Do you use the McDonald's Cycle Center at Millennium Park?

(I searched for any prior threads on this and found nothing recent.)

I'm writing a blog post about how I think the McDonald's Cycle Center is at an odd location. I realize that I never hear people in the bike community mention the cycle center. But supposedly 500 people are members, and there is a waiting list. So I ask here: Do you use it regularly? Ever? Why or why not? 

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 9, 2012 at 11:11am

there is a recent discussion.  Give me a minute and I'll find it.  The search function on Ning is pretty lacking and is on the list of improvements when we do the site overhaul.

Permalink Reply by Kevin C Dormant on November 9, 2012 at 11:13am
I used it regularly for 18 months or so from about January 2009-mid 2010. I got the same pitch about what their member census was, but was irritated by the fact that I was a monthly payer, who during the winter months was parking in the members area with the other 5 or so bikes there. Bike and Roll is not based in Chicago, and is not a particularly supportive member of the local bike community. As you correctly point out, it is at an extremely odd location, and the inconvenience of walking 4+ blocks each way from/to my office was the principal reason I stopped using it.
Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on November 9, 2012 at 11:14am
Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 9, 2012 at 11:22am

Thanks, I didn't find that. I have to check whether I'm misspelling Millennium -- that was part of the problem. Will now read the thread.

Thanks also Kevin C.

Julie Hochstadter said:

Permalink Reply by blair on November 10, 2012 at 6:03am

I've used it for over 2 years now.  I get the feeling most of the people using it come in off the Lakefront Path so it's a good location.  I use it because my job is a few blocks away.  I think a lot of the people that work in the Aon center across the street use it, too.

No complaints.  I hadn't been a monthly member for a year yet, but they let me switch over to an annual membership when they realized I was one of only a few females still using the locker room over the winter.  They've always been extremely helpful and, in my eyes, seem to care about the local community.  I've signed several petitions at their front desk.

Permalink Reply by Joe Guzzardo on November 10, 2012 at 11:55am

Reviews of the McDonalds's Cycle Center seem generally favorable. I've been there myself and was impressed with what I'd seen, although I've never used any of their services. It did seem very secure. 

I wish there were more facilities like this in the loop itself. I had to search around before I found a parking garage (at 401 S. Financial Place) that offered bike parking. New York city law requires that all commercial parking garages provide spaces for bikes. We need that in Chicago, as well. 

http://www.streetsblog.org/2009/08/03/more-bike-parking-news-from-c...

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 11, 2012 at 2:55am

Thanks for the replies, all. My post will go up later today on Bike Walk Lincoln Park (still the featured blog on Chainlink's home page -- thanks, Julie!).

Permalink Reply by Kathy Schubert 'n Suzy Schnauzer on November 12, 2012 at 12:10pm

A friend of mine who says she can't log on says she LOVES the bike station and uses it throughout the spring/summer/fall.  She works across the street.  Another friend works across the street and uses it all the time too.  It's great for those who work nearby.

Permalink Reply by David Barish on November 13, 2012 at 8:56am

I have not used it for years.  When it first opened I would use it periodically. I liked the facility.  Towel rental was a buck.  Not sure if that's still the case. However, its set up to accommodate regular users.  The pricing and ability to use lockers was set up for the regulars. If I recall you could no longer buy a day pass. You had to buy a book of 10 and they would expire. I was not an every day commuter so I abandoned.  It was also about 3/4 mile from my office. I would have to go to my office,  get the clothes I leave at the office, go to the bike station and then come back.  It was far enough that I rode to the station rather than walk from the office. Too much hassle.  It was most useful one year my wife and I rode down to the jazz fest on our anniversary.  We used the station to take showers and dress up a bit. We went to dinner in Greek Town and then listened to jazz at the park.  That was kind of cool.

Permalink Reply by Crank on November 13, 2012 at 9:17am

I've used it nearly everyday for the last 3 years and can't speak highly enough about the place. I do work nearby so I find it very convenient for getting to/from my office. The facilities are quite clean, I never have to wait (or very little) for a shower and the staff is great. 

By now, I've met most of the people who arrive/leave on my schedule and I find it great to have like-minded folks to chat with regarding commuting, the bike center, weather concerns etc. 

I feel the choice for location was two-fold - serve a portion of business district employees that would be commuting up/down the LFT anywhere from Evanston to Hyde Park and at the same time cater to tourists renting bikes giving them the option of travelling to tourist sites north or south along the LFT. 

I come into the city off Elston avenue and I find it very easy to navigate to the bike center. The place is awesome and to me the only question is....how do we get more of them throughout the city? 

Permalink Reply by Michelle S on November 13, 2012 at 1:52pm

Thanks for the additional input. My post is now published here. 

I think the facilities look very nice and I'm glad they're being used by a core of enthusiasts. The location actually is not bad, given that it's geographically not very distant from the LFT and the Loop; it's just that the access is not easy, as I discuss in the post.

Permalink Reply by blair on November 13, 2012 at 3:19pm

A waiting list and hundreds of members, and it's a bad location?  All that says to me is that we need more of these in several places downtown.

Also, re: the Randolph bike lane, until 2 weeks ago I'd never seen a car/van/truck ticketed for parking in it.  I've used this bike lane for 2-3 years now.  I've complained to a few different people, and have seen 3 cops ticketing in the last few weeks.  Some sort of progress.

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