getting to Toyota Park (and searching)

Might make a last-minute drastic change of plans and go to the Dylan show at Toyota Park tonight, as a friend offered me an unused ticket. I won't have time to go home, wouldn't want to deal with parking my car anyway, and he's riding, too. But it's a bit out there and I've never been remotely near there on a bicycle. I'd be coming from the near northwest side. Google sends me along Archer for a looong ways, and I'm not a fan of Archer. Also there is the usual problem of river/freeway crossings on roads that are only good for cars. And Harlem seems impossible to avoid once you get there. I have no idea what Harlem is like down there. Any suggestions? I tried to search but the search function seems to be inop.

Views: 251

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JeffB on July 12, 2013 at 7:55am

Never been, but it looks like Kedzie or California would be good options to get you past the river and the Stevenson, then take 55th to Narragansett to 63rd (or just take 63rd all the way from Kedzie) to Harlem for the last stretch 

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 12, 2013 at 8:00am

You DON'T want to be on Harlem - heavy fast traffic with lots of big trucks. Archer is no picnic either.

There are very few rideable crossings of the Stevenson and the Sanitary & Ship Canal.  The Kedzie bridge is under construction, so California is the westernmost rideable crossing.  You can take California south as far as 71st.  Go east to Maplewood, then south to Columbus.  Note - Columbus is industrial and fast, but you don't need to be on it very long.  Also, I don't recommend this for a late night return, as the 'hood may be a bit too lively.  At Lawndale (6-way intersection), turn right, then left on 83rd St.  Continue west on 83rd St. PAST Harlem to Oketo.  Turn right on Oketo (residential street), which will take you all the way to 71st - across the street from Toyota Park.

Unfortunately, 71st is interrupted by rail lines and huge rail yard between California and Harlem, so you can't get through that way.  79th has heavy fast traffic with big trucks.  83rd St. is a bit of a detour, but it's the safest east-west route.  It's residential and has no bus - relatively tame.

As an alternative, take the orange line to Midway, go east on 59th and south on Kostner. That will take you as far as 69th, then the only way to continue south is on Pulaski, which is rather fast and brutal near Ford City.  At Ford City Dr. (7700S), go west back to Kostner.  There's a barrier for cars, but it has a pedestrian opening to get through to Kostner. Continue south to 83rd St., west to Oketo, then north to 71st (as in directions above).

Permalink Reply by David P. on July 12, 2013 at 9:48am

Thanks - after writing, I thought to look at transit options and saw the Pace shuttle from MDW, and that seems like a no-brainer. Ride downtown, where I have super-secure parking, walk to Clark/Lake, take train and bus, relax the whole way.

Permalink Reply by David P. on July 13, 2013 at 5:15am

Took the Red Line from Clybourn to the Loop, Orange Line to Midway, then PACE shuttle. Walked out of my office at 5:15 and was at the park in an hour and a half. Super easy, so it's a no-brainer for me to do it again if I ever go out there again. Friend took a taxi for some reason from his Loop office and traffic was so bad it took him the same hour and a half it took me, but he spent $50 vs. my $2.50! One of my friends had driven so he drove us both home. Everything between the park and Archer was super gnarly - no way would i ride on that. I'm thankful for good transit!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on July 13, 2013 at 9:30am

Glad to hear that it worked out. Sounds like the best solution all around.

David P. said:

Took the Red Line from Clybourn to the Loop, Orange Line to Midway, then PACE shuttle. Walked out of my office at 5:15 and was at the park in an hour and a half. Super easy, so it's a no-brainer for me to do it again if I ever go out there again. Friend took a taxi for some reason from his Loop office and traffic was so bad it took him the same hour and a half it took me, but he spent $50 vs. my $2.50! One of my friends had driven so he drove us both home. Everything between the park and Archer was super gnarly - no way would i ride on that. I'm thankful for good transit!

Permalink Reply by David P. on July 14, 2013 at 6:32am

No, I didn't get there until partway through MMJ's set. I've never been really into Wilco or anything but I've heard them and liked them - this was the first time I've listened to them with intenetion and I liked them a lot. I've listened to Dylan since I was a kid but mostly acoustic era, which is to say really old (The newst thing I have is an LP of Nashville Skyline, which I like a lot) and it seemed dumb to pass up a chance to see him. I don't really know any of his newer stuff. Show  sounded great to me, though I don't know why people started leaving early in an attempt to "beat the traffic." The performances were all almost perfectly on-schedule, with ca. 15-minute intermissions.

h' 1.0 said:

I was glad to see you'd found a solution but worried about the trip home, having experienced really crappy return service from the Allstate Arena (they didn't roll the first bus up until almost an hour after the show had ended.)

Did you get there in time for Richard Thompson? He's on my "need to see before too late" list.... Wilco I've seen plenty-- always give 150%....

Almost afraid to ask... how did Bob Dylan do?

Looking at that lineup I'd guess they'd have to cut the show into fairly short sets-- 30 for Richard, 40 for Wilco, 60 for Bob and 60 for MMJ?

RSS

Groups

© 2008-2016   The Chainlink Community, L.L.C.   Powered by

Disclaimer  |  Report an Issue  |  Terms of Service