The Chainlink

Alternatives to North-Bound Dearborn Bike Lane?

I'm becoming increasingly convinced that one of the most dangerous parts of my commute is the left-hand-side N.-bound Dearborn bike lane.  

 

I am going from River North up to North Center.  Usual route home is Dearborn to North Ave to Lincoln.  But I'm getting really tired of the left-hooks and other insanity of Dearborn, particularly with some of the valet stands.

 

My route to work is usually down Clyborn or Elston, but I have the impression that those are pretty ugly in the afternoon.  Also, I don't really want to go through the Damen/Fullerton/Elston intersection in the afternoon if I can avoid it.  Also, Damen north of Diversey is in pretty bad shape pot-hole wise.

 

So - what say you?  Milwaukee?  Go out to the lake path (and add 2-3 miles)?  Stick it out on Dearborn?  Ride on the right side of Dearborn?

 

Any tips appreciated - thanks.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on September 20, 2011 at 10:15am
Maybe take Wells north to Schiller, west to Sedgwick, and north to Lincoln.  River North is a pain with the one way streets and all the quieter ones are interrupted every few blocks.
Permalink Reply by Rich S on September 20, 2011 at 10:18am

I couldn't agree more! I work in Streeterville and stopped taking Dearborn because of the Ohio and Chicago Ave intersections. I frequently see riders riding on the right side of Dearborn. My usual way home is to take Grand to Wabash to Huron to Wells. Then I'll take Wells north to either Lincoln or Clark depending on what I'm doing after work. 

 

I've taken Elston north during the evening rush hour and in my opinion the Ashland/Armitage area is worse than Fullerton/Damen. I actually prefer Elston to Lincoln as there is less risk of getting doored. 

 

Hope this helps! 

Permalink Reply by Davo on September 20, 2011 at 10:48am

When Im in that area I Sometimes take State street north (its a pretty quiet street north of division) and cut through the park by the historical society and under lasalle drive. From there, you could take Clark for a while or cross it to get to the lincoln/wells intersection. Thats a little hairy but if you don't have a problem with waiting for a sec there is a cross walk there. 

 

Also there is always Rush street if you are closer to the river than I thought. Any way you slice it, its going to be dicey downtown.

Permalink Reply by Melanie K on September 20, 2011 at 10:56am
Try out a few different routes to see if any are better- or just ride the right side of Dearborn. I work on North Dearborn, and I have seen the majority of cyclists riding the right side and only using the left side if they are going to turn left somewhere along their route.  I am not sure, but I think that it is perfectly fine to use the right hand lane, even if there is a left-hand bicycle lane on the same one-way street.
Permalink Reply by Chris B on September 20, 2011 at 11:35am

I take Wabash up to Huron to Wells to Lincoln. (or sometimes Wabash past Chicago and then over to Dearborn until North ave). Huron is kinda crappy for those blocks though so i've started going past chicago before turning west (or even on Chicago.)


Permalink Reply by Liz on September 20, 2011 at 12:07pm

I usually take Adams to Franklin to Orleans to Division to Clybourn Northbound in the Evening 

 

Clybourn to Division to Wells to Superior to Wabash in the Morning 

 

I love the morning commute, the evening exit from the loop isn't as nice, but once I get past Erie (and the 90/94 entrance/exit traffic) its nice 

 

Clybourn hasn't given me any problems in the morning or evening, its a surprisingly nice commute. I prefer it to both Lincoln and Elston, since the traffic flows well, stays (mostly) in 1 lane, and has predictable intersections. 

Permalink Reply by JeffB on September 20, 2011 at 2:02pm

It took me a long time to even realize there was a bike lane on the left side of Dearborn, and once I did I tried it and hated it.  It just feels wrong.  Does anyone know the logic behind this decision?

I still ride on the right side of Dearborn and have never had a problem.  Take the lane when you need to.

Or add the extra miles on the lake front.  Its getting better with the weather changing and its nice to expand your range.  I've even been adding another 45 minutes to my commute home by continuing on to Howard St (Kenmore to Devon to Glenwood to Pratt to Sacramento to Howard) over to the North Channel Trail and then back down to home in Ravenswood

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 2:09pm
I keep wondering any on earth someone thought it was a good idea to put the Dearborn lane on the left side - conflicts with hotel, post office, restaurant valets, Ohio St., etc.  My answer is to ride in the right lane on Dearborn, where I have a lot fewer hazardous moments.

JeffB said:

It took me a long time to even realize there was a bike lane on the left side of Dearborn, and once I did I tried it and hated it.  It just feels wrong.  Does anyone know the logic behind this decision?

I still ride on the right side of Dearborn and have never had a problem.  Take the lane when you need to.

