Author Topic: Through/Around Chicago  (Read 11616 times)

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Offline 9ultras

Through/Around Chicago
« on: July 26, 2006, 06:00:02 pm »
I am going around Lake Michigan and was wodering if it was safe to travel along the lakefront through Chicago and Gary or if I would be better off taking 47, 31, 59, or another route south from Wisconsin before connecting with Hwy 30 going east?

(I was planning a partial transcontinental, but that fell through at the last minute, so I am leaving on Friday to do this instead.)


Offline pmonko

Through/Around Chicago
« Reply #1 on: July 27, 2006, 02:50:33 pm »
Are you going all the way around Lake Michigan? I was planning a similar trip in September. I biked up to Milwaukee last fall from Chicago using mostly Green Bay Rd. There's a bike trail that runs parrallel to the Metra Kenosha line from Highland Park IL through northern Cook County to Evanston. From there its only a few miles to where the Lakefront path begins at Hollywood. You can take that all the way to the south side of Chicago. Travelling on the far southeast side is dangerous at night and should be avoided. Same with Gary. Rt 41 is the best bet there and that can be taken all the way to East Chicago, travelling east through Gary I would rather stay on RT 12 or 20 since there's less traffic than RT 30, but any of those are fine.


Offline pmonko

Through/Around Chicago
« Reply #2 on: July 27, 2006, 03:31:20 pm »
Let me know how it went. Any tips or suggestions would be great. You can email me at pmonko1@uicalumni.org


Offline Turk

Through/Around Chicago
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2006, 09:32:41 pm »
I've jogged from Wrigley Field to my sister's condo at about 5500 South along the lakefront. I would say it's safe and pleasant during the day down to the Museum of Science and Industry. I think the path ends there and I'm not sure what you would do after that. Stoney Island Av might work. It's commercial and interesting to drive. It's almost exclusively African-American, though. Stoney Island would lead you to the skyway, an elevated expressway that cars use to avoid the oppressive industrial area below. US Highway 41 is another possibility. Also, there is a commuter train, the Illinois Central IIRC, that might take you through some parts you may not want to bike through. It goes through Hammond, In through the Dunes country, perhaps to Valparaiso.

This thread might help you:

http://www.cyclingforums.com/t18972.html


Offline Turk

Through/Around Chicago
« Reply #4 on: August 06, 2006, 11:50:00 am »
The commuter train that could take you through this area is now called the Metra Electric, I believe.

My sister claims that Gary wouldn't be too bad to cycle through, as long as you did it during the day.


Offline macman

Through/Around Chicago
« Reply #5 on: September 11, 2006, 02:02:17 pm »
Here is an option depending on your start/stop points.
At Milwaukee you can catch a ferry across Lake Michigan to Muskegan, MI.  Then use the AC maps from Muskegan south until you hit 30E (somewhere near Ft. Wayne, IN).