Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Billy Poore on September 20, 2011 at 11:02am

I am on my bicycle for most of my workday in the loop, and I can tell you, the routes mentioned above by everybody are great suggestions...But either way, you're going to deal with some sort of madness, or some white collar road raged idiot.  It's unfortunate that people can't mellow out, accept the fact that it is the way it is, and enjoy their commute.  At least it's not work, and being in a car alone with a controlled climate and radio sounds pretty therapeutic to me, I don't understand most peoples fuss.

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Permalink Reply by Liz on September 20, 2011 at 11:38am

I generally get too annoyed trying to back track or get back up to street level or take a long way around, plus since I generally work late (6-8 pm is normal leaving time for me) the loop traffic is not as bad as it is on the occasional days I leave before 6pm.

Nancy Easton said:

I must admit that I have only taken Wells southbound. What I actually do to go north is to take Randolph east from the Cycle Center to Harbor Drive, go north until you get to the breakaway access to the lakefront, which actually involves going through the parking garage of a high-rise, then through another parking lot to the lake. I then follow the lovely path along the river until it ends at Wabash, THEN take Wabash north to Erie, take Erie east one block to Rush, then take Rush north as it merges into Wabash and then State, THEN go through the park.

 

All of which is to say that you are right, this is complete insanity. Especially the parking garage. But the charming ride along the riverfront adds a certain quaintness that usually improves my mood sufficiently to continue with the rest of the commute... It sure would be better if there was a direct route, though!

 

Liz said:

My biggest problem commuting home is how far west through the loop traffic I have to ride before I can turn north.  My office is on Wabash and Adams and Dearborn, State, Michigan, and Columbus are all terrible for cycling.  

 

Franklin used to be nice, but its a mess with the 2-way traffic from Wacker's closure. Getting West to Franklin is a hassle.  Wells and Wabash work well southbound, but northbound its a choice of bad vs. terrible.  It would be really nice if there was a good North route through the loop.

 

I feel like Columbus is ripe for change, it would be a fantastic North-South cycling option (especially to avoid the congested path until the flyover is complete) if only there was a dedicated cycling lane.  There is no reason to have a speedway on columbus, LSD is very close by for cars looking to go far and fast.  There are 6 lane segments that people fly down at very high speeds before it turns into fairbanks and is a two lane near a hospital.   It would be much more preferable for me to go North up Columbus to Huron when Wells becomes 2 way again, instead of fighting my way west through the loop. 

 

Columbus would also make a great winter LFP option reroute around the oak street curve during the winter "ice over" 

Anne Alt said:

There's just one small problem with Wells.  It doesn't become two-way traffic until Erie.  Wabash works north of the river, but it has its tricky spots, too.

Nancy Easton said:

I also find the Dearborn left-side lane a hazard-and-a-half. I agree with those who have already suggested taking Wells or Wabash. I do either of those regularly and feel much better there than on Dearborn. Plus, the more people we get taking the same routes the more drivers will start expecting to see us there.

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Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on September 20, 2011 at 7:31pm

I agree that Columbus really REALLY needs bike lanes.  It has the potential to be a fine north-south route, but the current speedway configuration is a problem. 

 

In off-peak hours, I like to take it all the way up to Chicago, then go west 1/2 block on Chicago, and continue north on Mies van der Rohe Way up to Walton to either northbound Dearborn or Clark.  That's not so great at rush hour, though.

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on September 21, 2011 at 10:22am

What's the closest major intersection to where you're starting?

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Permalink Reply by D on September 21, 2011 at 10:40am

Basically Clark/Hubbard going to Roscoe/Damen.

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Permalink Reply by Joel on September 21, 2011 at 12:03pm

I take Kingsbury to Larrabee to/from Kinzie every day.  What feels sketchy at Chicago and Kingsbury? You don't even pass the row homes, and I've never had any sort of problem with any of the people around there.  Unless you are talking about cabs and self-entitled pricks in ridiculously expensive cars, then yay, those are an issue.  

Cameron Puetz said:

I'd recommend Hubbard to Kingsbury to Larrabee to Clybourn if you tend to leave work at a normal time. If you tend to work latter, the bit around Kingsbury and Chicago where the last of the Cabrini row homes still stand can feel a bit sketchy sometimes.


D said:

Basically Clark/Hubbard going to Roscoe/Damen.

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Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on September 21, 2011 at 2:47pm

Wells or Orleans to Division to Clybourn

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Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on September 21, 2011 at 2:55pm

I always assumed it had to do with bus conflicts?

Anne Alt said:

I keep wondering any on earth someone thought it was a good idea to put the Dearborn lane on the left side - conflicts with hotel, post office, restaurant valets, Ohio St., etc.  My answer is to ride in the right lane on Dearborn, where I have a lot fewer hazardous moments.

JeffB said:

It took me a long time to even realize there was a bike lane on the left side of Dearborn, and once I did I tried it and hated it.  It just feels wrong.  Does anyone know the logic behind this decision?

I still ride on the right side of Dearborn and have never had a problem.  Take the lane when you need to.

Or add the extra miles on the lake front.  Its getting better with the weather changing and its nice to expand your range.  I've even been adding another 45 minutes to my commute home by continuing on to Howard St (Kenmore to Devon to Glenwood to Pratt to Sacramento to Howard) over to the North Channel Trail and then back down to home in Ravenswood

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Permalink Reply by Carter O'Brien on September 22, 2011 at 2:38am

I lived at George and Damen from 97-02, Clybourn was great but North stunk.  I think I'd just get to Lincoln by whatever zig-zagging route feels best that day - traffic really varies a lot in Old Town, some days Clark is almost empty, some days it's a parking lot.

 

You could also take Grand to Milwaukee>Elston, that's one of my two main routes (Belmont & Kimball to Museum Campus).
D said:

Basically Clark/Hubbard going to Roscoe/Damen.

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Permalink Reply by Mark on September 22, 2011 at 3:02am

I just got back after riding in Manhattan for the past four days.  I have to say their bike lanes are on a whole other level than Chicago's.  Most of their protected bike lanes are on the left side, so as not to interfere with bus traffic on the right side of the street.  (I assume that is why Dearborn's is on the left.)  At most intersections with left turns, there is a separate left turn signal for cars, and a little bike signal (like in Europe) for bikes.  It is clear that NYC removed whole lanes of driving or parking to make room for the WIDE bike lanes.  (Not just squeeze them into the door zone in the existing traffic pattern.)  I hope Chicago follows NYC's lead.

 

As for my favorite route out of the Loop, Wabash north from Wacker.  Wabash has the best bridge (all concrete) and passes over three cross streets.  There are only 3 traffic lights between Wacker and Chicago.  Northbound:  Wabash to Superior to Rush to State to North Ave.  Southbound:  State to Chestnut to Wabash.

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