bike from Ravenswood to Jeff. Park station? (Chicago, Palatine: apartment, coops)

[molly1280]

We are moving to Chicago from Portland, OR - checking out the Ravenswood area for an apartment. My boyfriend will have a job in Palatine, IL - right off the Metra UPNW line. We are thinking about him potentially biking to the Jefferson Park station, parking his bike, or taking it on the metra (reverse commuting..I think it's allowed?) He bikes 6 mi each way to work now, so 4 mi isn't so much of a problem. The commute will suck for him either way since Palatine is so way out....or he could take the bus to the metra station. We were also looking at bucktown since it is closer to the Clybourn station.

I have been told by many folks that we should be in ravenswood but it seems like it might make his commute more difficult. We like: neighborhoods with a neighborhood feel, trees, farmers markets, biking, coffee shops, trader joes, good produce (how are there no coops in chicago????), and friendly people.

Any input would be fabulous!

THanks

[Thepreacherswife]

As far as commuting by bike from Ravenswood, Elston Ave and Lawrence Ave both have designated bike lanes (Lawrence's sometimes take the form of shared lanes). I've never had a problem using Lawrence but haven't tried Elston before. Your boyfriend could also take his bike on the bus in the morning (it's allowed even during rush hour) and leave it at Jeff Park and ride home in the evening.

The city's web site has some dedicated bike pages that you should check out.

Good luck!

[Drover]

The bike lanes on Lawrence wouldn't be shared because it would be a reverse commute. Only the inbound lane would be shared in the morning, and only the outbound in the afternoon.

Elston seems easier to ride since it's a little wider than Lawrence and it doesn't have any rush-hour lanes, so the "shared lane" issue isn't an issue.

[Lookout Kid]

Ravenswood is nice and everything, but Bucktown is probably a more happenin' neighborhood, actually. I don't see many advantages to living in Ravenswood over Bucktown if it adds this much trouble to your commute (unless you have kids). The six-corner area of North, Milwaukee, and Damen can be Madness, but the Bucktown strip on North Damen is one of the nicest commercial strips in the city. I'd recommend checking it out, have lunch at Cafe de Luca, and then see if Ravenswood is still what you want.

[molly1280]

Originally Posted by Lookout Kid

Ravenswood is nice and everything, but Bucktown is probably a more happenin' neighborhood, actually. I don't see many advantages to living in Ravenswood over Bucktown if it adds this much trouble to your commute (unless you have kids). The six-corner area of North, Milwaukee, and Damen can be Madness, but the Bucktown strip on North Damen is one of the nicest commercial strips in the city. I'd recommend checking it out, have lunch at Cafe de Luca, and then see if Ravenswood is still what you want.

Yeah, I keep taking a stab at Ravenswood because I know a bunch of friends of friends in that neighborhood. I don't think it is all that manageble, but I would like my boyfriend to check it out before settling on Bucktown. He will be moving to Chicago 6 months before I make it out there, so I am trying to pick the neighborhood, and he picks the apartment Obviously we are very limited by his need to take the Metra UPNW line. Is Bucktown walkable (ie. are there tree-lined streets off the main drags that would be nice for a walk)? I think there is a Trader Joes and maybe a whole foods in that general vacinity, is that right?

[Mr Downtown]

There are other stations on the UPNW line. Irving Park, for instance. A place in the North Center/St. Ben's or Lincoln Square south neighborhood, for instance, might work nicely. On days when cycling is unpleasant, you have express buses on Irving Park Road.

See the CTA/Metra lines at 1-888-YOURCTA | System Map - North (http://www.yourcta.com/maps/maps/200806N.html - broken link)

See the cycling routes at Streets for Cycling

[molly1280]

[quote=Lookout Kid;4889067]Ravenswood is nice and everything, but Bucktown is probably a more happenin' neighborhood, actually. I don't see many advantages to living in Ravenswood over Bucktown if it adds this much trouble to your commute (unless you have kids). quote]

Nope, no kids. I would just like a neighborhood that is walkable, has a lot of restaurants, and some bars where I can play pool - not "yuppy" martini hangouts, clubs, etc. I mean, it can have those, but that's not what we are seeking out. Not into chain stores/restuarants/starbucks, though those seem to be everywhere these days.



Eventually we would like to buy - i am thinking bungalow with a backyard - but cant afford a down payment just yet....

[Lookout Kid]

Bucktown is more walkable than Ravenswood, I would say. There's definitely more in terms of shopping, restaurants, etc. in Bucktown. But the nightlife is a mixture of Yuppie and Hipster (it used to be the major artist/hipster neighborhood along with Wicker Park to the South).

Ravenswood is more of a low-key family neighborhood these days, and there are strollers everywhere. Lincoln Square is probably the most walkable part of Ravenswood.

[aragx6]

Lots of tree-lined streets, Wicker Park the park is lovely (yesterday we walked around some of the vendors at the farmer's market and then sat under a tree listening to the jazz concert they had going on and ate the apple I'd just bought - made me so happy to live in this 'hood!) and there is a Whole Foods about a mile east (along with pretty much any big box shopping you might need like a Bed, Bath and Beyond, Borders, Home Depot etc)

[molly1280]

Originally Posted by aragx6

Lots of tree-lined streets, Wicker Park the park is lovely (yesterday we walked around some of the vendors at the farmer's market and then sat under a tree listening to the jazz concert they had going on and ate the apple I'd just bought - made me so happy to live in this 'hood!) and there is a Whole Foods about a mile east (along with pretty much any big box shopping you might need like a Bed, Bath and Beyond, Borders, Home Depot etc)

Thanks!! That is exactly what I wanted to hear I think it is going to be Bucktown/Wicker park. In case we are too far to walk to the Clybourn Metra stop (which, I consider more than a 25 min too far , I would assume there are buses that run to that destination from Bucktown/WIcker park? I can look online, but I am lazy right now...