Route advice from downtown to Blue Island - The Chainlink2024-03-28T14:43:24Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/route-advice-from-downtown-to-blue-island?feed=yes&xn_auth=noEconomically challenged areas…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9598832015-12-17T19:17:40.297ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>Economically challenged areas where there may be lots of vacant lots, boarded up buildings and illicit street corner activity by folks who may not want to be observed.</p>
<p>Economically challenged areas where there may be lots of vacant lots, boarded up buildings and illicit street corner activity by folks who may not want to be observed.</p> If you're coming off the Majo…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9596642015-12-17T19:15:49.481ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>If you're coming off the Major Taylor Trail from 87th St, you don't have to cross the tracks, just turn right (west). If you pass through there, Longwood Drive is the first street after the park (slightly uphill). Note that Longwood is interrupted at 95th St. You can cross at a crosswalk and go 1/2 block west to continue southbound.</p>
<p>If you're coming off the Major Taylor Trail from 87th St, you don't have to cross the tracks, just turn right (west). If you pass through there, Longwood Drive is the first street after the park (slightly uphill). Note that Longwood is interrupted at 95th St. You can cross at a crosswalk and go 1/2 block west to continue southbound.</p> Very nice. Incorporates the g…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9596572015-12-17T18:01:27.064ZDuppiehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Duppie
Very nice. Incorporates the great feedback in this thread.<br />
One note: I believe you can cross the tracks at 91st Street, and catch Longwood Drive right there. There is a curb cutout that allows bike to go through.
Very nice. Incorporates the great feedback in this thread.<br />
One note: I believe you can cross the tracks at 91st Street, and catch Longwood Drive right there. There is a curb cutout that allows bike to go through. That's a very rideable route.…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9598182015-12-17T17:50:48.353ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>That's a very rideable route. I recommend being aware of your surroundings from 63rd to 67th on King Dr. Been harassed there by peds hanging out on the sidewalk on more than one occasion.</p>
<p>That's a very rideable route. I recommend being aware of your surroundings from 63rd to 67th on King Dr. Been harassed there by peds hanging out on the sidewalk on more than one occasion.</p> Halsted to Vincennes is good…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9592682015-12-17T13:52:57.867ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>Halsted to Vincennes is good - see previous notes.</p>
<p>Halsted to 47th to Damen is also good - less traffic than Halsted to Vincennes. South of 47th, Damen is relatively quiet.</p>
<p></p>
<p>A pleasant route through Beverly/Morgan Park: At 87th, go south on the Major Taylor Trail. When you reach 91st, turn right and go through the curb cut at the cul de sac west of the Metra tracks. Go uphill on 91st to Winchester and turn left. Follow Winchester to 94th, turn right on 94th, then left on…</p>
<p>Halsted to Vincennes is good - see previous notes.</p>
<p>Halsted to 47th to Damen is also good - less traffic than Halsted to Vincennes. South of 47th, Damen is relatively quiet.</p>
<p></p>
<p>A pleasant route through Beverly/Morgan Park: At 87th, go south on the Major Taylor Trail. When you reach 91st, turn right and go through the curb cut at the cul de sac west of the Metra tracks. Go uphill on 91st to Winchester and turn left. Follow Winchester to 94th, turn right on 94th, then left on Damen. Damen makes a left-right dogleg at 95th. Continue to 98th, then turn right to Leavitt. Continue south on Leavitt to 105th or 106th, then turn right to Bell and continue south. Bell is good to 119th, though using 115th to cross Western is more pleasant (via cul de sac at Western). Go west to Maplewood then turn left and continue south. This becomes Ann St. in Blue Island. Somewhere before 123rd St., turn right and go one block west to Maple (has an all-important stoplight at 127th - busy truck route) to continue south. </p>
<p>Maple is good all the way to Vermont St., though Greenwood is more scenic south of 127th.</p>
<p>On the northbound, Hoyne/Seeley is a scenic combo through Morgan Park/Beverly, though it requires careful attention at street crossings at 107th, 103rd and 99th.</p>
<p></p>
<p>No matter which way you go, you will encounter some neighborhoods with challenges. That being said, I rarely have any hassles aside from the usual stuff we face in traffic.</p> That adds a LOT of mileage to…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9595832015-12-17T13:36:38.146ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>That adds a LOT of mileage to the trip.</p>
<p>That adds a LOT of mileage to the trip.</p> If you're riding Vincennes, I…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9594552015-12-17T13:35:59.894ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>If you're riding Vincennes, I second Jane's suggestion of a detour via Winneconna Parkway. It really is lovely.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/6700+S+Vincennes+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60621/@41.7517243,-87.6371096,555m/data=" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/maps/place/6700+S+Vincennes+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60621/@41.7517243,-87.6371096,555m/data=</a>!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x880e2f2fbb0a9605:0x51bfb051d8309742</p>
