Lakefront Path to Loop via the Riverwalk

I'm taking the Lakefront Path from the North most days. While I appreciate the bike lane on Randolph, the insane tangle of cars at Michigan/Randolph makes it hardly worth it.

I am curious if anyone takes the Riverwalk on a bike from the Lakefront Path to get around traffic?  My destination is LaSalle/Madison, so I thought of heading on the Riverwalk to Dearborn or LaSalle and then going due south.

Does anyone do this? Is it possible?

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on September 13, 2017 at 6:29am

Bob, how was the August critical mass?

Permalink Reply by curt(is) locke on September 13, 2017 at 7:01am

Sorry, but I can't relate to this at all. Your total aversion to riding in the street is a huge limitation to being an urban cyclist. 

Permalink Reply by Brian S on September 13, 2017 at 9:12am

Total aversion?  I just said I don't want to go through Randolph/Michigan.  I ride on the street plenty, but don't mind avoiding it if I can.

Permalink Reply by Brian S on September 13, 2017 at 4:52pm

As a daily, year-round urban cyclist, I'd say no, the Riverwalk is not a good alternative. It's too pedestrian-oriented to make a safe or efficient bike path.

As a daily lunch hour pedestrian on the Riverwalk, I'd say no, it's not a good alternative. It's too pedestrian-oriented to make a safe or efficient bike path. Today I got bumped in the calf by a biker who couldn't go slow enough around a crowded bend. I just about wanted to toss him into the river, after his bike.

Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on September 14, 2017 at 3:33am

+1

Permalink Reply by Ryan Stahlman on September 15, 2017 at 2:49am

I've used LFT/Monroe/Michigan/Madison route for several years and found it worked really well. Since the Randolph bike lane was finished and they finished construction at the Oriental Theater, I made the switch to LFT/Maggie Daley Park/Randolph/Dearborn.

I've found this to be a great alternative with the only hairy point at Randolph & Michigan like the OP points out. The bike lane markings on the east of Michigan have worn mostly off and are in need of desperate care. I think new paint and some green treatment (like at westbound Kinzie  + Wells) might mitigate some of the craziness. Hopefully the streets department will touch these up before winter.

Permalink Reply by Christopher TerMaat on September 17, 2017 at 8:38am

I use the Riverwalk twice every day as a pedestrian commuter to cover the distance between Union Station and Michigan Avenue.  I also bike it occasionally on recreational weekend rides.  I understand why cycllists find it a compelling option for crossing the Loop.  But cyclists need to respect the fact that the Riverwalk is a pedestrian path and it's their right-of-way.  When the Riverwalk is busy -- like, say, any summer afternoon -- it's simply not viable for cycling.  You will be forced to walk your bike through the crowds.

You can get away with it when there is very little pedestrian traffic -- perhaps, say, early in the morning.  But, even when it's viable, cyclists clearly introduce hazards on the Riverwalk.  They cannot cut the close corners as gracefully as the pedestrians.  And, as others have pointed out, the pedestrians -- tourists, commuters or partiers -- will not cut you any slack.

Permalink Reply by Allan on October 3, 2017 at 4:32pm

I'm very, very behind as heck on finally exploring the new Riverwalk area. :( I'm sure I'll do a visit to that area, soon enough. Hopefully before the weather gets too cold this fall, and sometime by later this month or November. Are the restaurants and other places on the Riverwalk open on weekends, or do a lot of the places shut down(shudder, I hate that so much) like in the rest of the Loop?

And are there any other ramps to get down to river level, besides the ramp at Lake and Wacker? I'll brave carrying a bike up or down the stairs if I have to, though. As I've done that in other places, when biking in the past. Sorry if some of these questions may sound stupid to others, as I've never explored the Riverwalk before. Sigh, yes I am that behind on getting there, but I want to change that before the end of 2017!

Permalink Reply by David P. on October 4, 2017 at 6:08am

There is a ramp at Wabash - it is on the east side of the street.

Permalink Reply by Ethan N-G on October 5, 2017 at 9:12pm
I take the Riverwalk some mornings. I'm always off the path before 8am and I never use it later in the day. I also get off at one of the two more Eastern ramps, and take Wacker to Dearborn and head south to my destination on Jackson.

If you ride pretty early in the morning this can work. I have a fairly long daily commute (28 miles round-trip) and take this route mostly because I enjoy a slower and scenic cool down before getting to work. As others have pointed out, there are some kinda blind curves and even in the best circumstances it isn't an especially fast route.
Permalink Reply by Jeff Blumenthal on October 16, 2017 at 2:50am

I grit my teeth and do the Randolph bit.  It isn't called the RiverWALK for nothing -- even early in the morning.

BTW:  The Michigan - Randolph intersection is a nightmare primarily due to pedestrians walking against the light.  The traffic guards provide little control.

Permalink Reply by Gage B. on October 16, 2017 at 6:55am

Right now with it being flooded, it literally is the "riverwalking into the riverwalk"

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