What Are Your Favorite Chicago-Area Bike Lanes, Paths & Routes?

Ok, now that we've been exploring the routes we avoid in the "Dreaded Bike-Unfriendly Streets", what are routes you prefer to take? Whether you are commuting, going for a weekend bike ride, or just heading to the grocery store, do you have some favorite bike routes?

The Mellow Chicago Bike Map Updated 6/20/18 - Collaboration of The Chainlink & Streetsblog

John gives a great recap of everything we've recommended in his article. Definitely worth a read!

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Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on August 29, 2017 at 5:45am

Hey -- See the map on page 5 (at this point in time) of this thread.  For many years I rode your route, but I recently began to take Greenview instead of Southport from Wilson to Clybourn (Well, going south, I turn east on Belden to go back to Southport, so that I can have a signal where I make a left onto southeast-bound Clybourn.)  The maps shows the two difficult crossings and, when going southbound, the counter-flow sections. 

Permalink Reply by Shawn Evans on May 15, 2017 at 7:28pm

Halsted is not the best route. Too much traffic.

Try this: Southbound: Southport-Belden-Lincoln-Larrabee-Oak-Cambridge/Kingsbury-Kinzie-Wells.

            Northbound: Dearborn-Kinzie-Kingsbury-Erie-Larrabee-Dickens-(Oz Park)-Dickens-Magnolia-Webster-Southport.

To get to the West Loop train stations, I don't take Kinzie (Make a left onto Clinton under the viaduct while avoiding cars and bikes from all directions? No thanks). Instead, I take the Grand bridge over the river, then ride through the weedy lot, under the (empty) viaduct (mind the puddles/mud), then behind the chocolate factory to Kinzie, cross Kinzie (it's safer there), then take the alley around to Clinton.

Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 16, 2017 at 5:55am

Interesting, but I find Clybourn (from Southport) really easy/comfortable, so I'm not saving much there...  Guess i could ditch Clybourn at Larrabee, but (again) Orleans is ok before you come to Ontario/Ohio ramps.  If I turn left off of Orleans at Erie and go to Wells, then I wood avoid counterflow / sidewalk riding on Orleans/Franklin bridge.  I find southbound Wells under the "L" a bit crazy ...

Permalink Reply by Shawn Evans on May 16, 2017 at 3:56pm

I only mention those streets because they have less traffic and fewer stoplights. Plus, Wells has a bike lane with a path over the bridge to get you to the Loop. From there, you can take various routes thru downtown.

The west side is full of trucks, so that route wouldn't work for you. Farther east in River North is packed with auto traffic, so I'd skip that. Larrabee/Kingsbury threads the needle. But Larrabee/Chicago is a mess (I think Google or Groupon or somebody has their office there). Many cars, people, taxis, & shuttle buses. It's easier to go north thru there. I wouldn't take it south. That's why I list Cambridge southbound. And Kingsbury goes UNDER the Kennedy. No ramps. Traffic begone!

Permalink Reply by Allan on May 16, 2017 at 11:28am

Where in Edgewater do you live? If I'm biking a route like that, usually I take Clark south to Southport, then go on Southport to Clybourn, then take that south to Division, then Orleans. Of course it gets a little tricky the further south you go into River North, since you face one way streets going north or south. You could also alter Southport in favor of Racine, since a benefit about Racine is that it has less truck traffic vs. Southport.

Also from Clybourn, you could try making a right on Larrabee, a left turn onto Chicago(note it's only for just 1 block), then south on Kingsbury. One way you could change this route up, is to instead turn left(southeast) onto Lincoln at either Southport or Racine, then go south on either Larrabee or Sedgwick when you hit either street. Good luck, I'm sure you'll find a good route somehow. Turning left is a PITA at those 2 Lincoln intersections going south, so you might find it easier to stay on Southport or Racine till you hit Clybourn.

Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 17, 2017 at 6:06am

Today, I tried a new route that was very nice -- especially given the construction on Southport!  It starts out the same (from Edgewater Glen neighborhood): I ride south across Ridge on Glenwood on the new counter-flow bike lane to Winnemac; then, I turn right to Clark; then, I ride south on Clark to Wilson; then, right on Wilson for one block to Greenview; then south on Greenview all the way to Clybourn. This Greenview route includes a couple of "counterflow" sections, but the road is low-volume, low-speed, and plenty wide, so it was very comfortable. This Greenview route also includes two fairly difficult crossings: one at Irving Park and one at Addison.  Here is a screen capture:

Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 16, 2017 at 6:01am

For my Ravenswood to Loop commute, I like to take Leland as the route to the LFP. You have to turn on Sheridan and finish up on Wilson, but its relatively low traffic and calm. I remember hearing something about making it a greenway, but I think its fine as is.

Northbound in the evening, if I don't take the LFP, I like taking Franklin to Orleans to Clybourn to Damen. Once I get past the cluster-f of traffic on the half-mile stretch of Orleans between the river and Chicago, taking that route is actually pretty nice. Sometimes I use Kingsbury and Larrabee to bypass that worst section of Orleans.

I'll also echo the praise for Elston. Rarely feel unsafe on it.

For weekend rides, the North Branch Trail can't be beat. Never get tired of it, especially in the fall. I like a long morning ride to the end, then a short jaunt on Dundee and the service road just east of Skokie Blvd to Prairie Grass Cafe for a big brunch with their perfect lemon ricotta pancakes.

Can't wait to finally check out the North Branch extension. Even the ride to get there is nice, whether I take Ravenswood to Rosehill Cemetery (great fall foliage here too) to Bryn Mawr, or the North Shore Channel Trail to Bryn Mawr.

Permalink Reply by Alex Z on May 16, 2017 at 6:11am

Impossible to read this post without wanting to get on a bike!

Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 16, 2017 at 6:19am

Doesn't Damen feel a bit cramped (with door zone on the right and lots of cars on your left)?

Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 16, 2017 at 6:41am

I've never felt that way. Maybe I've just inured myself to it, but other than the recent spots of construction its not bad. A good alternative north of Diversey is Wolcott. Relatively wide neighborhood street. I used to use it more often when the pavement was worse on Damen.

Permalink Reply by ChicagoCyclist on May 16, 2017 at 6:52am

Thanks. On routes like Damen, I basically ride on/near the bike lane line.  I was once told by an international bicycle safety expert, "Never ride in the door zone! Period."  When I ride on/near the bike lane line, some drivers (quite a few, actually) don't know how to pass -- i.e. go into the other lane to provide a minimum of 3' (preferably, 5-6') of space between their car and the cyclist.  Some that do, if traffic is heavy, have to wait a long time. This makes some drivers angry, so, when they get a chance, they floor it.  Kind of annoying.

When Wolcott crosses major roads/arterials, are there signals or are they uncontrolled crossings (i.e. stop signs on Wolcott but no control on major streets)?

Permalink Reply by JeffB on May 16, 2017 at 7:57am

Lights at Diversey, Belmont, Addison and Grace/Lincoln. Four way stops at other intersections.

North of Grace, Leavitt is another good alternative to Damen, as long as you're heading north. Otherwise, use Ravenswood.

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