BIKING CHICAGO, UPDATES and MORE

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, welcome back. If you are new to ChicagoFreeForAll.com let me suggest you start with my first post 1/1/2016. This blog is meant to be used to plan your trip in advance. It is not necessarily a "what's happening today" site. However, from time-to-time (like today) I will add at the end of the post special upcoming events.
 
BIKING

Chicago is ranked among the best cities in the country for biking. The number and length of dedicated bike lanes is growing. But let me offer one caution. Pedestrians, drivers of motorcycles, cars, taxis, trucks and buses are not necessarily looking out for bicyclers and many are not used to the growing number of bikers and bike lanes. At the same time, there are bicyclists who do not follow the rules of the road and give a bad name to the rest of the bikers.
 
My advice? First, be sure to follow the rules of the road for bicycling. The Illinois Secretary of State created a great PDF file on the Rules of the Road. Second, be extra cautious. Don’t assume you have the right away. This is a time when size matters.
 
Don’t have a bike? Well, you have some affordable (albeit not free) options. You can rent a bike from one of several companies.
 
Divvy Bike rental is probably the most affordable. There are Divvy Bike stations all over the city and you can pick up the bike at one location and leave it at another. The big disadvantage in my mind is the Divvy Bike rental does not include a helmet. Ride at your own risk.
 
Other bike rental companies rent bikes, helmets and locks. In addition you can go on your own or pay for a guided bike tour. Two such companies are Bike and Roll and Bobby’s Bike and Hike, You can find locations and costs on their websites.
 
Consider buying a used bike. Most of the bike rental companies sell their used bikes and helmets at the end of the season at a deep discount. And Working Bikes takes in donated bikes, refurbishes them and sells them at a deep discount all year long. In addition, “ Working Bikes ships thousands of bicycles each year to our partners in countries throughout Latin America and Africa…Working Bikes donates to individuals and partner organizations here in Chicago, providing transportation to people in homeless transition, refugee resettlement, and youth empowerment programs in our own community. Working Bikes donates over 6,000 bicycles each year to our international and local partners.” If you are considering buying a used bike or have a bike to donate I hope you will consider supporting Working Bikes.
 
So where should you ride? Well, my first suggestion is along the lakefront. The lakefront trail runs from the Hollywood Curve on the north and south past the Museum of Science and Industry. There are plenty of places along the way to get off the trail and explore a neighborhood. I suggest Lincoln Park Zoo, Chinatown, Bronzeville and Hyde Park just to name just a few. But be careful along the lakefront trails. You are sharing the path with pedestrians, roller bladders, Segways and at times very fast moving bikers.
 
The city provides a FREE downloadable map of all the trails around Chicago. The map is offered in English and Spanish. This link also takes you to bike maps of 4 Universities in the city, other regions and the Cook Count Forest Preserves.
 
 
Trail Link by Rails and Trails Conservancy also provides FREE maps of regional rides.
 
 
Six  suggested bikes routes were published in the Chicago magazine
 
The Active Transportation Alliance is also a great source for biking info. In addition they often offer FREE and secure bicycle parking at many of the city’s events.
 
The newest biking and walking trail in Chicago is The 606  Named for the Chicago zip codes that all start with 606, this 2.7 mile long trail was built along abandoned, elevated train tracks.  It runs through some lovely neighborhoods and by or near great parks. Considered Chicago’s “Highline” there are FREE activities of all kinds and for all ages along The 606 offered primarily on the summer weekends.
 
For up-to-date info and an insiders’ view of biking Chicago check out the Chicago Bike Blog. There are even tutorials about fixing a flat, locking your bike and more.
 
FREE bike parking around the city. There are bike racks along the streets and FREE bike parking at Millennium Park in the McDonald’s Bicycle Station located on Upper Randolph Street. The Chicago Police Department bicycle unit and a bicycle repair shop are also located there.
 
What are you waiting for? Let’s get out and see the city on a bike. While there are only a few weeks left of summer, fall is also a lovely season to ride. You can even join the ever growing group of bikers who ride year-round – yes I mean all year long even in the snow. Try it; you may like it.
 

UPDATE
 
How about going to the Opera for FREE. The Lyric Opera offers some FREE performances to various senior citizen organizations. "Each season's Senior Matinee  enables underserved Chicago seniors to attend a selected Lyric Opera dress rehearsal at no cost. Tickets are distributed by the Chicago Department of Family and Support Services."

Encore is a FREE program which offers discounted tickets to some of their performances. The Encore program is available to anyone between the ages of 20 and 40. 
 
And NEXT is a FREE program for college and graduate students that offers $20 tickets when space is available. Sign up for email and text alerts to enjoy this discount. 

 
THIS WEEKEND
 
The 58th Annual  Air and Water Show  is being held this weekend. The show is centered around North Avenue Beach and that is where the announcer, Herb Hunter will be describing each act. If you want to avoid the crowds you can see the planes for miles north and south of the beach and listen to it on WBBM Newsradio 780AM and 105.0FM from 10AM to 3PM (15:00). Want to enjoy the show form home? WBBM will also provide livestream video on their website.
 

NEXT WEEK
 
One of my fellow volunteer Chicago Greeters, Wally, shared the following information. Next week is the Chicago Amateur Piano Competition and most of the events are FREE to attend. All events on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday afternoon are FREE. The final competition is Saturday morning and a nominal fee of $10 is being charged. Please check their website for times and locations. And thanks Wally for sharing!
 
 Once again a big thanks to another fellow volunteer Chicago Greeter, Bill Feldman for proofreading my post.

All information was correct at the time of this post, but before you come, please check the DCASE website cityofchicago.org/dcase to get the most up-to-date information.
 
Want to receive announcements of new posts? Just leave your email address and I will notify you of new posts on http://www.ChicagoFreeForAll.com
 
If you know of a free event in Chicago you’d like me to share, email me at ChicagoFreeForAll@gmail.com
 
Don’t forget to sign up for a free Chicago Greeter visit  join in on a Insta Greeter walk about and take the Greeter Millennium Park tour. For more information about these FREE events see 1/1/2016 post or got to www.chicagogreeter.com,
 
Until then I hope to see you in Chicago!