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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on April 1, 2013 at 2:45am

I tried once and got as far as the big woodsy area to the east of the airport, which I couldn't figure out a good way to get through. I saw some cool deer in the woods, though.

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Permalink Reply by Duppie on April 1, 2013 at 3:03am

My company used to have an office in Shiller Park at Lawrence and Mannheim Rd. I rode my bike out there a few times (I just rode Lawrence all the way.) The big bottleneck is Lawrence over the Desplaines River: four lanes of high speed traffic. There was a path on the side of the road that was only good for mountain bikes. After a while I gave up riding my bike there.

If you don’t mind that you might be able to get to terminal 5 from there using some side streets. No guarantee on how safe that is. To get to terminal 1,2, or 3, I think you are stuck with taking the people mover.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on April 1, 2013 at 5:22am

My wife and I rode OUT of O'Hare after returning from a trip on the 4th of July (no bikes allowed on CTA trains that day).

The streets around, and out of, the airport are pretty-much terrifying to ride. They feel like riding on the shoulder of a four lane highway.... Once we got out of O'Hare we made a bee-line for the Des Plaines Trail and had a nice 10 mile offroad ride down to Diversey which led us back to Logan Square.

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on April 1, 2013 at 5:28am

I ride to my Mom's in Des Plaines almost every weekend and she lives just a few blocks northeast of Mannheim and Higgins. Best bet is to take Devon over the river. It's not ideal but the safest option between Higgins, Lawrence, or Irving Park. When Devon merges with Higgins then stay on Higgins and take a left on the side street where the Holiday Inn is.  That side street ends right by the O'Hare Metra stop. 

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 1, 2013 at 7:47am

Gotta love the city's priorities. They'd rather cater to tourists/suburbanites for the Taste weekend than provide a safe way to take one's bike into the city.

Kelvin Mulcky said:

My wife and I rode OUT of O'Hare after returning from a trip on the 4th of July (no bikes allowed on CTA trains that day).

The streets around, and out of, the airport are pretty-much terrifying to ride. They feel like riding on the shoulder of a four lane highway.... Once we got out of O'Hare we made a bee-line for the Des Plaines Trail and had a nice 10 mile offroad ride down to Diversey which led us back to Logan Square.

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Mulcky on April 1, 2013 at 7:53am

I know, I begged to take the EL for just one stop to get out of the terminal, but they weren't having any of that...

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Permalink Reply by Adam Z on April 1, 2013 at 7:56am

Officially they want you to take the Blue Line or take a shuttle from parking lot E, which is across the street from the mobile phone lot and Metra OHare stop.

http://www.flychicago.com/OHare/EN/GettingToFrom/BikeToAirport/biki...

They are unclear as to whether you can take your bike on the airport shuttle.

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Permalink Reply by JMinHP on April 1, 2013 at 8:20am

Someone needs spellcheck, badly:

"Airport employees can take advantage of the Hilton Athletic Club’s annal membership for reduced rates on access to the shower facilities."

Adam Z said:

Officially they want you to take the Blue Line or take a shuttle from parking lot E, which is across the street from the mobile phone lot and Metra OHare stop.

http://www.flychicago.com/OHare/EN/GettingToFrom/BikeToAirport/biki...

They are unclear as to whether you can take your bike on the airport shuttle.

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Permalink Reply by George Christensen on April 2, 2013 at 12:29pm

Julie: I've biked in and out of O'Hare numerous times, though always to or from the international terminal, which is more accessible by bike than the domestic terminals.  I take Irving Park to Manheim, head north and turn at the first light into the freight terminals.  I then right at the first intersection and follow that road for a few blcoks and then make a left.  When it comes to a T after three or for blocks I turn right until I come to the main artery leaving the international terminal.  I ride the sidewalk the last quarter mile.  If one is flying domestically, one can use the monorail system to connect to the other terminals.

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Permalink Reply by Julie Aberman (Hochstadter) on April 2, 2013 at 12:57pm

Thanks George! We are overdue on dinner!

George Christensen said:

Julie: I've biked in and out of O'Hare numerous times, though always to or from the international terminal, which is more accessible by bike than the domestic terminals.  I take Irving Park to Manheim, head north and turn at the first light into the freight terminals.  I then right at the first intersection and follow that road for a few blcoks and then make a left.  When it comes to a T after three or for blocks I turn right until I come to the main artery leaving the international terminal.  I ride the sidewalk the last quarter mile.  If one is flying domestically, one can use the monorail system to connect to the other terminals.

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