Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by JeffB on April 22, 2013 at 4:36am

Those train-track underpasses are always the worst.  There are few streets where you can get through unshaken.

The short block of Green St between Milwaukee and Grand is the worst I've seen.

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on April 22, 2013 at 4:50am

I used to ride Higgins every day in both directions.   My East Bound Trip, however, has now changed.    I turn off of Higgins basically at the bottom of Union Ridge (short of Nagle) and take an East West over to the foot bridge near Austin.   Over the footbridge, over the CNW tracks, up Austin to Bryn Mawr, Bryn Mawr to Elston, Elston to mumble which feeds me under the Edens at Forrest Glen and over to Brywn Mawr again.  A bit slower, but it "feels" a heck of a lot safer than Lawrence and avoids the real bad stretch on Higgins.   My old route was Higgins to Milwaukee to AInslie, 1 block on Cicero, Lawrence to Lawndale to Wilson.  Wilson the rest of the way.  I hated those blocks on Lawrence.

I'm the big guy on the old classic with bright orange and yellow.   Just swapped my Trek out (due to the need to replace the front brake and lack of fender capability) for my old Raleigh Alyeska.    I am a little nervous because I really have forgotten how hard it is to keep old style cantilever brakes in adjustment... and I think the handlebars are bent and I haven't had time to put on the replacements...  (mostly because I will have to unthread the brake cables ... and thus readjust the cantilevers...  Anyone know a good bike shop that will still know how to adjust old  cantilever brakes?  

envane (69 furlongs) said:

Holy crap, I was just going to post something bout Higgins.  I thought I was the only guy that even rides this street.  That one bit just past the Foster intersection is a moonscape and I'm always forced to ride on it because of the Higgins/Foster/Nagle signalization.  Speaking of which, that extra light for the gas station at Higgins/Foster is ridiculous and needs to go.

 

David crZven 10.6 said:

Let me put in my nomination for East Bound Higgins from Harlem to Lawrence, with particular emphasis at Foster and Higgins.   Its a very busy street (unlike some of the other cited roads) that is in horrific condition and getting worse by the day.  I have been forced to "re-route" my bicycle commute because the pavement has reached the point of wheel breaking danger for an extended period of time.

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on April 22, 2013 at 4:54am

My bad.   Yes, Higgins is really only real bad up to Central.   From Central to Milwaukee, its actually okay... well it has been okay.   I think it is because it is on a subtle upslope and thus the water has not stayed around long enough to freeze and make pot holes.    The worst is clearly the Foster/Nagle/Higgins intersection.    Its so bad as to be very dangerous.   And the way that the traffic and lights feed in, it already was a very dangerous intersection.  Higgins is a major road.  It is puzzlement as to why it is so badly ignored.

Duane Waller said:

You bet, right after you cross Foster on the south side of Higgins there are some whoppers of potholes to contend with. And it's kind of like that all the way to Central. 

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Permalink Reply by Justin B Newman on April 22, 2013 at 5:00am

Not denying that everyone shirks it. But... 

For a grade separated crossing, with the road going under the railroad, the Illinois Commerce Commission (who regulates the railroads) swears to me that there are no road jurisdiction issues ... the roadway surface is maintained like any other roadway. (Lighting, on the other hand, when mounted to the structure, is by "agreement" between the railroad and the City). 

peter moorman said:

Throw in the BRC railroad that crosses there and everyone shirks responsiblity on the others to maintain it.

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Permalink Reply by Juan Primo on April 22, 2013 at 5:11am

Cantilever brake setup should still be standard knowledge at any local bike shop.  I know that Sportif is the shop this forum loves to hate but they are on your route pretty much.

David crZven 10.6 said:

 Anyone know a good bike shop that will still know how to adjust old  cantilever brakes?  

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Permalink Reply by Adam Herstein on April 22, 2013 at 7:44am

Southport from Clybourn to Armitage is pretty awful.

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Permalink Reply by Haddon on April 22, 2013 at 4:49pm

I vote Halsted Street.

Not because of the road conditions but because of the traffic.  There are stretches with piles of traffic and tons of retail traffic - people turning in and out and it's miraculous that there aren't white painted bikes chained to posts all over the place. I guess the other version of this thread is where is the traffic the most harrowing.  There are also patches of Western that will certainly wake you up.

h

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Permalink Reply by Alex Z on April 23, 2013 at 2:02am

Which stretch of Halsted are you talking about? I find the stretch between Grand/Milwaukee and ~Armitage a little harrowing just because of how fast people drive. In the West Loop I sort of like it; it's a tight squeeze but at least people don't move too quickly. Or maybe you're talking about Lincoln Park/East Lakeview?

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on April 23, 2013 at 3:25am

I'd give that a vote from North Ave. up to Addison or so due to traffic conditions.

Haddon said:

I vote Halsted Street.

Not because of the road conditions but because of the traffic.  There are stretches with piles of traffic and tons of retail traffic - people turning in and out and it's miraculous that there aren't white painted bikes chained to posts all over the place. I guess the other version of this thread is where is the traffic the most harrowing.  There are also patches of Western that will certainly wake you up.

h

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Permalink Reply by Crazy David 84 Furlongs on April 23, 2013 at 4:02am

I used to live near Courtland/Ashland/Elston.   Ashland under the railroad viaduct was terrible.   They would repave Ashland and never touch it.   A number of us called to complain.  It was explained that due to the height (or lack thereof) of the viaduct and the nature of the signs, any repaving job could NOT reduce the clearance at all.  Apparently the fear was that some truck that used to fit would take the viaduct at high speed and hit it.  And then would sue since the truck always used to clear.   And because the liability would be so severe for the City and the contractor if the repaving job did reduce the clearance, no one was willing to repave those areas.   Now someone eventually did agree to repave that particular intersection, but that may be the reason.

peter moorman said:

I think it might be an issue that the machinery they use for repaving will not fit under these seperated crossings.

The last 4 crossings on Lake St before  Oak Park (excluding Austin Ave)are all in similar condition and have old pavers exposed beneath the asphalt.

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Permalink Reply by Nancy L. Fagin on April 26, 2013 at 3:58am

Walton between Ashland and Noble. Was there open warfare on this street?

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Permalink Reply by Chris Weber on April 26, 2013 at 4:56am

This a great thread. Maybe we should make this an official contest--present a certificate to the alderman of the "winning" street, etc. I am a freelance journalist and could write an article about it. Might shame the city into doing something.

Just an idea.

Chris 

christopherweberjournalist at gmail

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