Suggested routes for move! (Chicago, Nashville: sales, rental, transferring to)

[bsdsys]

Alright, I am moving June 1st. (which is a Sunday) from Nashville,TN to Chicago and had some questions on routes for my situation. I am taking a cab to the Airport here to pick up my rental van, that is what I am moving everything in, Hertz opens at 6am here and I should have everything packed and ready to leave by no later than 9. Trust me, I have specific furniture that breaks down, I am doing it the night before and do not have much stuff to be honest. Not sure how long exactly it will take me to drive it but from my building here to my building in Chicago it is 478 miles.

I have looked up directions through google maps and this is the route it gives me - in so many words.

After I go through Gary I will get on 90 West which will take me through the Chicago Skyway and have to pay the $3.00 toll.

From this point it will turn into the Dan Ryan, and then I am told (by google) to take the Stevenson towards Lake Shore Dr., and exit onto Bryn Mawr.


After I get everything unloaded I need to return the car to Hertz at O'Hare. What route would you recommend for this? I will be taking the Blue Line back and transfering to the Red Line to get back home. I know they have construction going on and the Lake elevated tracks and Wabash elevated tracks are closed but does that mean the Blue Line doesn't go into the Loop? I am trying to go through the Customer Alerts on the CTA website but haven't seen anything related to this specific issue so I am going to assume the blue line does run at this time as usual via subway, correct? I was planning on transferring to the Red Line via elevated tracks at Lasalle.

So, give the time I will approximately leaving and the distance, would this be a route you would recommend or would you guys take another route? Thanks in advance.

[supernerdgirl]

where are you moving? Edgewater? Rogers Park? Then that sounds about right. 90 to 55 to LSD. Even if you end up on 94 east, you can still take the same route, since in the city 90/94 is the Ryan up to Montrose.

HOWEVER, if you are taking 65 up from Nashville - once you get close to Gary WATCH FOR DETOUR SIGNS. WATCH AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. they have the 65/90/80/94 area TORN UP terribly, and if you don't watch carefully you might end up in Michigan. seriously.

If you're going from Bryn Mawr to O'hare, my best guess would be to take Irving Park west to I-90 (NOT 94 - that far north the roads have split), and then take 90 to 190 which will take you to O'hare. I'm not sure if there's any "better" way from there, someone can correct me... I don't drive at ALL, unless it's a specific errand for work.

Where are you going on the Red Line? If it's Bryn Mawr, usually when I go to O'hare, I just go down to Irving Park (blue) and get on the X80 bus to Sheridan (red). But if you want to ride the blue line to Jackson (underground), and then transfer to the red line, you can do that too.

This is all me assuming that you're coming up to my neighborhood. if you're not, it might be a different route.

and congrats on finally escaping Tennessee. Trust me, it feels gooooood.

[oakparkdude]

BTW, I'm pretty certain that trucks are banned from Lake Shore Drive. You will be pulled over by the cops and ticketed.

Here is the relevant info from Wikipedia: Lake Shore Drive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chicago has an interesting quirk related to a city law that bans all trucks from being driven on Lake Shore Drive. This broadly worded legislation means that ALL vehicles registered as trucks in Illinois (and presumably any other state) are banned from driving on Lake Shore Drive. The law was aimed at semis and other medium/heavy trucks, but the side effect is that personal vehicles licensed as trucks (B TRUCK plates in Illinois) are prohibited on Lake Shore Drive. Since over 50% of vehicle sales in the USA are classified as trucks (including all light duty trucks, and many medium or heavy SUVs) this has the unintended consequence of many pickup truck or SUV drivers being ticketed for illegal operation of a truck on Lake Shore Drive. Notable occurrences have vehicles as small as Ford Ranger pickups being issued tickets to the drivers. Often these light pickups or SUVs are the only vehicles that some people own, so this effectively puts Lake Shore Drive off limits to many vehicle owners. The legal quirk that allows this law to be bypassed in Illinois is for pickup truck owners to license their vehicles with RV (recreational vehicle) license plates, since recreational vehicles fall outside the scope of the Chicago city law.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

BTW, I'm pretty certain that trucks are banned from Lake Shore Drive. You will be pulled over by the cops and ticketed.

Here is the relevant info from Wikipedia: Lake Shore Drive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chicago has an interesting quirk related to a city law that bans all trucks from being driven on Lake Shore Drive. This broadly worded legislation means that ALL vehicles registered as trucks in Illinois (and presumably any other state) are banned from driving on Lake Shore Drive. The law was aimed at semis and other medium/heavy trucks, but the side effect is that personal vehicles licensed as trucks (B TRUCK plates in Illinois) are prohibited on Lake Shore Drive. Since over 50% of vehicle sales in the USA are classified as trucks (including all light duty trucks, and many medium or heavy SUVs) this has the unintended consequence of many pickup truck or SUV drivers being ticketed for illegal operation of a truck on Lake Shore Drive. Notable occurrences have vehicles as small as Ford Ranger pickups being issued tickets to the drivers. Often these light pickups or SUVs are the only vehicles that some people own, so this effectively puts Lake Shore Drive off limits to many vehicle owners. The legal quirk that allows this law to be bypassed in Illinois is for pickup truck owners to license their vehicles with RV (recreational vehicle) license plates, since recreational vehicles fall outside the scope of the Chicago city law.

oooh, yeah, I forgot about that. I think when I moved up here - with a moving truck AND SUV, no less -- we took LSD, however. Maybe we just got lucky?

