Belmont - UIC on Damen

Kristin H wrote: Hello, I need to commute from the area of Belmont/Leavitt down to UIC next year.  I'm wondering what my commute
time would be on Damen or Leavitt--I've never gone down Leavitt past Division before, so I don't know if it's even feasible.  I need to make it in less than 45 minutes.  Is this realistic?  Any suggestions for this
commute would be most welcome.

Becki responded: I live at Western and Division and I commute to UIC, and I usually stay off Damen (too narrow of a bike lane, and their are better roads that go in the same direction). I take Levitt or Oakley (both cross the expressway) to Warren (with a bike lane), to Racine (never any traffic), to Jackson (bike lane past Ashland), to Peoria - and on the sidewalk into campus. You should make it in 45 minutes - it takes me about 25 and I am not very fast (but I am closer than you).

Sometimes I meander through the warehouse district on the west side on my way there if I am not in a hurry. 

Shelley responded: I've commuted on Damen for many years, and have always liked it, even before it had bike lanes I thought it was a good main street for cycling. I work right at Damen and Harrison, and when I lived near Belmont/Damen it would take me between 20-25 minutes to get to work, depending on the lights and the direction of the wind. Now I live a bit further northwest, but I still catch Damen at Fullerton.  I usually don't have a problem around the United Center, but I definitely have to be more careful there because there are no bike lanes. To avoid this stretch,  you may want to cut east before Lake St. (I assume you're going to the east side of UIC's campus?

Kristin H answered: To all who replied to my request for commuting info on Damen, thanks!  I look forward to the ride--I'll do a test run sometime in January.

By sarah at 12/23/2005 - 2:43pm | | login or register to post comments