Struggling former city biker, now suburban mom. - The Chainlink2024-03-29T13:08:43Zhttps://thechainlink.org/forum/topics/struggling-former-city-biker-now-suburban-mom?feed=yes&xn_auth=noWhat I'm reading here is the…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-08:2211490:Comment:11059862018-09-08T23:24:45.488ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
<p>What I'm reading here is the fact that you have to actually "carve out" time. AKA leave a lot earlier. I miss the easy motivation in the city where it actually was less of a pain in the butt to bike than drive, walk or take public transit. Now it's soooo easy to drive. Good thing is that my sister who lives 1 block away is a 1 car family and they do a ton of walking (and some biking), so I have a good examples nearby. </p>
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<p>I am realizing that my next step is getting a bike…</p>
<p>What I'm reading here is the fact that you have to actually "carve out" time. AKA leave a lot earlier. I miss the easy motivation in the city where it actually was less of a pain in the butt to bike than drive, walk or take public transit. Now it's soooo easy to drive. Good thing is that my sister who lives 1 block away is a 1 car family and they do a ton of walking (and some biking), so I have a good examples nearby. </p>
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<p>I am realizing that my next step is getting a bike that my now 3.5 year old and I can bike comfortably and take on the metra. Will say goodbye most likely to my Taga 2.0 and transition on to something else comfortable that works for a 4 foot 9 adult. I will also get a tag a long, but love the idea of a cargo bike for the family. We do a decent amount of farmers market and outdoor pool trips by bike (since its less than a mile and on side streets). </p> Hey all, just logged in (was…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-08:2211490:Comment:11057612018-09-08T22:39:21.155ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
<p>Hey all, just logged in (was following the first day, then figured no one replied) and now 8 days later there are awesome responses. </p>
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<p>Will read them all and reply. It feels good to still feel like I have a community even out here.... my goal is to really get back on the bike again. I slip so much. Also need to work on the right bike set ups (that will come in a different, kinda specific question). </p>
<p>Hey all, just logged in (was following the first day, then figured no one replied) and now 8 days later there are awesome responses. </p>
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<p>Will read them all and reply. It feels good to still feel like I have a community even out here.... my goal is to really get back on the bike again. I slip so much. Also need to work on the right bike set ups (that will come in a different, kinda specific question). </p> yes, thanks. would love to m…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-08:2211490:Comment:11059842018-09-08T22:38:00.096ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
<p>yes, thanks. would love to meet up at NSC.</p>
<p>yes, thanks. would love to meet up at NSC.</p> Thanks! I'm not on strava but…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-08:2211490:Comment:11059832018-09-08T22:37:33.327ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
<p>Thanks! I'm not on strava but am happy to look at it. </p>
<p>Thanks! I'm not on strava but am happy to look at it. </p> Thanks. Yes, I'm very much s…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-08:2211490:Comment:11059792018-09-08T22:35:34.019ZJulie Aberman (Hochstadter)https://thechainlink.org/profile/JulieHochstadter
<p>Thanks. Yes, I'm very much still in research mode.... although local bike shop owner Greg is in agreement that Deerfield is not as bike friendly as it could be. And getting to neighboring Highland Park shouldn't be so harrowing either.</p>
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<p>I despise riding sidewalks and have to do it now. I feel like I have to have my hands literally on the brakes at all times due to the crazy sidewalk, driveways, etc. </p>
<p>Thanks. Yes, I'm very much still in research mode.... although local bike shop owner Greg is in agreement that Deerfield is not as bike friendly as it could be. And getting to neighboring Highland Park shouldn't be so harrowing either.</p>
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<p>I despise riding sidewalks and have to do it now. I feel like I have to have my hands literally on the brakes at all times due to the crazy sidewalk, driveways, etc. </p> We moved from Logan Square to…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-06:2211490:Comment:11058982018-09-06T15:20:05.231Zmarshmonsterhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/monkey
<p>We moved from Logan Square to Mount Prospect a year ago, and tbh my riding options have improved immensely. My commute went from 2 miles to 22 miles each way. I try to do the whole thing once a week if schedule permits, but that means I have to leave super early. I can also ride ~ 7 miles along the DPRT to the Cumberland station and take the bike on if early enough or lock it up there. I enjoy every second with my wife and kid, but if I don't forcefully carve out a schedule for riding it…</p>
<p>We moved from Logan Square to Mount Prospect a year ago, and tbh my riding options have improved immensely. My commute went from 2 miles to 22 miles each way. I try to do the whole thing once a week if schedule permits, but that means I have to leave super early. I can also ride ~ 7 miles along the DPRT to the Cumberland station and take the bike on if early enough or lock it up there. I enjoy every second with my wife and kid, but if I don't forcefully carve out a schedule for riding it won't happen. If someone else can handle dinner/bedtime one weeknight and you could get out one early weekend morning, that should help a lot. I also have some good lights, I can head out after the kid is in bed and get a good ~20+ miles in and be home at a decent hour. It has not been easy, but planning ahead and carving out time in the calendar has helped a lot. Good luck!</p> I've found simply that the Go…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-05:2211490:Comment:11058262018-09-05T16:23:05.584ZBrett Millerhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/BrettCMiller
<p>I've found simply that the Google maps app, with the green biking routes turned on is super-helpful for me to find routes in and out of the city. I'll bring up a map of where I want to go and try to find the green thread that runs in between destinations. I've used it everywhere, but certainly the Chicagoland area has so much bicycling infrastructure that I've never been unable to find at least a route to consider to get anywhere. Sometimes it is direct and sometimes it is not-so-direct, and…</p>
<p>I've found simply that the Google maps app, with the green biking routes turned on is super-helpful for me to find routes in and out of the city. I'll bring up a map of where I want to go and try to find the green thread that runs in between destinations. I've used it everywhere, but certainly the Chicagoland area has so much bicycling infrastructure that I've never been unable to find at least a route to consider to get anywhere. Sometimes it is direct and sometimes it is not-so-direct, and I get to make the decision about how far out of the way I am willing to go. It is not without its challenges, but I have found some great rides and errands run that I have done multiple times this way. And of course, the second and third time on a route feels more familiar and becomes easier to navigate. Routes found weren't always obvious, but if you want to see the route hard enough, it will appear!</p>
<p>As for the kiddos, I echo the advice about cultivating an understanding relationship with one's partner or support system otherwise. The younger ages of course make it tougher for carving out your own time, but they will watch you as they grow up and pick-up a few of the things you like to do (and disown others completely in healthy defiance!) and perhaps be out there learning the joys of discovering new routes with you in a few years.</p>
<p>Happy biking!</p> Julie;
YES!
