Chicago Cycling for Nihao Magazine

The following post was written for Nihao Magazine.

Chicago Bicycling

Chicago has been one of the greatest cycling cities in America, if not the world, since as far back as 1860. In those days dapper bicyclists would ride their high-wheelers down the now historic boulevards and compete in six-day races on the lakefront for the delight of crowds numbering in the thousands. Chicago also lays claim to hosting the first World Championship in 1893 before becoming the bicycle manufacturing center of North America from the 1890s until 1980s when the Schwinn Bicycle Company, Chicago’s largest manufacturer, moved production overseas. 

            Chicago is currently ranked in the top five most bike-able cities in the United States, and with over 500 miles of bike routes to be implemented by 2015 as well as 13,000bike racks, public rental kiosks, and a new racing track on the south side, Chicago is on its way to becoming number 1.

            A visitor to Chicago will have no problem experiencing Chicago cycling. The city has a plethora of inexpensive bike rental agencies in convenient locations. Within one mile of Navy Pier, walking along the lakefront, you will have at least five options to rent a bike at a good price. Within Navy Pier you can go to Bike and Roll Chicago where in addition to a regular bike you can get a tandem or a 4-wheeled pedal powered car- though be advised: the large pedal cars can be a nuisance on crowded bike paths and tandems (one person in front of the other) take practice and put a lot of strain on a relationship before the teamwork is mastered. Just South of Navy Pier is Bobby’s Bike Hike, where you can get a guided bike tour for yourself or a group and rent a nice cruiser. At Millennium Park there is McDonald’s Cycle Center, which offers showers, rentals, and secure bike parking.  And anywhere along the lakefront you can rent from a “BikeKiosk”, part of Chicago’s plan to incorporate 3000 public bicycles throughout the city – though the docking stations won’t become ubiquitous outside of downtown and the lakefront until 2013. If you are staying outside of downtown or the lakefront many of the local shops have limited bike rentals. J.C. Lind Bike Co. in historic Old Town rents authentic Dutch town bikes, though subject to availability. As for rates, $40 per day plus or minus a few dollars is typical. Many places rent short-term as well for about $10 per hour but there may be extra fees for borrowing a helmet or lock, and every shop requires a large deposit that is refunded when you return the bike.

            On a nice day the Lakefront Trail, which stretches 18 miles from Evanston to South Chicago, can be a quagmire of joggers, beachgoers, tourists, and other cyclists. Sunny weekends near North Beach are especially prone to congestion, though it gets less crowded five miles North or South of downtown. Many visitors avoid the lake path altogether and head into the city, where a bike moves faster and more freely than any other vehicle. Leaving downtown can be tricky though, as traffic is thick and can be intimidating to people who are new to Chicago roads, but there are some general navigational guidelines to follow: all the off-the-grid streets, that is the streets that run North-West and South-West from downtown, have bike lanes –N. Milwaukee Ave. being the main bike drag; the neighborhoods North and Northwest of downtown are easier to bike through than the southern neighborhoods because there are more bike lanes and a more bicycle oriented culture- though hostility towards cyclists is rare in any part of the city; and the residential streets -though not marked with bike lanes- are generally the safest and easiest way to travel North to South, East to West, and vice versa. Bikes are technically not allowed on sidewalks, but there are times when it makes sense to leave the road.

            Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Active Transportation Alliance, Chicago’s main bicycle advocacy group, have worked very hard to make Chicago a better cycling city, but the job is not finished yet. Riding a bike during rush hour can be a harrowing experience even on a clearly defined bike lane. For visitors that are not sure of their of their city cycling prowess it is best to use the CTAtrains and busses to go in between destinations and use the bike to ride around the neighborhood. According to the city website, “Bicycles are welcome on CTA buses and trains throughout the year. You’ll also find bike racks at or outside most CTA 'L' stations... and bikes ride free, with any paying customer!” All city busses have a rack on the front. To use it, wave to the driver then pull the red handle to bring the rack down and put your bike in the tray, using the red or yellow pole to secure the front wheel, then pay for your ride. Bikes can be with you on the "L" and Metra trains except 7 to 9am and 4 to 6pm on weekdays. There is a limit of two bikes per car and people get preference if it is crowded. Also, some train platforms have steep and narrow stairs; look for stops with handicap access because they will have elevators to circumnavigate the stair problem.

            Chicago locals know that the best way around the city in nice weather is by bike. The speed, nimbleness in traffic, low cost, and freedom of cycling turns you into an active participant in the city rather than a passive observer in a car or bus. If you don’t mind using a bit of energy, riding a bike is the best way for a visitor to get to know Chicago intimately.

           

Safety tips:

1. Don’t ride too far to the right. Parked drivers have been known to open their doors unexpectedly into the bike lane. It’s legal to take up as much of the lane as you need, even if you’re not on a labeled bike route.

2. State law requires a front and rear light for traveling at night.

3. Locals do a lot of darting around traffic and cutting ahead of cars at stoplights. That kind of recklessness is not recommended for visitors so don’t feel pressured to follow their lead.

4. Get a map and use it! The Active Transportation Alliance has free bike maps at almost every shop or rental store in the city. Also, the Google maps application with bike directions is very useful for planning a route.