Or add the extra miles on the lake front.  Its getting better with the weather changing and its nice to expand your range.  I've even been adding another 45 minutes to my commute home by continuing on to Howard St (Kenmore to Devon to Glenwood to Pratt to Sacramento to Howard) over to the North Channel Trail and then back down to home in Ravenswood

Permalink Reply by Nançois on September 20, 2011 at 2:24pm
I also find the Dearborn left-side lane a hazard-and-a-half. I agree with those who have already suggested taking Wells or Wabash. I do either of those regularly and feel much better there than on Dearborn. Plus, the more people we get taking the same routes the more drivers will start expecting to see us there.
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 3:21pm
There's just one small problem with Wells.  It doesn't become two-way traffic until Erie.  Wabash works north of the river, but it has its tricky spots, too.

Nancy Easton said:
I also find the Dearborn left-side lane a hazard-and-a-half. I agree with those who have already suggested taking Wells or Wabash. I do either of those regularly and feel much better there than on Dearborn. Plus, the more people we get taking the same routes the more drivers will start expecting to see us there.
Permalink Reply by Liz on September 20, 2011 at 4:42pm

My biggest problem commuting home is how far west through the loop traffic I have to ride before I can turn north.  My office is on Wabash and Adams and Dearborn, State, Michigan, and Columbus are all terrible for cycling.  

 

Franklin used to be nice, but its a mess with the 2-way traffic from Wacker's closure. Getting West to Franklin is a hassle.  Wells and Wabash work well southbound, but northbound its a choice of bad vs. terrible.  It would be really nice if there was a good North route through the loop.

 

I feel like Columbus is ripe for change, it would be a fantastic North-South cycling option (especially to avoid the congested path until the flyover is complete) if only there was a dedicated cycling lane.  There is no reason to have a speedway on columbus, LSD is very close by for cars looking to go far and fast.  There are 6 lane segments that people fly down at very high speeds before it turns into fairbanks and is a two lane near a hospital.   It would be much more preferable for me to go North up Columbus to Huron when Wells becomes 2 way again, instead of fighting my way west through the loop. 

 

Columbus would also make a great winter LFP option reroute around the oak street curve during the winter "ice over" 


Anne Alt said:

There's just one small problem with Wells.  It doesn't become two-way traffic until Erie.  Wabash works north of the river, but it has its tricky spots, too.

Nancy Easton said:
I also find the Dearborn left-side lane a hazard-and-a-half. I agree with those who have already suggested taking Wells or Wabash. I do either of those regularly and feel much better there than on Dearborn. Plus, the more people we get taking the same routes the more drivers will start expecting to see us there.
Permalink Reply by Nançois on September 20, 2011 at 4:58pm

I must admit that I have only taken Wells southbound. What I actually do to go north is to take Randolph east from the Cycle Center to Harbor Drive, go north until you get to the breakaway access to the lakefront, which actually involves going through the parking garage of a high-rise, then through another parking lot to the lake. I then follow the lovely path along the river until it ends at Wabash, THEN take Wabash north to Erie, take Erie east one block to Rush, then take Rush north as it merges into Wabash and then State, THEN go through the park.

 

All of which is to say that you are right, this is complete insanity. Especially the parking garage. But the charming ride along the riverfront adds a certain quaintness that usually improves my mood sufficiently to continue with the rest of the commute... It sure would be better if there was a direct route, though!

 

Liz said:

My biggest problem commuting home is how far west through the loop traffic I have to ride before I can turn north.  My office is on Wabash and Adams and Dearborn, State, Michigan, and Columbus are all terrible for cycling.  

 

Franklin used to be nice, but its a mess with the 2-way traffic from Wacker's closure. Getting West to Franklin is a hassle.  Wells and Wabash work well southbound, but northbound its a choice of bad vs. terrible.  It would be really nice if there was a good North route through the loop.

 

I feel like Columbus is ripe for change, it would be a fantastic North-South cycling option (especially to avoid the congested path until the flyover is complete) if only there was a dedicated cycling lane.  There is no reason to have a speedway on columbus, LSD is very close by for cars looking to go far and fast.  There are 6 lane segments that people fly down at very high speeds before it turns into fairbanks and is a two lane near a hospital.   It would be much more preferable for me to go North up Columbus to Huron when Wells becomes 2 way again, instead of fighting my way west through the loop. 

 

Columbus would also make a great winter LFP option reroute around the oak street curve during the winter "ice over" 


Anne Alt said:

There's just one small problem with Wells.  It doesn't become two-way traffic until Erie.  Wabash works north of the river, but it has its tricky spots, too.

Nancy Easton said:
I also find the Dearborn left-side lane a hazard-and-a-half. I agree with those who have already suggested taking Wells or Wabash. I do either of those regularly and feel much better there than on Dearborn. Plus, the more people we get taking the same routes the more drivers will start expecting to see us there.

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