Biking and Uptown.

I splurged and got myself a brand new bike with my very limited funds last summer- I'm glad I did.  I am a victim of the recession.  I have nothing but a room to stay in in Uptown until I find proper employment.  Life is hell here- we had a SWAT team after some fugitives barricaded themselves in a building nearby earlier this week and we were all warned to stay indoors and away from windows.  There are shootings constantly- 3 more people were just shot a mere 1/2 hour ago.  I heard the hail of gunfire in my room.  I have a college education, I worked full time for many years before this slump- never had much but a good bike was always in my possession.  Thank goodness, I can get on that bike and be in Boystown, Anersonville or Ravenswood in 10 minutes.  Totally different worlds- and safety.  Just my little homage to my very loved two wheeled freedom.  I love my bike.

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Permalink Reply by Ricardo J Rivera on December 9, 2011 at 2:16pm

I understand. I biked through Wilson and Broadway that day, it was very surreal. I moved to Uptown last summer, haven't heard shots near my apartment, but I tend to avoid spending any time near Wilson/Broadway. The only reason good enough to be around there is to get to Uptown bikes.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on December 9, 2011 at 2:23pm

Amber.  In April of last year, I gave a two week notice for the job I had.  They escorted me out of the building that day.  lol.  The next day I went and bought my bike and have been in love ever since.  Ah freedom.

Permalink Reply by nik was here on December 9, 2011 at 3:02pm

That's a bummer of a story, but a good twist with the magic carpet that whisks you away to all the better places and moments.

Happy Riding! Soon it will be a ride to work, from a nicer apartment. 

Permalink Reply by Michelle Gregorek on December 9, 2011 at 3:23pm

lol, my quitting was a necessary thing, not a luxury.  These things happen and that is why a good goal is 6 months living expenses saved.  It will take me awhile to get back up there, but I am enjoying the ride!

Amber said:

Although I lost my job- didn't have the luxury of quitting during this recession!  I had a low wage position at a local arts center. Paid shit and barley insured, however it was a really fun place to work and I met some very, very exceptional people.

Permalink Reply by Ricardo J Rivera on December 9, 2011 at 3:54pm

+1

I agree. 

Jeff Schneider said:

I hope you get the opportunity to see some of the good things in Uptown.  I've been here a few years and have never loved anyplace more.  It is diverse, fun, bike-friendly (compared to most of Chicago), and as you pointed out, a great base for bike travel all around the North Side.

Permalink Reply by dav on December 10, 2011 at 1:01am

As a fellow Uptown resident I hope you also bought one or more high quality locks. ;)

Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on December 10, 2011 at 6:44am

Yay! post of pic of that sweet ride! Where did you get it? How was the buying experience? How do you keep it safe in Uptown?

Permalink Reply by Mike Zumwalt on December 10, 2011 at 7:34am

It's not just Uptown, but stay warm and safe.

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on December 10, 2011 at 7:38am

I live in Ravenswood, on the west side of the Metra tracks.  I've been riding through Uptown for the past 11 years on my way to and from the lake front.  

More than a few times local resident school kids have thrown eggs at me.

Several times and typically early in the morning, local teens have stepped in the street in front of me while riding through and have mimed shooting me.  Nice.  

I usually get some epithets thrown my way and it doesn't matter which bike I'm riding nor how I'm dressed.

I have a lot of choice words for Uptown but I'll just say it's not really my favorite part of Chicago.

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on December 10, 2011 at 8:10am

I'm  not generalizing at all, Howard, and I don't believe anyone else is and I'm surprised at you for saying such a thing.  I live next to and travel through Uptown, and mostly on a daily basis.  My opinions of Uptown are also formed after living in Chicago for 20+ years and traveling in and out of Uptown that entire time.  There are cool things about the neighborhood and me, being me, am a fan of the cool things associated with boozing, like the Green Mill.

When I was searching to purchase a condo in 1999, my realtor showed me some fantastic properties in Uptown.  I had a dog at the time and walked him at all hours of the night and day.  I looked around the neighborhood and asked myself if I wanted to have him out at 2AM.

