NATO and the LFP by McCormick Place?

So, I bike to work every day on the LFP from Hyde Park to Fullerton or thereabouts. I go right by McCormick Place every day and now this NATO thing has me paranoid that I'm going to have to plan to ride out of my way for several days in order to get to work. I figure worse case scenario I get off the path at 31st and ride up King Drive until I can get back on the path up by the Museum Campus. That's potentially an okay work around but I'm sure it'll add quite a few extra minutes to the ol' morning commute. Driving my car is likely to be a headache too, because I'd either get held up going by McCormick or I'd have to get to work by going over onto the Dan Ryan to bypass Lakeshore Drive south. Anyway, I sent an email to the city website set up to answer questions about the NATO summit and they essentially had no useful info on whether access to the path would be restricted or whether they would be issues with protesters blocking it, etc. I was told to sign up for some city website that sends out alerts on closures and such. Does anyone have any other info on possible closures or restrictions?

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Permalink Reply by John Wirtz on May 5, 2012 at 6:30am

That would make too much sense.

Bike Bloke said:

I really don't understand why, if security is such an issue and NATO is mostly a military organization, the summit couldn't be held on a military base. Wouldn't that make sense, rather than cause disruption for hundreds of thousands of people in a major city? I bet they wouldn't dare try to do this in downtown NYC...

Permalink Reply by S on May 5, 2012 at 6:59am

I think the meeting is mostly of the high level people (e.g. the politicians like defense ministers and their staff) so they want 5 star accomodations, bars, 'the good life'.  Can't really get that on a military base.  Besides, what do they care about disruptions to the city and people living in it, they aren't being affected.

Bike Bloke said:

I really don't understand why, if security is such an issue and NATO is mostly a military organization, the summit couldn't be held on a military base. Wouldn't that make sense, rather than cause disruption for hundreds of thousands of people in a major city? I bet they wouldn't dare try to do this in downtown NYC...

Permalink Reply by David on May 5, 2012 at 7:01am

While I personally like the idea of 2000 journalists spending the night in army barracks and eating at the canteen, the reality is that military bases really aren't set up to provide large numbers of people with reasonably comfortable accommodations.  More importantly, there's a lot of secondary events hanging off the summit that involve non-participants interacting with attendees: NGO sessions, lecture series, advocacy groups, all sorts of networking in general (insert your own joke here).   Quarantining the participants defeats a lot of the purpose. 

Of course, much of that is surmountable except for the fact that cities are competing for the chance to host the summit.  Chicago didn't pull the short straw here, the city worked hard to attract the summit on the theory that the publicity was in the city's long-term best interests. 

Whether the city is correct or not in that seems to me to be a question best left to another thread.  It's really inappropriate for this one.



Bike Bloke said:

I really don't understand why, if security is such an issue and NATO is mostly a military organization, the summit couldn't be held on a military base. Wouldn't that make sense, rather than cause disruption for hundreds of thousands of people in a major city? I bet they wouldn't dare try to do this in downtown NYC...

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 5, 2012 at 3:41pm

NATO is nothing more but the pointy stick of the G8. 

Permalink Reply by David on May 6, 2012 at 4:36am

If I were you, I'd seriously consider just taking Halsted straight down from Fullerton all the way to 26th or 31st (with the short detour at Division), then cut over and take MLK down into Hyde Park.   As you say, with LSD closed State and Michigan are going to be packed with confused angry drivers.  It's a good time to avoid the Loop and South Loop in general, especially since I suspect the Loop is going to have all sorts of temporary closures as dignitaries move around town.  

