Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Anne B. on June 17, 2013 at 2:25pm

I'm sorry I don't have any suggestions but does anyone know if this info (about the Prairie Trail, same thing I think?) is still true and if there's a safe detour route? 

TRAIL CLOSURE - ALGONQUIN: The Prairie Trail will be closed between Main St. in Algonquin Rd. to just south of the connecting trail from a subdivision off Pyott Rd (at the Material Service wash plant). There will be no access from the Meyer Road Parking Lot until July 30th to ALL thru traffic. The Meyer Rd. Parking Lot is closed and will reopen in mid June for southbond trail users only.

From: http://www.mccdistrict.org/web/re-bicycling.htm

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Permalink Reply by Norman 5 on June 17, 2013 at 2:33pm

I don't think its the same, Illinois Prairie Path east end starts from Maywood

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Permalink Reply by Anne B. on June 17, 2013 at 2:36pm

Whoops, sorry for the distraction from your question! :) Too many trails and not enough brain space for me to keep them straight, apparently. 

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Permalink Reply by Norman 5 on June 17, 2013 at 2:38pm

No worries. Thanks for trying

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Permalink Reply by Steven Vance on June 17, 2013 at 5:33pm

I recently rode from Humboldt Park to the Illinois Prairie Path. 

The EASIEST route is to hop on the Blue Line to Forest Park and then bike up the hill towards the west and enter the IPP's little brother that connects Harlem Avenue in Forest Park and 1st Avenue in Maywood. 

The route I took from HP to IPP was Washington Street through the west side and Oak Park. It was very pleasant (speaking about comfortability riding in those neighborhoods). There was some mild road construction, nothing that requires any detour or avoidance. 

Are you going with someone?

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Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on June 17, 2013 at 6:08pm

The route of the 2012 Four Star Bike Tour was fairly good, leaving from UIC and going through Pilsen. Once you are in Cicero, 26th Street is acceptable through Cicero, Berwyn and Riverside to the Salt Creek Trail at 26th and First. Honestly, I might take that all the way to Elmhurst, where it almost intersects the Prairie Path. Other options include 17th, which is somewhat acceptable, or leaving the Salt Creek trail at Cermak and Mannheim, and taking Westchester Boulevard to the Prairie Path.

Those are my thoughts-- but I'm sure they could be refined.

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Permalink Reply by Tim Heckman on June 18, 2013 at 12:40am

I was probably unclear-- 17th and Westchester Boulevard are your two N/S connecting options between the Salt Creek trail and the Prairie Path. Train tracks and a creek crossing eliminate most of the side streets.

As another poster mentioned, Washington from the west side, through Oak Park, River Forest and Maywood, has reasonable traffic levels and is potentially more direct.

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Permalink Reply by Norman 5 on June 18, 2013 at 4:08pm

Thanks for the suggestions!

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Permalink Reply by Ash L. on June 19, 2013 at 4:23pm

If you can get out to Forest Park, I typically go via Washington or Augusta but other streets further south may work (anyone ride Jackson or Garfield through the west side?), you can enter the very start of the IPP from Concordia Cemetery on Madison. I've never had a problem riding through the cemetery but would dismount and walk through if there were mourners/funerals in progress. Where the paths merge, make a right and take the little ped bridge over the river to connect with Maybrook Dr, cross at 1st and you'll be at the start of the trail. It's super easy if you look at a map when reading the above details. 

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Permalink Reply by Michael J Blane on June 20, 2013 at 1:28am

The Blue Line suggestion might be a problem traveling to/from work, if it coincides with the CTA/RTA "rush-hour" no-bike block-out times.

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