No fucking way, no fucking way.  

Granted, there is crime everywhere.  Take Wrigleyville for instance.   My alley between Wilton and Fremont when I lived there was so clean one could have eaten off the street but I didn't trust that neighborhood as far as I could throw it.  Lots of varied crime in Wrigleyville and in Ravenswood so my head is always on a swivel.

Nowhere I've ever ridden have I had eggs thrown at me, nor some young dipshits miming shooting me, nor epithets thrown in my direction while riding through and minding my own business, like has happened to me in Uptown.



h' said:

Like any Chicago "community area," Uptown has some good spots and some not-so-good spots, and I think it does a neighborhood a disservice to make negative generalizations.

That said, not too long ago I tried playing with an Orchestra that met on Lawrence about 5 blocks east of Broadway.  Each time I made that walk between the red line station and the rehearsal location (carrying a rather expensive instrument) I felt a little dumber for putting myself in that situation.  Ultimately I quit, mostly due to the distance I needed to travel to get there, but in significant part due to fear.

Permalink Reply by Wesley Dolezal on December 10, 2011 at 8:35am

Uptown has its problems (like any urban neighborhood), but it is by far not one of the worst neighborhoods in the city.  I've lived here for 4 years and bike throughout the neighborhood almost every day.  I haven't had any issues biking in Uptown that I haven't experienced elsewhere in the city.

Permalink Reply by Craig S. on December 10, 2011 at 9:23am

Ah, I understand what you mean.  

Drilling down to where specific instances happened in my case, I'm not sure if that's valid or necessary.  I take Leland to get to the lake and Leland/Broadway is where some of the eggings occurred.  Now, it's a very low percentage of my total travels through Leland/Broadway that I was egged and would I suggest others avoid that intersection?  No, not at all because I still travel through there.  I just keep my head on a swivel and as Wesley noted, he's not experienced any of this and I'm sure many other Uptown Chainlink members have not as well.

I'm not here to cause a fight as there's been no mention of bacon, plus I did my part of including liquor in the discussion as that's the only way I'll get involved on this blasted Chainlink forum anymore; I'm just here to offer up my observations and maybe a little bit of support to Amber's plight.  

Now where'd I put my 2 o'clock cocktail...


h' said:

Craig, see my subsequent post-- I'm not sure my specific point is coming across.



Craig S. said:

I'm  not generalizing at all, Howard, and I don't believe anyone else is and I'm surprised at you for saying such a thing.  I live next to and travel through Uptown, and mostly on a daily basis.  My opinions of Uptown are also formed after living in Chicago for 20+ years and traveling in and out of Uptown that entire time.  There are cool things about the neighborhood and me, being me, am a fan of the cool things associated with boozing, like the Green Mill.

When I was searching to purchase a condo in 1999, my realtor showed me some fantastic properties in Uptown.  I had a dog at the time and walked him at all hours of the night and day.  I looked around the neighborhood and asked myself if I wanted to have him out at 2AM.

No fucking way, no fucking way.  

Granted, there is crime everywhere.  Take Wrigleyville for instance.   My alley between Wilton and Fremont when I lived there was so clean one could have eaten off the street but I didn't trust that neighborhood as far as I could throw it.  Lots of varied crime in Wrigleyville and in Ravenswood so my head is always on a swivel.

Nowhere I've ever ridden have I had eggs thrown at me, nor some young dipshits miming shooting me, nor epithets thrown in my direction while riding through and minding my own business, like has happened to me in Uptown.



h' said:

Like any Chicago "community area," Uptown has some good spots and some not-so-good spots, and I think it does a neighborhood a disservice to make negative generalizations.

That said, not too long ago I tried playing with an Orchestra that met on Lawrence about 5 blocks east of Broadway.  Each time I made that walk between the red line station and the rehearsal location (carrying a rather expensive instrument) I felt a little dumber for putting myself in that situation.  Ultimately I quit, mostly due to the distance I needed to travel to get there, but in significant part due to fear.

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