*please note that all times are approximate and these directions are for the bikes–not the trolley
If driving your bike to the ride, we recommend parking at IIT Parking Lot D5 (northside of 35th Street between the CTA Green Line “L” tracks and De La Salle), where the tour concludes, because there’s plentiful, free parking; by contrast, parking at or near 31st Beach could be full and definitely will require payment. In parking at D5, bicyclists may proceed, on their own, to ride the two miles to the starting location at 29th and Lakeshore Trail. Alternately, we will have bike marshals leading “bike buses” that will depart at 9:00 am and 9:20 am; in other words, a bike marshal will lead any cyclists who wish to go in a group to pedal to the starting point along the lakeshore. Again, y’all are welcome to bike from IIT parking lot to the event’s starting point on your own as you wish.
Opening Program at 10:00 am. Eugene Williams Plaza, 29th and Lakeshore Trail (2 blocks north of 31st Beach and Harbor)
Bike (and trolley) tour begins at 10:30 am, leaving from Eugene Williams Plaza, 1/8.
Directions to Stop 2. 1.5 miles
-Bikes will be walked from opening program at Eugene Williams Plaza to Ft Dearborn Dr.
-bike south on Ft. Dearborn Dr.
-turn right (west) onto 31st St. to S Wabash Ave.
-continue west on 31st St.
-bikes will proceed to southside of 31st around marker
2/8. John Simpson. E 31st St. and S Wabash Ave.
Directions to Stop 3. 0.8 miles
-bike south on Wabash which quickly becomes sidewalks; we will go extra carefully
-right (east) on E 33rd St. Cross over Dan Ryan Expy
-at SW corner of 33rd and Wells, enter into Armour Square Park via a diagonal paved path
-ride west through park to the large, paved area by the Fieldhouse
3. Armour Square Park, 3309 S. Shields Ave.
Directions to Stop 4. 2 miles
-bikes exit park by going north, along the eastside of fieldhouse to 33rd, briefly head west on 33rd St.
-left (south) on S Shields
-right (west) on 35th St.
-left (south) on Emerald ***quickly passing by Hamburg Athletic Association just south of 35th St.
-right (west) on Root
-continue west on Root across Halsted, where it becomes Exchange
-exactly when passing Stockyard gate (on left), turn right (north) onto Peoria St
-left (west) on 40th St
-left (south) on Morgan
-left (east) on Exchange to destination
4/8. Union Stockyards Gate, Exchange St. and Peoria St.
Directions to Stop 5. 1.3 miles
-continue east on Exchange, which soon becomes Root
pass by Stefan Horvath Marker (6/12), NW corner of State & Root, Bronzeville Classical
-left (north) on State
5/8. Roberts Temple Church of God in Christ, 4021 S State St.
Directions to Stop 6. 0.4 miles
-continue (north) on State St.
-right (east) on 40th St at Bronzeville Trail embankment/old Kenwood CTA line
-left (north) on S Wabash
6/8. Wabash Avenue YMCA. 3763 S Wabash Ave.
Directions to Stop 7. 0.7 miles
-head north (straight) on Wabash
-right (east) on E 37th St
-pass through MLK Dr
-bikes cluster on the grass–off street– just beyond NE corner of 37th and Rhodes
7./8 Markers: Henry Baker and Davis Marcus, NE corner, E 37th St and S. Rhodes Ave.
Directions to Stop 8. 1.3 miles
-bike south on Rhodes
-left (east) onto E 38th St
-left (north) on S Langley St (be sure it’s the northbound street just east of median)
*pass by Ida B. Wells Light of Truth
-left (west) on E 37th St
-right (north) on MLK outer drive (more mellow)
Bikes continue through intersection of MLK and 35th
-left (west) on E 33rd Blvd (note: NOT E 33rd St)
-left (south) on S Wabash Ave.
-right (west) on E 34th St.
-left (south) into IIT Parking lot
-right (north) on MLK outer drive (more mellow)
-continue through intersection of MLK and 35th
-left (west) on E 33rd Blvd (note: don’t turn on E 33rd St)
-left (south) on S Wabash Ave.
-right (west) on E 34th St.
-left (south) into IIT Parking lot
8. End. Bronzeville/IIT CTA Green Line. E 35th and S State St. Vortex of Violence/Healing
Total distance: 8 miles
