The Chainlink

Hello, new here, I did do a couple searches didn't find what I was looking for, but noticed that there's quite a bit of bike theft around these parts.

I recently changed shifts(2nd shift to 1st shift) at work and I now work hours that would allow me to ride the train to work. The only issue being I have 7 miles to get to the station from my house, and 2.5 miles from the destination station to my office.

My first thought was I would just bring my bike on the train, but I work early in the morning, 5-6am start time so metra wont let me.

So my question is, has anyone permanently parked a bike at a metra station?

I was thinking Id drive the 7 miles and bike the 2.5. Get a cheap/free bike and lock every part of it down that I can. I would just leave the bike there at the station all the time, possibly even over weekends, unless I felt like riding the 30 or so miles home/back to my car.

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which metra station?

The more locks you have the better.  And typically the cheaper the bike the better but that's not always the case....

Bensenville station.

It will be a pretty cheap bike.

Im gonna give it a shot this week or next.

suburbs may be easier, or maybe not.  I have a friend who works at Abbott who leaves his bike for long stays, it's a beater also.  I'll ask him.  


Ryan Anderson said:

Bensenville station.

It will be a pretty cheap bike.

Im gonna give it a shot this week or next.

If your a reverse commuter you can bring your bike on the train during commuting hours...

Another option is a folding bike...

The problem for him with the Foldy is that seven miles is quite a bit of distance on a foldy.  If he drives the seven, the 2.5 on the Foldy makes some sense.   I assume that the destination station is one of the loop stations.   If not (for example if its Clybourn) another option is to get a storage locker near the station and use it.   A large Self-Storage facility with long hours is right across from the Clybourn Station.  it would be a simple matter to store a bike there everyday (and certainly over the weekend) and on top of it, store other stuff as well...

I never thought of a storage facility if you have a situation like that.  Good idea.

David crZven 10.6 said:

The problem for him with the Foldy is that seven miles is quite a bit of distance on a foldy.  If he drives the seven, the 2.5 on the Foldy makes some sense.   I assume that the destination station is one of the loop stations.   If not (for example if its Clybourn) another option is to get a storage locker near the station and use it.   A large Self-Storage facility with long hours is right across from the Clybourn Station.  it would be a simple matter to store a bike there everyday (and certainly over the weekend) and on top of it, store other stuff as well...

Quite a few Metra stations have facilities right on top of them.   CLybourn is the most obvious.   Storage One is a big warehouse right across the street and another storage facility (low rise) is right next door.  I believe that a facility is quite close to several other Metra Stations as well, such as Jeff Park, but I haven't fully explored it as I don't need it.

 

Julie Hochstadter said:

I never thought of a storage facility if you have a situation like that.  Good idea.

David crZven 10.6 said:

The problem for him with the Foldy is that seven miles is quite a bit of distance on a foldy.  If he drives the seven, the 2.5 on the Foldy makes some sense.   I assume that the destination station is one of the loop stations.   If not (for example if its Clybourn) another option is to get a storage locker near the station and use it.   A large Self-Storage facility with long hours is right across from the Clybourn Station.  it would be a simple matter to store a bike there everyday (and certainly over the weekend) and on top of it, store other stuff as well...

Not sure what reverse commute means, Guessing that means from the city to the burbs?

Ill be getting on in Elgin or at Big Timber and getting off at Bensenville or Wood Dale whichever seems to be better suited to storing the bike. Id like to get on the 4:17 or 4:53am train in Elgin.

If the bike is stolen, Ill just walk, I'd run if we had showers at work.

Storage facility isn't a bad idea, but I'm not saving a significant amount of money by doing this, so any added expense probably wouldn't be tolerated by my other half. I'm mainly keeping miles off my car, that and I like riding my bike.

Getting a Folding bike crossed my mind, but I doubt I could convince the woman that I needed another bike.

Does Metra really prohibit bikes before 5am? I would've guessed the no-bikes rule doesn't begin until 6am at the earliest.

According to this schedule it says no bikes prior to the 8:36am train.

http://metrarail.com/metra/en/home/maps_schedules/metra_system_map/...

I thought it odd as well.

Guess I could just go ask the conductors on those trains.....

I'd recommend a Folding bike, I commuted that way for several years and found it very freeing. Especially down town for errands and making a train. I even rode it home a couple of times (17 miles).  That folding bike paid for itself three times over,  I'd put it in the trunk when in the city I park free in a neighborhood then go wherever.  I never told my wife till months later.....

Any suggestions on a folder?

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