Commute to Loop from near West Burbs via bicycle (Chicago: neighborhoods, live)

[mlh27]

Anyone do this? What route do you use? I remember reading an article a while back about a cyclist commuter who was assaulted on Lake St., I think in Austin or East Garfield Park. I'm wondering if this was an isolated incident or if there are any groups who bike together on this or an alternate route. Seems like the addition of bike lanes might encourage more people to do this. Thanks for any info!

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by mlh27

Anyone do this? What route do you use? I remember reading an article a while back about a cyclist commuter who was assaulted on Lake St., I think in Austin or East Garfield Park. I'm wondering if this was an isolated incident or if there are any groups who bike together on this or an alternate route. Seems like the addition of bike lanes might encourage more people to do this. Thanks for any info!

Incidents happen on occasion. They don't seem all that frequent, but I suppose it only takes one to ruin your day/life.
There are groups of bicyclists from Oak Park who "caravan" to the Loop. Look up the Oak Park Cycle Club for more info.

[chet everett]

Lake St is probably avery poor choice compared to using Washington or Jackson Blvd -- the overhead EL tracks along Lake and truck traffic could quite literally be a deadly combination

[mlh27]

Thanks - I had no idea this group existed, that's great info!

[fortwaynebandit]

(Ex-Chicagoan here)

I would be most concerned about hit and runs or simple vehicle accidents, especially early in the morning and around dusk after daylights savings. Will it would certainly be good exercise, it would have to be carefully weighed against possible injury or death in a traffic accident.

Myself I would say that Madison and Washington are the two best streets to ride on, with North being a possible alternative simply because it does narrow in several sections and thus slows traffic down.

[jsk1983]

I believe it is Washington which has bike lanes for a lot of the way. Madison and North Avenues have way to which traffic for me personally. Actually those are probable the worst choices.

[MSchemist80]

I've heard a lot of cyclists use Augusta as a major E/W route. It goes as far west as the Des Plaines River and gets you pretty close to the prairie path. You might also visit bikeforums.net great lakes section or the Chicago Cycling Club. There are a lot of Chicago cyclists there.

[ToriaT]

My boss did this. He lived in Oak Park near Roosevelt Rd and he claimed to take Roosevelt Rd to downtown but I don't know how wise that is.

[MSchemist80]

There are tons of cyclists in Chicago. Incidents of thugs assualting cyclists are very rare. Still you could always keep some pepper spray with you just incase. They sell some pretty strong stuff for people that go to areas with a lot of bears.

Also many of the major thuroughfares like Rosevelt have those blue light cameras to discourage incidents though areas west of Western can get dodgy. Still there are tons of cars that drive through there and don't end up with bullet holes.

[Lookout Kid]

I used to be an avid cyclist, and spent many of my younger years working in a bike shop. About 15 years ago, a friend of mine was assaulted with a bat while riding through a park in Milwaukee that bridged a nice area with a rougher area. At that time I found out that it was quite common for people to jump out and knock cyclists off their bikes with bats or pipes in order to steal the bikes in that city.

My friend was injured pretty badly and seemed like a different person after this attack. It changed his personality.

I don't hear about attacks like this in Chicago as much as I did in Milwaukee, but it has scared me from riding through tough neighborhoods nonetheless. I just wouldn't do it, especially on an expensive bike. But it does seem like being in a pack of riders would make you less vulnerable.