Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by PeteMoonman on May 19, 2017 at 3:13am

Interesting way to find popular rural rides!

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Permalink Reply by Gopher Biker on May 30, 2017 at 9:11am

Google maps has a the island on Elston in front of the MCC - as you are pedaling in the bike lane, it turns into sharrows, and cars drift to the right (whether you are there or not) to avoid the island. The one by Grace is more dangerous IMHO because of the way the lanes are striped. Google maps doesn't have the Grace/Elston island yet. I would suggest they not put these in on Milwaukee (saw an article about them thinking of doing it, but can't remember where that was posted) unless they really think about cager behavior next to a bike lane.

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Permalink Reply by marshmonster on May 31, 2017 at 2:30am

Late to the party, but the SW Side deserves more love. Ogden is great until Pulaski.

South Cali, Kedzie are great. 26th is a nice cruise. California > 59th is an easy way to get to Midway.

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Permalink Reply by Yasmeen on May 31, 2017 at 5:24am

John Greenfield gathered all of our favorites into this map:

The Mellow Chicago Bike Map - Collaboration of The Chainlink & Streetsblog

John gives a great recap of everything we've recommended in his article. Definitely worth a read!

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Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on May 31, 2017 at 8:09am

My preferred route from Lincoln Square to Lakefront: Sunnyside (through ped plaza b/w Beacon & Magnolia) to Racine to (wrong way on) Sunnyside/Clifton to Montrose to alley under CTA tracks (along Challenger Park) to Buena to LSD viaduct to Peace Garden on Lakefront Trail.

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Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 31, 2017 at 9:12am

I used to live around Damen and Wilson.  I usually -- along with a fair number of other cyclists -- would take Leland.  Heading west (from the Lakefront), we'd turn south a block on Clark to go to Wilson, where we'd continue west.  Leland also involves a cut-through a park (Arai Campus Park) and a couple short blocks along Marine Drive (not busy here). 

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Permalink Reply by Mike on June 1, 2017 at 7:28am

I, too, prefer Leland.  

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Permalink Reply by Allan on May 31, 2017 at 10:23am

I tried commenting on the Disqus part of the Streetsblog article,but oddly my comment wasn't going through there. So I'll repost here, what I was intending to post there in the Disqus comments section. Sigh:

I'm very surprised Elston Avenue wasn't shaded, on this map. Also IMO, Wilson should be shaded from Pulaski east to the lakefront. I've never had a problem biking ANYWHERE along Wilson, and during the day it's a nice low traffic alternative to Montrose and Lawrence.

Just note if you bike west of Pulaski on Wilson, the width of the street isn't as wide, vs. east of Pulaski. But it's still bikeable. From Montrose/Kostner as a north and eastbound shortcut to get to Wilson/Pulaski, I use Kostner(going north, left turn), Wilson(east, right turn), Kildare(north, left turn), Elston(southeast, right turn), Kennicott(northeast, you make the left turn from Elston right after passing Ay Ay Picante restaurant), Kasson(southeast, right turn), then get onto Wilson.

Another east-west street I'm very surprised wasn't shaded for this map, was Augusta Blvd.(1000 north). For Pilsen, I'm surprised 19th Street wasn't shaded from Western east to Halsted. Note that one block of 19th St. is one way westbound(Wolcott to Damen), so at that point you'd bike to Cullerton to get around that if you're going east. There's a cool painting on the northwest corner of Cullerton and Wolcott btw, you might want to take a brief stop to admire! The rest of 19th, is a 2 way street. And within the Bridgeport neighborhood, Wallace is a good north-south street to bike on. Don't forget just north of Peterson and south of Devon, Granville is a good alternative east of Kedzie Avenue to the lakefront.

Wolcott isn't a bad street to use, just be warned that there is NO traffic light at Foster/Wolcott, or at Irving Park/Wolcott. I'll probably think of more later.

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Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 31, 2017 at 10:42am

Hmm, ... It seems to me that some of the streets you mention (Wilson, Granville) are only 'comfortable' or 'low stress' only if the cyclist is willing to "take the lane" and hold up traffic [that may be impatient:)]  On these streets, motor vehicle traffic can pass you (if you are riding outside of the door zone) only when there is no traffic coming in the other direction, which may be easy at some times of day, but in my experience is often not the case for these roads.  Wilson, around Lincoln Sq. and Ravenswood, gets really busy on the weekends and at (extended) rush hours.  Same with Granville in Edgewater and West Ridge.

Remember cyclists: Never ever ride in the door zone!

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Permalink Reply by Bob Kastigar on May 31, 2017 at 10:52am

I'd say Wilson east of Western or Lincoln is acceptable, but not west of there.  Wilson narrows considerably. 

East of Lincoln on Wilson you can ride comfortably almost, but not quite, out of the door zone.  West, it's too narrow to ride comfortably with cars passing. 

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Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 31, 2017 at 11:24am

I myself wish that all cars would pass (when I'm cycling) not with the legal minimum of 3 feet, but with more like 6 feet. That means busy (i.e. high traffic volume) streets without the space for: 1) me to ride outside the door zone (of parked cars), and 2) for motor vehicles to pass me by going over into the opposing lane (i.e. 5-6 feet away) are not what I call "low stress" or "family friendly".

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Permalink Reply by David Henri on July 31, 2017 at 2:39am

Wilson from Pulaski east is actually fine.  I ride it all the time, and it's one street that can get you across the river.  The view from the bridge is beautiful.  Never had a problem on it.

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