We moved from Li…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-04:2211490:Comment:11056042018-09-04T20:08:00.968ZJeremyhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/JeremyJoslin
<p>Julie; </p>
<p>YES!</p>
<p>We moved from Lincoln Square to Downers Grove at the end of 2015 after our second kid. I had spent 10+ years on a bike in the city and it was the biggest thing I missed. Add on the kids doing all their activities around town and a bike didn't seem to be a practical option to make our schedules work. I had a trainer and tried to get out on the road whenever I could but seemed to hit a wall last summer. I just could not bare to do another trainer ride and was bummed…</p>
<p>Julie; </p>
<p>YES!</p>
<p>We moved from Lincoln Square to Downers Grove at the end of 2015 after our second kid. I had spent 10+ years on a bike in the city and it was the biggest thing I missed. Add on the kids doing all their activities around town and a bike didn't seem to be a practical option to make our schedules work. I had a trainer and tried to get out on the road whenever I could but seemed to hit a wall last summer. I just could not bare to do another trainer ride and was bummed about missing something I enjoyed, but didn't want to stop letting the kids try out activities they enjoyed just so I could ride more. </p>
<p>Thankfully, I got a closer job last fall and re-started a bike commute this summer. It's still 18 miles round trip so I started small, shooting for a couple of days a week, and it's been every bit as great as I remembered. The suburban drivers are a little worse, and there's almost no infrastructure for someone to actually bike somewhere they could just drive, but it's been totally worth the effort to get back into it. I try to time it so my wife can pick up the kids on days I ride and we make evening activities work as needed. </p>
<p>I applaud you for actively looking for ways to include something you enjoy in your new surroundings, and hope you find a solution quicker than I did!</p>
<p> </p> You don't say where you live…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-09-01:2211490:Comment:11052722018-09-01T21:49:37.802ZGary Gilberthttps://thechainlink.org/profile/GaryGilbert
<p>You don't say where you live but many of the burbs have Bike and Pedestrian Committees which advise the local mayor and trustees; Look to them in your town and neighboring towns to see what they have published in terms of bike routes and paths. Some have nothing in place but may have elaborate plans which range from neglect to actively being worked. In my experience the "downtown" areas often have places to lock up bikes and are more cycling friendly than the areas which spread along…</p>
<p>You don't say where you live but many of the burbs have Bike and Pedestrian Committees which advise the local mayor and trustees; Look to them in your town and neighboring towns to see what they have published in terms of bike routes and paths. Some have nothing in place but may have elaborate plans which range from neglect to actively being worked. In my experience the "downtown" areas often have places to lock up bikes and are more cycling friendly than the areas which spread along state roads which tend to intersect suburbs. Check the local library too (in my town the library lends bike locks to those who ride to the library)</p>
<p>There are dozens of local cycling clubs (both recreational and racing) which have one of more members who align with your needs and can help you with specific routes.</p>
<p>Check to see if your local public school participates in the Safe Routes to Schools program.</p>
<p>Chicago's grid system makes to easy to find a set of parallel routes of which one will be the safest for cyclists. Suburbs love non-linear streets, inconsistent numbering, and disparate neighborhoods. Those neighborhoods often have walkable and rideable passages between them - often 10 to 100 feet long - which may be a paved sidewalk or a dirt path which allow you to easily cut from one subdivision to another. they tend to be paved if kids need it to walk to school. Most of the limitations in the suburbs have to do with crossing an interstate highway/tollway, crossing a river, crossing train tracks, or anything near ohare.</p>
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<p>gary</p>
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<p></p> julie
It is hard. One reali…tag:thechainlink.org,2018-08-31:2211490:Comment:11054502018-08-31T16:48:24.111ZDavid Barishhttps://thechainlink.org/profile/DavidBarish
<p>julie</p>
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<p>It is hard. One reality is that with a little one you simply do not have the time you used to have. You will get it back! The other reality is that the farther we get from the city the more car-centric is the world. Fortunately, there are places to bike near you. However, those simple errands that city moms and dads might do on a cargo bike are not so easy for suburban ones. Keep on doing. The next thing you know you will have created a …</p>
<p>julie</p>
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<p>It is hard. One reality is that with a little one you simply do not have the time you used to have. You will get it back! The other reality is that the farther we get from the city the more car-centric is the world. Fortunately, there are places to bike near you. However, those simple errands that city moms and dads might do on a cargo bike are not so easy for suburban ones. Keep on doing. The next thing you know you will have created a little biker who will insist on riding on the North Branch trail and soon she will be dusting you but you will be proud of her as you struggle to catch up. I hope to see you at the NSC. </p>