South side to North side commute, what are your thoughts?

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Permalink Reply by h' Zerocats on March 9, 2010 at 12:08am

Here's what I would do*:
Find a painless way to 47th (sidewalk? Western is a death trap for bicycles at your latitude, whether you take the Ave. or the Blvd). 47th to Racine. Racine north to Hayes and Loomis. Loomis to Blue Island to Racine, west on Hubbard all the way to Damen, then Damen to Roscoe to Ravenswood to your destination.

(*Honestly, what I'd do is put my bike on the Western bus to Roscoe)

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Permalink Reply by RyanG on March 9, 2010 at 12:16am

I can't speak for Halsted south of Lake, but it's always clear for me on snowy days. As H3N3 said, stay off of Western if you want to live.

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Permalink Reply by mfa cycle factory on March 9, 2010 at 12:47am

I think like a grid,so therefore I am a grid.

I would take Western straight down,and then swing a right on Addison and go straight to Ravenswood....

however, let's talk reality here ,my good cycle brethren....you live right by the Orange line.Take that into the loop,and then bike it up to
Addison via Clark or hit the bike trail on the lake front .

I love to cycle great distances myself, but to endure a commute like that everyday?..... no way.......maybe once a week.....but not eveyday......balance it out some.

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Permalink Reply by Michael A on March 9, 2010 at 1:03am

There is always the lakefront trail, I live in Lincoln square and I ride into McCormick, but I do not know if I could do it daily, rain/shine/snow

mfa cycle factory said:

I think like a grid,so therefore I am a grid.
I would take Western straight down,and then swing a right on Addison and go straight to Ravenswood....
however, let's talk reality here ,my good cycle brethren....you live right by the Orange line.Take that into the loop,and then bike it up to
Addison via Clark or hit the bike trail on the lake front .

I love to cycle great distances myself, but to endure a commute like that everyday?..... no way.......maybe once a week.....but not eveyday......balance it out some.

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams on March 9, 2010 at 8:13am

H3N3 said:

Here's what I would do*:
Find a painless way to 47th (sidewalk? Western is a death trap for bicycles at your latitude, whether you take the Ave. or the Blvd). 47th to Racine. Racine north to Hayes and Loomis. Loomis to Blue Island to Racine, west on Hubbard all the way to Damen, then Damen to Roscoe to Ravenswood to your destination.

...

This sounds like a much better route than Halsted. Between Harrison and Chicago Halsted can be very unpleasant and potentially dangerous riding. It is mostly four lanes with the outside lines being "sharrowed" but that rarely works happily during rush hour when motorists are accustomed to using a full lane.

I think your intention to ride the whole way every day is commendable. Distance wise it can certainly be done if you leave yourself enough time.

The canonical advice in these situations is to try some routes on a Saturday or some other day off to see how long it takes and how the roads feel. You won't get an accurate picture of the traffic, but then again, traffic always seems worse when one is not familiar with a route.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 9, 2010 at 9:22am

I would consider Halsted from 47th to 63rd to be "ride at your own risk" unless you've got ride partners. It's fine through Bridgeport and Pilsen. From Harrison to Division, you've got very frequent stop lights (timed to make you stop OFTEN) and very bad pavement in some places.

From 51st, California is a better ride - moderate traffic, mostly residential. I've ridden it from 71st to Howard, and I like most of it. California to Division to Damen could give you a decent ride.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on March 9, 2010 at 11:31am

Oops, forgot about where California is interrupted from Fulton to Grand. Make that California to Jackson to Oakley to Division to Damen.

Anne Alt said:

I would consider Halsted from 47th to 63rd to be "ride at your own risk" unless you've got ride partners. It's fine through Bridgeport and Pilsen. From Harrison to Division, you've got very frequent stop lights (timed to make you stop OFTEN) and very bad pavement in some places.

From 51st, California is a better ride - moderate traffic, mostly residential. I've ridden it from 71st to Howard, and I like most of it. California to Division to Damen could give you a decent ride.

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