Route Riding Northbound on Canal

Hi guys!

So I'm a bit new to commuting by bike, but I love it so far. I'm trying to ride my bike anywhere that I would normally use the CTA to get to.


This week I need to get from Pilsen (my hood) to Hubbard and LaSalle. Ride the City (http://www.ridethecity.com/chicago) wants to take me north on Canal. 

Has anyone ever ridden on Canal? I've taken the 60 a bit over the winter, which uses Canal, and it always seems like a clusterf&*K of commuter buses, taxis, megabuses and CTA buses. 

Thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Rich S on June 18, 2014 at 3:08am

I like Canal when it's not busy downtown but haven't ridden during rush hour. From Pilsen I would take either Loomis or Racine to Jackson to Green to Kinzie under Halsted to LaSalle. Hubbard is just one block north of Kinzie. 

Something like this route here:  http://goo.gl/maps/ZSzL1

Google maps won't let me do it but you can take a right at Vernon Pkwy and then a left on Morgan in UIC to get across the Eisenhower. It's a sidewalk through the blue line station so you have to watch out for pedestrians. However I believe that sidewalk is under construction so may be closed. 

Permalink Reply by Lowrunna on June 18, 2014 at 3:19am

thanks!!!

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 18, 2014 at 3:42am

I'd agree with Rich's suggestions above - reasonable routes. Canal is pretty much always a clusterf!@K at rush hour. Clinton, Jefferson and Desplaines (each 1-way w/moderate traffic) are reasonable N-S routes between the expressway and the river.

Permalink Reply by grayn8 on June 18, 2014 at 4:15am
Sadly, during the Roosevelt construction I thought one day why not head north up canal to meet up with some friends in humboldt as opposed to heading west first (I like California but was coming from flo and santos. Any way, classic shove situation on canal where I ended up choosing to hit the guard rail as opposed to the car pushing over. Got scratched up and some crazy bruising on my flank. Normal canal is great, but dang avoid during rush hour.

TL;dr year long commuter agrees avoid canal during rush hour
Permalink Reply by Lowrunna on June 18, 2014 at 4:41am


oh man. Sorry you got roughed up. Thanks for sharing. I'll make sure to avoid it like the plague.
grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

Sadly, during the Roosevelt construction I thought one day why not head north up canal to meet up with some friends in humboldt as opposed to heading west first (I like California but was coming from flo and santos. Any way, classic shove situation on canal where I ended up choosing to hit the guard rail as opposed to the car pushing over. Got scratched up and some crazy bruising on my flank. Normal canal is great, but dang avoid during rush hour.

TL;dr year long commuter agrees avoid canal during rush hour
Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on June 18, 2014 at 6:56am

Very sorry to hear it.

grayn8 (5.3 - 36) said:

Sadly, during the Roosevelt construction I thought one day why not head north up canal to meet up with some friends in humboldt as opposed to heading west first (I like California but was coming from flo and santos. Any way, classic shove situation on canal where I ended up choosing to hit the guard rail as opposed to the car pushing over. Got scratched up and some crazy bruising on my flank. Normal canal is great, but dang avoid during rush hour.

TL;dr year long commuter agrees avoid canal during rush hour

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