Route from Union Station to Oak Park/River Forest

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Permalink Reply by Rob Pooley on May 1, 2013 at 10:26am

P.S  What I really could use is a way to get from River Forest to Evergreen Park but can't seem to find a decent route. :)   Rob

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 1, 2013 at 11:55am

There really isn't a "nice" way to get from River Forest to Evergreen Park.  I've mapped a few alternatives here.  Note that Google maps was starting to malfunction a bit when I was mapping a route section on Damen. That wiggly bit should run straight down Damen.  Since some of the neighborhoods are a bit challenging, mixing it up and trying different route combinations may be a good thing if you plan to ride this regularly.

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Permalink Reply by Legacy Frameworks on May 1, 2013 at 12:15pm

I have gone a few ways from Oak Park to downtown, but the one I liked best was Washington, pretty straight shot and lanes or bike friendly most of the way. 

I am looking for routs to go from oak park to bridgeport and used this Crime heat map to see where I might want to skirt around to go south east.  

http://www.trulia.com/crime/#!cook-il/13/41.86673,-87.72139/Chicago,IL/

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on May 1, 2013 at 12:26pm

If you take East Ave. south from Oak Park to Berwyn and use a combo of 26th and 31st (see link in my post above), most of the trip to Bridgeport isn't too bad.

Legacy Frameworks said:

I have gone a few ways from Oak Park to downtown, but the one I liked best was Washington, pretty straight shot and lanes or bike friendly most of the way. 

I am looking for routs to go from oak park to bridgeport and used this Crime heat map to see where I might want to skirt around to go south east.  

http://www.trulia.com/crime/#!cook-il/13/41.86673,-87.72139/Chicago,IL/

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Permalink Reply by Rob Pooley on May 1, 2013 at 1:47pm

You are EXTREMELY kind to map out some of those alternatives for me.

Anne Alt said:

There really isn't a "nice" way to get from River Forest to Evergreen Park.  I've mapped a few alternatives here.  Note that Google maps was starting to malfunction a bit when I was mapping a route section on Damen. That wiggly bit should run straight down Damen.  Since some of the neighborhoods are a bit challenging, mixing it up and trying different route combinations may be a good thing if you plan to ride this regularly.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Pooley on May 1, 2013 at 1:48pm

Thanks everyone for the suggestions so far.  I'm a novice/embryonic bike commuter and beginnings are delicate times, as they say.

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Permalink Reply by Rob Pooley on May 1, 2013 at 2:13pm

P.S.  Although it's hard for me to believe it would take between 1.5 and 2 hours.

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Permalink Reply by dan brown on May 1, 2013 at 2:52pm

it's on Yahoogroups : westsidecommuters. they leave from green st (900 W) and Fulton St.

 

ALSO - the CTA ban is only for the El; are there CTA busses that go where you need to be ?

they usually have a spot or two on the front of the bus...

 

DB
Cameron 7.5 mi said:

Since you mentioned the afternoon rush hour CTA bike ban it sounds like you're traveling from Union Station to Oak Park in the late afternoon. I've head people talk about an Oak Park club that meets in the Loop to ride together on the commute home. You could try meeting up with them if you want some ridding buddies.

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 1, 2013 at 3:30pm

Regarding Anne's map, the only advice I can give is that I took Western over the river from 31st to 35th a few weekends ago and found it pretty unpleasant (extremely fast cars, etc.). I would try either California or Kedzie first.

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