<p>If you're riding Vincennes, I second Jane's suggestion of a detour via Winneconna Parkway. It really is lovely.</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/6700+S+Vincennes+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60621/@41.7517243,-87.6371096,555m/data=" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/maps/place/6700+S+Vincennes+Ave,+Chicago,+IL+60621/@41.7517243,-87.6371096,555m/data=</a>!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x880e2f2fbb0a9605:0x51bfb051d8309742</p> I used to recommend using 81s…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9592642015-12-17T13:05:57.470ZAnne Althttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Anne91
<p>I used to recommend using 81st to cross from Vincennes to Halsted before the viaducts on Vincennes south of 83rd were repaved. Overall conditions on Vincennes are fairly good - most pavement is in good condition, with bike lanes.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I agree with Jane's preference of crossing the Ryan at 69th vs Marquette. Pavement conditions on Marquette are terrible. Traffic can be nasty. I'd avoid it.<br></br><br></br>A note on Jane's recommendation on Vincennes further south: there is a dangerously…</p>
<p>I used to recommend using 81st to cross from Vincennes to Halsted before the viaducts on Vincennes south of 83rd were repaved. Overall conditions on Vincennes are fairly good - most pavement is in good condition, with bike lanes.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I agree with Jane's preference of crossing the Ryan at 69th vs Marquette. Pavement conditions on Marquette are terrible. Traffic can be nasty. I'd avoid it.<br/><br/>A note on Jane's recommendation on Vincennes further south: there is a dangerously angled railroad crossing at 120th. If you are on Vincennes at this point, it's safer to turn your wheel briefly so you cross it at a 90 degree angle (or as close as conditions allow). People I know have crashed and gotten hurt at this crossing.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/12000+Vincennes+Rd,+Blue+Island,+IL+60406/@41.6754635,-87.6730633,192m/data=" target="_blank">https://www.google.com/maps/place/12000+Vincennes+Rd,+Blue+Island,+IL+60406/@41.6754635,-87.6730633,192m/data=</a>!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x880e24937fcf33ef:0x4c4772e0b597fe7b</p> Crossing the Dan Ryan at 69th…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9593442015-12-17T04:50:14.606ZJane Healyhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Jane
<p>Crossing the Dan Ryan at 69th gets my vote of approval. I much prefer it over Marquette.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Out of curiosity, why did you choose to jog over at 81st from Vincennes to Halsted? While 81st has less traffic, the condition of the road through the huge underpass is horrific. Meanwhile, Vincennes has brand new pavement and a beautifully marked bike lane past Simeon and under the trains.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I also would opt for Vincennes from the merge with Longwood at about 122nd St.…</p>
<p>Crossing the Dan Ryan at 69th gets my vote of approval. I much prefer it over Marquette.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Out of curiosity, why did you choose to jog over at 81st from Vincennes to Halsted? While 81st has less traffic, the condition of the road through the huge underpass is horrific. Meanwhile, Vincennes has brand new pavement and a beautifully marked bike lane past Simeon and under the trains.</p>
<p></p>
<p>I also would opt for Vincennes from the merge with Longwood at about 122nd St. Vincennes has a nice gentle climb to it and the road surface is substantially better than the alternatives. I would encourage you to take the entire right hand lane while riding there, btw. </p>
<p></p>
<p>For future reference, both the local bridges over the Cal-Sag will be redone and reopened to the public. The Chatham bridge will be redone for pedestrians and cyclists as part of the Cal-Sag Trail (2016-17). Division Street should be reopened to all traffic by next Spring. Once those are open, you could zip down Irving from Vincennes (up by Florence St), cross Burr Oak by Stan's Park, ride south past the hospital, jog east over the train tracks to Chatham, then cross the canal there.</p>
<p></p>
<p>Happy riding!</p> Thanks for the feedback so fa…tag:thechainlink.org,2015-12-17:2211490:Comment:9592482015-12-17T03:07:57.305ZDuppiehttps://thechainlink.org/profile/Duppie
<p>Thanks for the feedback so far. I am a confident rider, both from a public safety perspective as well as riding on busy streets. Still, I <strong>prefer </strong>nice and quiet routes</p>
<p></p>
<p>How about this? I combined Mike's and Jane's suggestions. I am familiar with Longwood, but I am not that famliar with crossing the express ways around 67th and Marquette.Is that doable?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Any advice is welcome…</p>
<p></p>
<p></p>
<p>Thanks for the feedback so far. I am a confident rider, both from a public safety perspective as well as riding on busy streets. Still, I <strong>prefer </strong>nice and quiet routes</p>
<p></p>
<p>How about this? I combined Mike's and Jane's suggestions. I am familiar with Longwood, but I am not that famliar with crossing the express ways around 67th and Marquette.Is that doable?</p>
<p></p>
<p>Any advice is welcome</p>
<p></p>
<p><a href="https://goo.gl/maps/M437DJcYs7J2" target="_blank">https://goo.gl/maps/M437DJcYs7J2</a></p>