The Chainlink

I rode Dearborn today...anyone else?

I just missed the press conference and just hung out at lunch to see how it would all work. It seemed easy enough, so I took Dearborn as my starting route home to Roscoe Village. Normally I hit Franklin to Orleans then north to Lincoln.

I have to say, it was pretty easy and relatively safe. The ambassadors were helpful with the the auto traffic. The walkers were easy enough to avoid. I had to chuckle at two riders riding side by side in the lane.

What I didn't see was any oncoming traffic; southbound riders. I am guessing that will come in time or at other times during the day.

Way to go Mayor RE! This is really making a statement.

Who else rode the new path?

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 10:09am

Yep, that's pretty much what everyone's been saying since it opened. Welcome to Dearborn!

Will 7.87 miles said:

I rode the new Dearborn lane south for the first time today, from Lake to Harrison.

There is a lot of standing water, snow, slush, and some ice in the lane, especially the southbound lane. I had a couple of encounters with pedestrians who didn't know or didn't see that I had the right of way, but I managed to avoid hitting them. One driver turned left off Dearborn against the red light, but I already cleared the intersection by then.

Overall, I'm not terribly impressed with this first ride. It's dangerous.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on February 6, 2013 at 10:35am

I rode North from Jackson Monday and Tuesday and it was wet with some big puddles but not too bad.  Most pedestrians around 5:45 seemed to be a little more wary about stepping into the street than I remember in January.  I was passed by another biker with no lights that hit the side of a cab that made a right turn into one of the hotels in front of us.  It was a pretty slow speed hit and the guy said he was okay though I think one of his old pedals was broken.

There's no real good way to get to the lake front trail from Dearborn.  The trail keeps going north a few blocks above the river but then just ends, stranding you on the left side of traffic.  I went over to State and followed that to North Ave where I rejoined the trail.

Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on February 6, 2013 at 10:38am
Did you try biking down the river walk to the lake? There is an access ramp at State/Wacker.

Tricolor said:

There's no real good way to get to the lake front trail from Dearborn.  The trail keeps going north a few blocks above the river but then just ends, stranding you on the left side of traffic.  I went over to State and followed that to North Ave where I rejoined the trail.

Permalink Reply by Tricolor on February 6, 2013 at 11:21am

My route is from Devon to the DePaul Center on Jackson and back along the lake.  I need to get around the un-plowed area between Oak and Ohio on the lake for the winter.  State Street is okay in the morning when it's light but at night it doesn't feel as secure.  Michigan Ave is a mess at all times.  Dearborn is the closest north-south street with a bike lane but that lane doesn't go far enough north.  Instead you have to go farther west to Wells to pick up a lane again, then travel along North - four lanes in the dark - to get to the lake.

Permalink Reply by CJ on February 6, 2013 at 11:58am

why not stay on dearborn?   I take it to oak, does it get too crazy after that?

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 6, 2013 at 12:05pm

There is a bike lane on the west side of Dearborn all of the way to Chicago, although in places definitely not my favorite.  If I am heading that way, I stay on Dearborn to Oak, turn left to Clark and then take Clark up to North Avenue where you can head east again.  Clark has a "buffered" bike lane from just north of Oak to North Avenue.  If you go that way, just watch out at Latin School if you are there when charming parents in SUVs are picking up their charming children.

Permalink Reply by Sue Clark on February 6, 2013 at 1:09pm

Biggest problem I saw on Dearborn today was either the pedestrians in the crosswalk waiting for their light to cross E/W.

Permalink Reply by Juan 2-3 or more mi. on February 6, 2013 at 1:48pm

Don't mind me banging on your panels as I pass to the side of you being parked in the bicycle lane. Not surprized if you give me the finger.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on February 6, 2013 at 1:52pm

Dearborn traffic north of Oak can get a bit dicey, especially where there street is a bit narrower or there's a double parking. Cabs can be a real hazard there, whether they're on Dearborn or a cross street (running stop signs or going when it's not their turn).

I'll second Lisa's comment about the overly privileged at the Latin School (Dearborn just south of North).  That's traffic you don't want to encounter.  Lots of those folks will door you without a second thought. However, if you're passing there when parents are not dropping off or picking up kids, that location isn't an issue.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

There is a bike lane on the west side of Dearborn all of the way to Chicago, although in places definitely not my favorite.  If I am heading that way, I stay on Dearborn to Oak, turn left to Clark and then take Clark up to North Avenue where you can head east again.  Clark has a "buffered" bike lane from just north of Oak to North Avenue.  If you go that way, just watch out at Latin School if you are there when charming parents in SUVs are picking up their charming children.

Permalink Reply by Lisa Curcio on February 6, 2013 at 2:04pm

That is why I now turn on Oak to go to Clark rather than stay northbound on Dearborn.  Latin School is actually on the southeast corner of Clark and North Avenue.
 
Anne Alt 2-10 said:

Dearborn traffic north of Oak can get a bit dicey, especially where there street is a bit narrower or there's a double parking. Cabs can be a real hazard there, whether they're on Dearborn or a cross street (running stop signs or going when it's not their turn).

I'll second Lisa's comment about the overly privileged at the Latin School (Dearborn just south of North).  That's traffic you don't want to encounter.  Lots of those folks will door you without a second thought. However, if you're passing there when parents are not dropping off or picking up kids, that location isn't an issue.

Lisa Curcio 4.0 mi said:

There is a bike lane on the west side of Dearborn all of the way to Chicago, although in places definitely not my favorite.  If I am heading that way, I stay on Dearborn to Oak, turn left to Clark and then take Clark up to North Avenue where you can head east again.  Clark has a "buffered" bike lane from just north of Oak to North Avenue.  If you go that way, just watch out at Latin School if you are there when charming parents in SUVs are picking up their charming children.

Permalink Reply by Mark on February 6, 2013 at 4:20pm

State Street has a better bridge and less traffic than Dearborn.  Wabash has even better bridge and less traffic and only 3 stoplights between Wacker and Chicago Avenue.  Wabash is my preferred route north from Wacker.  (Wabash/Superior/Rush/State to North Ave)  Then from State and North, I can choose between the LFT, the Zoo, or Clark St.

Permalink Reply by Will on February 6, 2013 at 4:57pm

Except for the no bike lanes part, I like that route. The State Street bridge is nice.

Mark said:

State Street has a better bridge and less traffic than Dearborn.  Wabash has even better bridge and less traffic and only 3 stoplights between Wacker and Chicago Avenue.  Wabash is my preferred route north from Wacker.  (Wabash/Superior/Rush/State to North Ave)  Then from State and North, I can choose between the LFT, the Zoo, or Clark St.

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