25th Ward candidate for Alderwoman Aida Flores organizes monthly family bike rides to build community, teach street safety, and connect neighbors across the Southwest side.

It started simply because Aida’s son noticed a gap: there were not enough family-friendly activities in the neighborhood. So they decided to create one.

Once a month over the summer, neighbors from across the city meet up to ride together. The group is a mix of kids, parents, grandparents, and first-timers on borrowed bikes. Before rolling out, everyone goes over hand signals and learns how to hold a line.

Then they ride. Everyone rides at the pace of the slowest rider. Bring a helmet if you have one. If you don't, come anyway.

These rides do more than just get families outside. They build a direct connection across the Southwest side, linking residents up with groups like the Gage Park Cyclists. Riding together teaches practical street safety and shows exactly how pedestrian safety, reliable transportation, and neighborhood infrastructure are interconnected.

When neighbors move through the ward together, they look out for each other, and they build community right on the street.