Communiting

Ok I have a conundrum. I'd like to start communting to school and work downtown. I recently moved about 10 miles from there, but I have one big obstacle. The neighborhood on the west side of chicago is, well, bad. I drive through it all the time to dodge traffic on the expressway. So I'm familiar with the terrain so to speak. For those from Chicago, the route I'm thinking is a straight shot down Madison Street. But once you cross Austin, it get's progressively worse until you get to about Western Ave (which is about 4 miles).

So, for those who commute in the city (doesn't have to be chicago) do you ever traverse bad areas? If so, have you had problems? I've seen people riding their bikes down Madison in the bad area, and I can tell they're a commuter. They're also riding very fast :)

For those who live in the Chicago area, do you know any route to get from Oak Park downtown? I thought about going a little bit north then cutting across, but I'd have to scope that out. I know that south isn't much better. Or am I being stupid about it? Am I really going to have an issue?

Thanks everyone!

My first reaction to you riding across the west side on Madison was: Don't Do It.
I picture a cyclist being knocked over and robbed, or worse.

I pulled out my Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (CBF) map to see what they recommend as a bike route. They say Washington is a better street for biking than Madison, as it has marked bike lanes. In my opinion, there's no good way to get across the west side, especially at that latitude. It's not the Skid Row it used to be, but it's still a very rough neighborhood, especially between Austin and Western. You might want to drive Washington and compare it to Madison in terms of the bike lane. Do cars respect that lane? Can you get away fast if you need to? You might even want to go to a CBF www.biketraffic.org or Chicago Cycling Club http://www.chicagocyclingclub.org/ meeting and ask what they think.

I've lived in Chicago for 28 years. I ride my bike all over. I have yet to find a good route across the west side. My sister lives in Oak Park, and one of my goals for this summer is to find a decent way to ride out there. I am farther north than you (I start from Addison and Western). I have less fear of being mugged than I would if I were riding in the Garfield/Douglas/Humbolt Park area, but all E/W roads are very traffic heavy, and therefore uncomfortable and dangerous. The expressway cuts across all routes--you have to be on a road that goes under it, or you end up riding way out of your way to stay on smaller streets. I'll figure it out.

Good luck--I think the idea of commuting is a great one, and hate that we're talking about the risk of being attacked en route. :( L.

I live in Milwaukee and commute to work a few days a week (although I haven't started yet this season). The route that I take when biking if very different from the route that I use when I drive.

My biking route doubles the distance but also keeps me on a nice less traveled parkway road and the bike trail a lot of the time. When I drive I do go through a neighborhood that is definitely more high crime, but there are always so many people around that I really would only be worried about the crazy morning drivers if I was on my bike. There is one short (about 1/2 - 3/4 mile) section of the bike trail that is a bit too secluded for my liking. I would prefer that the trees and bushes weren't so close....I always think they'd be good hiding places. Last year I only passed one other cyclist in all my times on that section. I use that stretch as my sprint time. I figure if there are any criminal types out that early they'll have to move fast to catch me.

My husband really wishes I wouldn't bike to work....it makes him very nervous. I always carry my cell phone in my pocket and perhaps I'll carry mace with me this season if it would make him feel better.

Have there been reports of bikers being mugged in that area?? Would you be riding during heavy traffic times so you would be visible to drivers in case something Did happen? If it's a main thoroughfare I'm guessing you would be left alone - most muggers don't want an audience. You could also call the police station near there and talk to them - see how many biker muggings have been reported in the past year or so. They also might be able to suggest an alternative route - especially if they have a bike patrol.

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Originally Posted by CorsairMac

. You could also call the police station near there and talk to them - see how many biker muggings have been reported in the past year or so. They also might be able to suggest an alternative route - especially if they have a bike patrol.

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That's a great idea!

Thanks guys. Lise, I rode up Oak Park Ave today past Montrose. I have no idea how it is going into the city from the NW side compared to the west side. It's not too bad getting up there, so I might scope that out in my car to see how it looks. I will also check with the police stations to see. I'll let you know if I get any "say what?" or "woman are you crazy!?" reactions :)

It's better on the NW side, for certain. I would not cross the west side on a bike south of Division. What's rough about Fullerton, Belmont, Irving Park is the traffic. And you can't take side streets without having to go up or down to get across both the expressway and the river. I'll figure out a route or a couple of them this summer, though, because I like riding to my sister's. It's about 9 miles, and always involves a meal when I get there! Did you notice all the little asphalt lines on Oak Park Ave? Drove me nuts! I avoid that street when I can! Fun to talk about stuff close to home. I'll be curious to see what the cops say about your proposed route.

Cool. Yeah, there were some sketchy parts of Oak Park Ave. Like the stretch north of irving park that's all beat up. But they've repaved a lot of it, so most of it was actually pretty nice. Coming back south riding into that wind I thought I was going to get blown into traffic. I rode all the way north until I hit the Kennedy, then turned around. Foster didn't look too busy to ride down. I think I'll have to drive around this weekend. Between the two of us we can figure out a way to get to/from Oak Park I think :D

Yesterday I rode around town and ended up on 1st Avenue. Instead of turning around like I should have, I rode that up north to North Ave, by Kiddieland. I was like hmmm, this isn't where I want to be. Thankfully it was a short stint down North ave to get out of 3 lanes of traffic. Obviously I'm still working out my routes around here :cool:

I don't know anything about Chicago. I do ride through some rough neighborhoods of Washington, DC, though. I have never had any problems with folks. I do not ride at night, and I do vary my route. Of course, my situation may be different than yours. Best of luck.

