Does anyone else take "the shortcut" from the Lakefront Path that (headed from the north) goes like this:
1. Exit path to left just south of river
2. Make quick right (so you don't plunge into the lake) and then another right just past the Asian restaurant)
3. Go underneath bike path bridge
4. Go under LSD (thru Columbia Yacht Club parking lot)
5. Ride into loading dock area of Lakeshore East development
6. Ride surface road in Lakeshore East development up to Upper Randolph
Here's my question. Today, workers were digging holes in the pavement on the edge of locations 4 and 5 where they are apparently about to install a gate! Does anyone know anything about this? Will the gate be open during daytime hours? Will it be open during nighttime hours? Is it being put up by the City or by the Lakeshore East development? If the latter, will access still be allowed to non-residents of the Lakeshore East development? How big is the gate?
I have been using this shortcut to get to the McDonald's Cycle Center for my daily commute for years and it presents a *far* safer way of making it past LSD (namely, going under it intead of across it or its on/off-ramps) and also avoiding Lower Randolph to make it from the Lakefront Path to the Cycle Center. I am going to freak out if the access is about to be cut off for everyone but Lakeshore East residents or if the gate is going to be locked at inconvenient hours.
Anyone know anything?
Dave
Tags:
After checking with CDOT and the Park District, it is definitely private property.
We did find out that their is an official CDOT recommended route from the Lakefront Trail to Upper Randolph that appears on the 2010 Chicago Bike Map
The official route follows the Riverwalk under LSD to the north end of Field Blvd. at Lower, Lower Wacker where there is an opening in the fence to transition between the trail and road. You can then follow the road up through Lakeshore East Park to Upper Randolph.
Also, just following Lower Randolph straight up from the LFT to Michigan is also an extremely direct and relatively easy route for many cyclists.
We'll continue to look into this.
Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans
While I agree that following Lower Randolph is extremely direct, it is one of the most danergous and stressful sections for a cyclist. I have tried that route on a few occasions, and stopped using it in favor of the lakefront east area cut through when I commuted from the North side. In the morning I noticed that traffic on lower does not yield to cyclists. There are many speeding vehicles that do not give adequate passing room to cyclists. Even though there are 3 traffic lanes on much of this road and little other traffic vehicles on lower or covered areas are less accommodating to cyclists in my experience. I do not think that most drivers understand how vulnerable we are in areas where there may be a tunnel or wall next to us and that we required 3 ft on either side of a bike to ensure safe handling around pot holes (which are less visible in the dark conditions). While a think that cyclists have great access to put us close to downtown, there are a lot of "last mile" gaps in the routes. Once you leave the lakefront path or come to the end of milwaukee there are very few safe options to navigate the loop.
Active Transportation Alliance said:After checking with CDOT and the Park District, it is definitely private property.
We did find out that their is an official CDOT recommended route from the Lakefront Trail to Upper Randolph that appears on the 2010 Chicago Bike Map
The official route follows the Riverwalk under LSD to the north end of Field Blvd. at Lower, Lower Wacker where there is an opening in the fence to transition between the trail and road. You can then follow the road up through Lakeshore East Park to Upper Randolph.
Also, just following Lower Randolph straight up from the LFT to Michigan is also an extremely direct and relatively easy route for many cyclists.
We'll continue to look into this.
Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans
While I agree that following Lower Randolph is extremely direct, it is one of the most danergous and stressful sections for a cyclist. I have tried that route on a few occasions, and stopped using it in favor of the lakefront east area cut through when I commuted from the North side. In the morning I noticed that traffic on lower does not yield to cyclists. There are many speeding vehicles that do not give adequate passing room to cyclists. Even though there are 3 traffic lanes on much of this road and little other traffic vehicles on lower or covered areas are less accommodating to cyclists in my experience. I do not think that most drivers understand how vulnerable we are in areas where there may be a tunnel or wall next to us and that we required 3 ft on either side of a bike to ensure safe handling around pot holes (which are less visible in the dark conditions). While a think that cyclists have great access to put us close to downtown, there are a lot of "last mile" gaps in the routes. Once you leave the lakefront path or come to the end of milwaukee there are very few safe options to navigate the loop.
Active Transportation Alliance said:After checking with CDOT and the Park District, it is definitely private property.
We did find out that their is an official CDOT recommended route from the Lakefront Trail to Upper Randolph that appears on the 2010 Chicago Bike Map
The official route follows the Riverwalk under LSD to the north end of Field Blvd. at Lower, Lower Wacker where there is an opening in the fence to transition between the trail and road. You can then follow the road up through Lakeshore East Park to Upper Randolph.
Also, just following Lower Randolph straight up from the LFT to Michigan is also an extremely direct and relatively easy route for many cyclists.
We'll continue to look into this.
Thanks,
Ethan, with Active Trans
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