[bsdsys]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

where are you moving? Edgewater? Rogers Park? Then that sounds about right. 90 to 55 to LSD. Even if you end up on 94 east, you can still take the same route, since in the city 90/94 is the Ryan up to Montrose.

HOWEVER, if you are taking 65 up from Nashville - once you get close to Gary WATCH FOR DETOUR SIGNS. WATCH AS IF YOUR LIFE DEPENDED ON IT. they have the 65/90/80/94 area TORN UP terribly, and if you don't watch carefully you might end up in Michigan. seriously.

If you're going from Bryn Mawr to O'hare, my best guess would be to take Irving Park west to I-90 (NOT 94 - that far north the roads have split), and then take 90 to 190 which will take you to O'hare. I'm not sure if there's any "better" way from there, someone can correct me... I don't drive at ALL, unless it's a specific errand for work.

Where are you going on the Red Line? If it's Bryn Mawr, usually when I go to O'hare, I just go down to Irving Park (blue) and get on the X80 bus to Sheridan (red). But if you want to ride the blue line to Jackson (underground), and then transfer to the red line, you can do that too.

This is all me assuming that you're coming up to my neighborhood. if you're not, it might be a different route.

and congrats on finally escaping Tennessee. Trust me, it feels gooooood.

Yes, I am moving to Edgewater - 5600 block of N Kenmore and yes I will be getting off the Red Line at the Bryn Mawr stop. Yeah, I got rid of my car back in Dec. and it is gonna feel weird having to drive around on roads I have never driven before but I will be fine. Glad I do not own a car either - so glad I got rid of my car. Thanks for the tip on going through Gary. I will take it easy going through there to keep an eye out. I will consider taking X80 bus from Irving Park, it might be quicker actually. BTA, I am very excited about leaving the south, I have hated it for a very long time and will never even consider moving south again! Very glad to be coming, it has been something I have needed for a long time.

Originally Posted by sukwoo

BTW, I'm pretty certain that trucks are banned from Lake Shore Drive. You will be pulled over by the cops and ticketed.

Here is the relevant info from Wikipedia: Lake Shore Drive - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Chicago has an interesting quirk related to a city law that bans all trucks from being driven on Lake Shore Drive. This broadly worded legislation means that ALL vehicles registered as trucks in Illinois (and presumably any other state) are banned from driving on Lake Shore Drive. The law was aimed at semis and other medium/heavy trucks, but the side effect is that personal vehicles licensed as trucks (B TRUCK plates in Illinois) are prohibited on Lake Shore Drive. Since over 50% of vehicle sales in the USA are classified as trucks (including all light duty trucks, and many medium or heavy SUVs) this has the unintended consequence of many pickup truck or SUV drivers being ticketed for illegal operation of a truck on Lake Shore Drive. Notable occurrences have vehicles as small as Ford Ranger pickups being issued tickets to the drivers. Often these light pickups or SUVs are the only vehicles that some people own, so this effectively puts Lake Shore Drive off limits to many vehicle owners. The legal quirk that allows this law to be bypassed in Illinois is for pickup truck owners to license their vehicles with RV (recreational vehicle) license plates, since recreational vehicles fall outside the scope of the Chicago city law.

I know you said trucks but does this include out of state minivans as well? I guess it could be, but I have no clue to be honest - not the car kinda guy in anyway... lol. Maybe I should reconsider LSD it sounds. I don't want to have a ticket my first day in Chicago.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by bsdsys

I know you said trucks but does this include out of state minivans as well?

I think if it has commercial plates, its considered a truck. You may want to check with the relevant authorities (Chicago Department of Transportation?) to find out for sure.

[bsdsys]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

I think if it has commercial plates, its considered a truck. You may want to check with the relevant authorities (Chicago Department of Transportation?) to find out for sure.

I just called CDOT and the Rep. transfered me to the Police Department to answer the question and the officer said I would not be ticketed for driving a minivan on LSD.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by bsdsys

Yes, I am moving to Edgewater - 5600 block of N Kenmore and yes I will be getting off the Red Line at the Bryn Mawr stop. Yeah, I got rid of my car back in Dec. and it is gonna feel weird having to drive around on roads I have never driven before but I will be fine. Glad I do not own a car either - so glad I got rid of my car. Thanks for the tip on going through Gary. I will take it easy going through there to keep an eye out. I will consider taking X80 bus from Irving Park, it might be quicker actually. BTA, I am very excited about leaving the south, I have hated it for a very long time and will never even consider moving south again! Very glad to be coming, it has been something I have needed for a long time.



I know you said trucks but does this include out of state minivans as well? I guess it could be, but I have no clue to be honest - not the car kinda guy in anyway... lol. Maybe I should reconsider LSD it sounds. I don't want to have a ticket my first day in Chicago.

There are constantly mini-vans on LSD. I highly doubt this would be any sort of problem.

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by bsdsys

I just called CDOT and the Rep. transfered me to the Police Department to answer the question and the officer said I would not be ticketed for driving a minivan on LSD.

Good news. Welcome to Chicago. I hated the South as well.

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

Good news. Welcome to Chicago. I hated the South as well.

some day, we should have a "i hate the south" party.