"Secret" Streets that aren't well known

but are awesome to know about! I rode for many years without knowing about it, now I tell everyone.

Last night I rode my favorite 'secret street', Prairie Ave., it winds it's way from Wilmette down thru Skokie/Lincolnwood all the way down to Devon Ave. It's a nice alternative to the Greenbay/Sheridan rut we Way Northsiders ride day in and out. From this route there is a way to link over to Elston (it's a bit complicated, I will map that out later!)

Maybe this secret street will take you further than you think!

http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/wilmette/400123810953910161

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Permalink Reply by jen on October 23, 2009 at 5:37pm
I think its actually an old railroad access road from before they got rid of all that freight coming it to down town chicago. Come on old peeps I know some of you remember that.
Anyway their is another one like that that runs lake street to 22nd on the west side of the river but its a bit harder to get to and much more how do i say um noticeable for a bike to be riding through. I do take it from time to time but you are running a risk riding through private property.

Ali said:
Nope that ain't it. You have to squeeze through by a gate and there is hardly any cars there. It's an access road that hardly ever has a car there. It's about 5 miles long...
-Ali Homebuilt said:
Ali said:
I don't think so. It is the access road that runs from lower Wacker to 26th street behind the Art Institute and underneath McCormick Place. Actually it would be a cool place to do "sprint races"...
I believe that's technically a bus-only route, or am I in the wrong place?
Permalink Reply by Davo on October 24, 2009 at 4:14am
I like hubbard too but the road tends to be reall crappy

iggi said:
Hubbard is a well hidden secret, and you get to check out some old murals, too. i just say watch out for them potholes. because its not a highly driven street, seems department of streets has forgotten about it.

Homebuilt said:
Hubbard street west of the river to Western.
It's a very quiet street w/train tracks along one side for a lot of it. It's mostly industrial which means not a lot of general traffic, although occasionally you have to watch out for some truck pulling into/out of a dock.
It's far better than riding on Grand.

That being said, I did have my worst accident on this section. Ended up w/a concussion, so I have no memory, but somehow I ran into the back of a parked 80's Suburban, taking out the back door. Thankfully I wear a helmet.
Permalink Reply by chixieonfixie on October 24, 2009 at 4:16am
Cool map, Anne, gonna check that out. I have been looking for a route that heads north from River Park/Hollywood Park and this looks like it almost connects with that...thanks for the idea!
Permalink Reply by nom de plume on October 24, 2009 at 12:35pm
One of my favorite "secret" segments is the one I use each day commuting from Lakeview to the McDonald's Cycle Center via the Lakefront Path. It avoids using bike-unfriendly lower Randolph or worse, going all the way to Monroe to cross LSD at an incredibly long light.

Coming from the north, just after heading over the Chicago River on the Lakefront Path, take the first spur on your left (you'll be headed downhill fast, so you will have to brake not to overshoot it). You'll now be hurtling toward the lake. Brake and take a right. Pass a harbor club building and make a quick right. Go under the bike path bridge and keep heading straight (under LSD and through the Columbia Yacht Club parking lot). Go down about a 10 foot section of gravel and into the loading dock and parking area for the new Lakeshore East developement. Keep going straight until you hit a T intersection and take a left (the short way, but *opposite* to the extremely limited traffic) and ride the road uphill until you can take a left onto "Field Drive" (the only way out). Head up a short, steep section and poof - you are on *upper* Randolph across from the Cancer Survivors Garden and the park with a nice bike lane and little traffic. If headed to the Bike Station, cross over at Columbus and there you are!

It's even more fun going the other (mostly downhill) direction, because you can really fly to the Lakefront Path going that way.
Permalink Reply by Chucko on October 24, 2009 at 4:34pm
My only question is, why not just ride on the bike path along McCormick if that's the way you're going? Seems easier than dealing with traffic at all.
Permalink Reply by payton on October 25, 2009 at 6:56am
"The Chute" is in fact the McCormick Place (Lakefront) Busway, a new road built in 2002. Use by unauthorized vehicles is prohibited -- not saying that you will get caught, but you could. Besides, it doesn't go anywhere, connect to anything, or even give you a chance to exit the roadway besides McCormick Place, and what are you going there for?
http://www.choosechicago.com/meetingplanners_/why_choose_chicago/pa...

The road Jen's referring to is sometimes called "Lumber St" on maps. It's not nearly in such nice condition, but if you like trains it's hard to beat.
Permalink Reply by jen on October 25, 2009 at 9:39am
The southern end from Rosevelt to 22nd is called Lumber street and they just repaved part of it. The northern part really dosent have a name It takes you through the upper tunnels of the old post office and union station

href="http://www.choosechicago.com/meetingplanners_/why_choose_chicago/pages/busway.aspx">http://www.choosechicago.com/meetingplanners_/why_choose_chicago/pa...

The road Jen's referring to is sometimes called "Lumber St" on maps. It's not nearly in such nice condition, but if you like trains it's hard to beat.
Permalink Reply by Brian Thomas on October 25, 2009 at 3:12pm
I like riding either Fulton Market or, very late at night or very early in the morning, Elston Ave.
Permalink Reply by Brendan Idarius on October 25, 2009 at 4:59pm
I'm a big fan of Ravenswood, Paulina and Wood Street.

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