draw Crowds to Old Town Parks
Protected lanes through neighborhood green spaces are seeing steady use from parents and new riders this summer.
How we reported this
The Old Town Chi Park District opened two new protected bike lanes on July 1 that link Oz Park directly to the North Avenue riverfront path, giving families and first-time cyclists a flat, low-traffic loop of just under three miles.
Summer demand for outdoor activity has risen sharply since the district added traffic-calming bollards and wider curb cuts last winter. Parents who avoided busy streets now have marked routes that stay within park boundaries or run alongside low-speed residential blocks, reducing the need for on-road navigation.
Named paths and local partners
The primary route begins at the Oz Park playground entrance on North Avenue, crosses the pedestrian bridge at the river, and circles back through the Old Town Triangle neighborhood via Sedgwick Street. A second spur starts at Washington Square Park on Delaware Place and connects to the same riverfront segment. The district runs the program in partnership with the Old Town Bicycle Co-op, which supplies free helmet fittings every Saturday morning at the Oz Park field house.
Both paths stay inside or immediately adjacent to parkland for most of their length, with only two short crossings of Division Street that use new raised crosswalks installed in April. Riders can rent kid-sized bikes or tag-along trailers for $12 per two-hour session at the co-op kiosk on Wells Street.
Usage numbers and next steps
District counts show 1,240 family riders passed the Oz Park counter during the first week of July, up from 870 the same week in 2025. The co-op reports that 42 percent of this month’s rentals have gone to households with at least one child under 12.
Staff at the Old Town Bicycle Co-op hold a free 30-minute orientation every Saturday at 9 a.m. for anyone new to the routes. Riders can also pick up printed maps at the field house or download the district’s route app that marks water fountains and restrooms along the way. Families planning their first ride are encouraged to check the co-op’s site for weather-related closures before heading out.