Thanks Tulip. DC certainly has some rough areas.

Ok, I'm going on a reconaissance mission today to see if I can get through going a bit north. Lise, I'll let you know what I find :D

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Originally Posted by betagirl

Thanks Tulip. DC certainly has some rough areas.

Ok, I'm going on a reconaissance mission today to see if I can get through going a bit north. Lise, I'll let you know what I find :D

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My commute is 14 miles each way, and takes me through a variety of neighborhoods, from downright posh to rapidly gentrifying to still pretty bad. In DC I have found that even rough neighborhoods are still someone's home. I've come to notice the regulars on their porches, keeping an eye out. And the girls jumping rope who would yell "hi biker girl" to me last summer. And there's the guy on the corner who's always washing his car and always tells me I'm going to win a race someday. Once a kid on a BMX bike yelled out, "Hey lady... wanna race?" It was really hot, and I was close to the end of my ride, and I was tired, but I said sure--to the next stop sign. As we zoomed past his house with all of his relatives on the porch, they all yelled out, "Go Mike! Go Mike Go!". It was really neat. Neighborhoods are made up of people. I say good morning and good evening and have a good weekend. Perhaps I've become a persistent oddball part of the neighborhoods that I ride through. I've commuted for four years.

But I don't take it all for granted. I vary my route so as not to become too predictable (and to keep things interesting for me). I don't ride at night, and if my gut tells me to be careful or take a detour, I do. I keep my cell phone on me (not in my pannier), and I don't stop to chat--all common sense stuff that I would do if I rode through Beverly Hills.

Frankly, I have alot more trouble with drivers regardless of the neighborhoods. Nincompoops in cars are in all neighborhoods.

I find that riding through different parts of the city really humanizes the city. I know more about much of DC than my coworkers who have lived in the area for 20+ years, and who are still scared to go into DC. It's crazy, but they are the one's who are missing out on a vibrant and beautiful city (and I don't mean just the monuments and such)

This is just my experience. You have to determine your own comfort level.

Thanks Tulip. I agree with you on a lot of what you said. I remember my boyfriend in college scolding me in the car for driving through Cabrini Green (big housing project here that's currently being torn down) and how "stupid" I was. I didn't understand his reaction. Because as you said, for all the crap in that area there were 10 times more average people just out and about.

The west side of Chicago is probably the worst part of town, even though the south side is stereotyped a lot as being the "ghetto." It's been gentrified and the sprawl has gotten out pretty far. 10 years ago my stretch would have been 6 or 7 miles, now it's 4. Part of me says no big deal to ride that bit of road. But part of me says that it's better to find another way.

The route I found yesterday sounds like what you described as what you enjoy about DC. It shifted from an older neighborhood made up of polish and czech immigrants, to puerto rican, to white, to mexican. I spent a lot of time in college in the mexican part of town, and really enjoyed the life that area had. I saw that on my route yesterday, with the kids out on their bikes, and the vendors pushing their carts to sell various treats and popsicles. I never felt ill at ease, except for the people that like to turn left in front of me :D

soooooooooooooooooooooooo - when you gonna give it a try? ;)

If part of you is saying find another way, then I would do that. It's not worth risking your safety. I live in LA, but there's no way that I would ride through certain parts of this city, even for a short period of time.

Corsair, I'll start next week :D Unless the weather goes foul here, which is entirely possible.

Wheeeeeeeeeeeee

well - you got your own personal cheering section wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out here in the SouthWest cheering you on! I hope you enjoy commuting as much as I do! Right now it's Holy Week which means I'm driving more due to services and let me tell ya - I'm hating every time I climb in the truck. I have to keep pep-talking myself that it's Only for a week and then I can get back to my regular commute! Keeping you in my thoughts and wishing you all the best! Just remember, the first few times you may have some kinks you'll need to work out: you forgot to pack something, you over packed - whatever. Just don't give up....it'll work out and you'll never regret it! :D

Corsair "the happy bike commuter" Mac

I usually skirt a somewhat dubious neighborhood... but I've found that if I'm on my commuting bike I pretty much blend in (especially if I've got so many layers on you can't see I'm white). My pepper spray for the dogs is supposed to be pretty potent, too.
I had **two** honkers today (usually it's one every six months or so). ONe pointed pointedly at the bike path I wasn't using because it ended at the next intersection where I was going straight (and this guy turned right). I did some pointing and waving (all friendly) as if to educate him, because who knows. I think he was even looking back at me (utterly confused) as I waved and went straight foward (where it's even posted "no bicycles" on the sidewalk).
The second one was more or less unprovoked so I treated it as a friendly greeting and waved back. (However, you just can sorta tell, don't ask me why, when it's a friendly honk and when it's an "I wish you dind't exist!" honk.) It *is* a kinda small town... we might meet somewhere...