Commute from Downtown Chicago to Bensenville? (Schaumburg, Buffalo Grove: living in, restaurants, gym)

[jimitkr]

Wife and i are moving to Chicago in August. We’re moving specifically coz we’re super bored of the suburban lifestyle and want to experience living in downtown.

Her job is going to be at a logistics company behind ORD.

Wife is excited about Downtown but i’m having second thoughts. Chances are her commute will be too long.

How’s the commute from, say Lincoln Park to Bensenville and back 5 days a week? Any tricks to avoid heavy traffic?

[damba]

It’s a lethal commute, no real tricks other than working very off hours.

[fusillirob1983]

Originally Posted by jimitkr

Wife and i are moving to Chicago in August. We’re moving specifically coz we’re super bored of the suburban lifestyle and want to experience living in downtown.

Her job is going to be at a logistics company behind ORD.

Wife is excited about Downtown but i’m having second thoughts. Chances are her commute will be too long.

How’s the commute from, say Lincoln Park to Bensenville and back 5 days a week? Any tricks to avoid heavy traffic?

Yes, not great. The options are probably spending most of the time on the Kennedy or Irving Park Road. If you really don't want the burbs and want the lifestyle of living in the city, then you may find it worth it. Even with suburban commutes to places like Buffalo Grove, Itasca and other parts closer to Schaumburg often when I lived in Lakeview, I found it worth it.

The best bet is probably to get accustomed to doing something like going to the gym before or after work to be on the road when traffic is lighter, or just find a way to work slightly off hours if possible.

[aga412]

Originally Posted by jimitkr

Wife and i are moving to Chicago in August. We’re moving specifically coz we’re super bored of the suburban lifestyle and want to experience living in downtown.

Her job is going to be at a logistics company behind ORD.

Wife is excited about Downtown but i’m having second thoughts. Chances are her commute will be too long.

How’s the commute from, say Lincoln Park to Bensenville and back 5 days a week? Any tricks to avoid heavy traffic?

If you live around the Western Avenue Metra station in the Ukrainian Village area, maybe she could take the Metra to Bensenville?

[beaniemac]

As others have said, any commute involving driving from downtown to the ohare area that's not right off the blue line is brutal. unless you work 3rd shift perhaps.

[deeman7]

Originally Posted by jimitkr

Wife and i are moving to Chicago in August. We’re moving specifically coz we’re super bored of the suburban lifestyle and want to experience living in downtown.

Her job is going to be at a logistics company behind ORD.

Wife is excited about Downtown but i’m having second thoughts. Chances are her commute will be too long.

How’s the commute from, say Lincoln Park to Bensenville and back 5 days a week? Any tricks to avoid heavy traffic?

When you say suburban lifestyle what do you mean? Do you live somewhere where you need to drive everywhere, or there just isn't enough to do? Where are you currently living.


Maybe considering another suburb closer to Bensenville like Elmhurst because driving from Lincoln Park to the airport will be an hour in the morning and at least an hour and a half in the afternoon.

[damba]

Originally Posted by aga412

If you live around the Western Avenue Metra station in the Ukrainian Village area, maybe she could take the Metra to Bensenville?

I would argue that area is significantly less desirable than Lincoln Park (parts closer to the lake), hence not worth it since it’s an even crappier commute (too many possible intermediate steps in the journey to work).

[jimitkr]

Even after getting down at Bensenville she'll have to use some mode of transport for the last couple miles (walking won't be an option)

Might as well just drive (odd hours so she can beat the traffic)

[jimitkr]

Originally Posted by fusillirob1983

Yes, not great. The options are probably spending most of the time on the Kennedy or Irving Park Road. If you really don't want the burbs and want the lifestyle of living in the city, then you may find it worth it. Even with suburban commutes to places like Buffalo Grove, Itasca and other parts closer to Schaumburg often when I lived in Lakeview, I found it worth it.

The best bet is probably to get accustomed to doing something like going to the gym before or after work to be on the road when traffic is lighter, or just find a way to work slightly off hours if possible.

Well said friend. Call it confirmation bias, but i was hoping someone would say this. I actively looked for and took a job in Chicago so i can leave behind the suburbs

[jimitkr]

Originally Posted by deeman7

When you say suburban lifestyle what do you mean? Do you live somewhere where you need to drive everywhere, or there just isn't enough to do? Where are you currently living.


Maybe considering another suburb closer to Bensenville like Elmhurst because driving from Lincoln Park to the airport will be an hour in the morning and at least an hour and a half in the afternoon.

I've grown up in urban areas my whole life (big buildings, lots of people, hundreds of restaurants, car horns and the like).

After two decades living like that, you instantly notice the lack of activity when you land in the suburbs. You have to drive 1.5 miles just to pick up a gallon of milk. Everything is so quiet, there's no people around and the silence after dusk is unbearable for me. Spent my last 6 years all in the suburbs (Albuquerque, Virginia, Ohio)

This is the first time i'm gonna make enough money to afford a 1 BR in ANY downtown area. Most probably we'll do it. Wife is on board too