need to live in a cute neighborhood in city, but work in Palatine (Chicago: transfer to, to buy)

[aragx6]

Live in Bucktown/ Wicker Park, It'll be a fine commute and you'll love the neighborhood.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Only if you could camouflage it by putting it into a suitcase or something... I'm not sure I've ever seen the "No Bikes" rule enforced by the CTA, but I would think that the angry riders on a packed train would make it a "self-enforced" rule.

Would it fit in a hockey bag?

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by molly1280

I guess i don't see that as too bad since he bikes 6 miles to work each way right now, but put a train ride on top of that and you might have a ridiculous commute. I thought reverse traffic trains might have different rules for boarding bikes, but even leaving his sweet bike locked up seems like a bad idea on second thought. I figure Bucktown/Logan Square area is our best bet in terms of finding a fun neighborhood that has easy access to Palatine. Would anyone have any other suggestions for neighborhoods that run along the Metra UPNW line that aren't too too far out? ... or Bucktown it is!
Thanks everyone!

In my limited experience of bringing a bike on a train, Metra is pretty strict about it, irrationally so.

But if you buy a good U-lock and throw on a couple wire locks on top, you should be fine. Thieves usually go for the easy target.

And Bucktown sounds right up your alley.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

No bikes on trains during rush hours.

I'll stand corrected if I'm wrong, but I believe bikes are allowed on Metra trains during rush hour as long as it's on a "reverse-commute" train.

[molly1280]

Originally Posted by Drover

I'll stand corrected if I'm wrong, but I believe bikes are allowed on Metra trains during rush hour as long as it's on a "reverse-commute" train.

Ohhh, that would be nice. Just in case. He would be on a reverse commute train - though I would worry that if it was full he would be screwed.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by molly1280

Ohhh, that would be nice. Just in case. He would be on a reverse commute train - though I would worry that if it was full he would be screwed.

Looks like they're allowed on reverse-commute trains.

"Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 AM and leaving Chicago before 3:00 PM and after 7:00 PM . . ."

Here's some more details: Metra - Bikes on Trains Program

One really strange rule is that people under 12 are not allowed to bring bikes on the train, even if they're with a parent. That strikes me as incredibly arbitrary.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Drover

Looks like they're allowed on reverse-commute trains.

"Bicycles are permitted on all weekday trains arriving in Chicago after 9:30 AM and leaving Chicago before 3:00 PM and after 7:00 PM . . ."

Here's some more details: Metra - Bikes on Trains Program

One really strange rule is that people under 12 are not allowed to bring bikes on the train, even if they're with a parent. That strikes me as incredibly arbitrary.

Oh, that's good. I bought my younger brother a bike a few weekends ago, and when he went to take the train back to my mom's, they told him it wasn't allowed on because it was a rush period (it was a 2:30 pm outbound train that was 3/4 full.) Fortunately it survived the night outside Union Station.

[Drover]

Yeah, well, if you read their "Bikes on Trains" page, it sounds like conductors have a whole lot of latitude to decide if they feel like letting bikes on the trains or not, regardless of capacity or time of day.

[Avengerfire]

The bike ride down Lawrence is not easy. In the winter it will not work too well riding down Lawrence from Ravenswood.

[brinegar312]

molly1280 - I also lived in Portland a couple of years ago and worked down on fifth and lived in Goose Hallow. When you get to CHI, let me know if you can find a neighborhood with the Goose Hollow feel to it. Good luck!

Originally Posted by molly1280

boyfriend may be taking a job in Palatine. We currently live in Portland, OR. Looking for a neighborhood with Bucktown/wicker park feel or ravenswood (at least those sound like me, from what it says online). How would that commute be using public transport? any suggestions of neighborhoods with easy access to something that could take him to Palatine? I pretty much hate suburbs and dont want to live anywhere near them. Can you help?

I like: trees, coffee shops, riding my bike, live music, parks, art, cooking, farmers markets...