Sheesh, I graduated from UIC in 1996 and too am amazed at the transformation of that area. I live in Oak Park, so my ways to get to school and work are limited. Honestly I can go up to Diversey and it's safer in terms of the "hood" element, but it's much more commercial and congested. So instead of kids it's cars. I don't know what's different about that stretch than the loop, where I have no problems riding in traffic. It also adds 3 miles to my commute, which is fine unless I'm in a hurry.

The west side has really changed in the past 5 years. The new condo construction goes all the way out to Homan now. The worst stretch for me is between Pulaski and Austin. I tend to have the most incidents around Central, where there's a stretch of apartment complexes. Thankfully I've never had anyone throw rocks at me! (knock on wood).

I really should take washington in the morning and diversey home. Perhaps this week I'll force myself to not take the "easy" shorter route home. I mean getting down to brass tacks, it is kinda stupid to ride through there