Distance-wise, the Halsted route is probably shorter than cutting in and out of the path, although it's also probably a slower route since you'll be dealing with more traffic signals.

kiltedcelt said:

Well, I am well and truly pissed. Just about any option will be a serious inconvenience for my commute to work on those two days. The easiest option almost seems to be to just suck it up and drive in going on the Dan Ryan up to North Avenue to get to work. However, with all the traffic that will be detoured away from Lakeshore Drive and other affected areas, I can't imagine that even that route by car will be easy because all the other drivers who normally would take LSD will be taking my alternate route. I'm tempted to bike as far as 31st where the closure starts and go all the way over to Michigan or State and take that as far as I can. I first thought about going as far as the river and then getting off the streets and taking the river walk path, but since the river is a restricted waterway for this, I wonder if they'll be restricting traffic on the river walk path. The other alternative is to simply go north on Michigan or State until I can get as far as Oak Street then get back on the path there. Or even the Inner Drive as far as the park area south of the zoo which I've done before when the path was iced up at the Oak Street curve. Man, this just really irks me!

Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 6, 2012 at 7:14am

+1

It's a tight fit past the stairs of the construction trailer on the sidewalk.  If there are any peds...best walk it through there.  Still, it's faster than detouring. 

Cameron Puetz said:

The detour over to Division isn't necessary. The west sidewalk is still open during construction, so you can still cross the river using the Halsted bridge.


Permalink Reply by Liz on May 7, 2012 at 2:52am

I was really pleasantly surprised about the Halsted bridge being open for pedestrians, reopened a good north south option, now if only Halsted could get better pavement and fewer yuppies opening doors and hailing cabs in the middle of the street. 

Permalink Reply by Active Transportation Alliance on May 8, 2012 at 7:03am

From our blog, copied/pasted below.

Thanks,

Ethan Spotts, Active Trans

Be prepared for Lakefront Trail closures over the weekend


With the NATO Summit coming to town, you can expect a variety road closures in Chicago, mostly south of the Loop.

For those of you wondering if Chicago's Lakefront Trail will be affected over the weekend, be ready for reroutes if you’re heading south of the Loop on the trail.

The Lakefront Trail will be closed starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 19, from Balbo Drive south to 31st Street, and possibly further.

Also, the roads near McCormick Place will be closed on Saturday, which likely means the Lakefront Trail near McCormick Place will be closed, too. It’s possible that a larger section of trail south of the Loop will be closed on Saturday, as well.

All these sections of the trail should re-open sometime on Monday afternoon, if not earlier. And keep in mind, the closures may change.

As many people know, bikes can be a particularly effective way of getting around town when there are special events or street closures. The trick is to do a bit a planning and allow for some flexibility with your route.

Keep an eye on CTA's website for transit changes. Currently, some train stations and bus routes near McCormick Place are likely to be affected.

Active Trans will provide updates as we get more information from the City of Chicago and the Chicago Park District.

Permalink Reply by Duppie on May 10, 2012 at 5:18am

My employer just communicated that we should be working from home on Friday before the summit and on Monday. That Friday is expected to see a big influx of participants and press into the city.

Traffic in and out of the city on Friday and Monday is "expected to be a challenge".

This doesn't necessarily impact bikes as much, but will impact you if you commute by car or public transit.

Permalink Reply by bk (aka: Dr. Mambohead) on May 10, 2012 at 6:28am
So... Let me get this straight.... To show off Chicago to the world? Barak Mitt Obamney thinks 'NATO Summit'. How are we sharing our great city? By closing down the museum campus and restricting movement. Great way to feature the stuff that makes Chicago the best! It all sounds so logical... all part of that freedom of expression, association and movement that is so frequently championed as some sort of indivdual 'right' and/or basis for a democracy.

Dear Chicagoans: Please be good citizens, abandon dissent and condos near the summit and continue to consume quietly without question. The NATO summit needs the lovely Chicago lakefront to sell our greatest export: Militarism! US troops in 150+ appreciative countries are all part of a more frugal, nimble federal gov't. Some socialist hand-outs ARE important!! Thanks mr president!
Permalink Reply by Far'arned Retrogrumpalunkus #63 on May 10, 2012 at 8:02am

Don't make fun of the fence-sitting Constitutional Scholar. 

Permalink Reply by Liz on May 11, 2012 at 7:46am

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-metra-plans-t...

Looks like the 4 stations closest to McCormick will be closed and any bags larger than 15"x15"x4" will not be permitted, additionally no bikes or any other large bags will be allows. 

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