Going out to Elmhurst - best streets to take?

Okay, so I have this wild idea to ride my cargo bike all the way out to McMaster Carr to pick up some stuff, rather than driving. I mapped it out on Google using the bike directions from my place and made a few modifications. A significant portion of the ride, probably 1/4 of it would be on Armitage by the zoo to as far west as Laramie. I've ridden Armitage some before going to Smart Bike Parts, but I don't really like it that much. A few times that I've ridden out that way I've cut south onto Cortland which was okay. Being more residential it's quieter with less traffic than Armitage. I'd be going out to Laramie, then south on Bloomingdale Ave, then to Des Plaines River trail to Chestnut Ave, to Grand Ave. Suggestions? I tried to embed the Google map but for some reason it won't allow embedding of the map.

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Permalink Reply by Lee on May 17, 2013 at 9:58am

Diversery starting at California is a great East/West Street.  I commute out to Oak Brook sometimes and feel very safe taking that out of the city.

 

Diversey west, Oak Park ave South, Lake Street West (opens up at River Forest/Harlem), Thatcher South, then figure out how to jump west on the Prairie path trail which takes you to the elmhurst metra stop.  Doesn't seem far north from there and I'm sure there are some decent streets that aren't too bad once you get that far west.

Permalink Reply by millenial removing Bernie tattoo on May 17, 2013 at 10:05am

I agree, Diversey is good.   If you want a queiter street then Wrightwood (starting at the end of Logan Square) is credited.

Permalink Reply by David P. on May 17, 2013 at 12:16pm

I've ridden Diversey and Belmont as far west as Oak Park Avenue and they're both perfectly fine for getting that far west. Now that I think of it I took one of those all the way to the Des Plaines river, and it was good. I also took Armitage/Grand to the DPRT, also fine.

Coming from the lake, Diversey is pretty crowded in Lakeview; it doesn't open up a bit until about Damen. If I am on it in high-traffic times, then I am moving either with traffic or faster than it because it's backed up for blocks. Take it easy a bit, since it's not really wide.  From Damen/Clybourn to California, if you're on it in the afternoon rush hour it is 2 lanes going east, and you may be competing with car drivers on a maniacal quest to get on the freeway as quickly as possible. If it's not 2-laned for rush hour, you sort of have your own curb lane. This all ends at California, and west of California it is fine at any time. You may find getting off the lake around downtown or navy Pier to be more direct. From there you can take something like Kinzie and Milwaukee.

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