The Chainlink

best route from lakefront path to west loop?

Recently moved to Uptown close to the lake and trying to figure out the best commute route to the West Loop (Washington and Halsted).  

Have tried Lakefront path to North Ave to Clark to Kinzie.  Works pretty well, but not sure whether the North to Clark part is the best way to go? 

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Permalink Reply by Michelle S on October 11, 2013 at 1:15pm

It depends on how quiet you prefer your route to be v. how fast. I would personally turn south on Dearborn and then take a side street (probably Schiller or Oak) west to Wells St, then Wells south to Kinzie, to avoid the North/Clark intersection, and to avoid Clark Street car traffic south of the Newberry, where the bike lanes end. Wells has a nice wide buffered lane from North Ave all the way to Kinzie.

Permalink Reply by JeffB on October 11, 2013 at 1:54pm

Why not LFP to Monroe to Michigan to Madison to Halsted to Washington

Permalink Reply by Dean Bekken on October 11, 2013 at 3:09pm
Adds about a mile but good, reverse on Monroe all the way. I ride Monroe east daily, no lanes but far safer and faster than Wash.
Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 11, 2013 at 4:25pm

I work on the corner of Illinois and McClurg and that's the way I take to get to the Kinzie bike lane when I have to go to class. Google streetview won't work well but the route is really easy once you do it once. Traffic is very light there and it's nice and cool during the summer! 

Do you plan on riding all winter? If so then you may want to have a street route. I believe the LFP is closed from North to Grand during the winter and the section just south of Fullerton can be treacherous due to waves and ice. I would suggest Clark to Halsted as the most direct. 

Cameron 7.5 mi said:

I'd take Grand to McClurg to North Water. Shortly after you turn on North Water it will go underground, jog, and become Kinzie (it sounds confusing, but it works when you see it in person). Then take Kinzie to Green to Washington. If you can't picture the underground part try it east bound first.

Permalink Reply by Jess Lynch on October 11, 2013 at 6:20pm

Thanks everyone for sharing such excellent routes - much appreciated!  It'll be great to mix it up.  Just took the kinzie to north water to illinois route, and it was a lovely ride home.  

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