In email exchanges, several cyclists going cross-country have looked for ways around the urban area.  Instead, I encourage them to go right through the urban area because of the bike-friendliness.

This investigation and report is free, unauthorized and unsolicited.  Maybe unappreciated too.  I only traveled about half the distance of the link: from the south end of the North Branch Trail to Pulaski Avenue.  The major complaint is the lack of signs or obscured signs.

I started out at the south end of the North Branch Bike Trail, at the corner of Devon and Caldwell.  Right at the trailhead, there's a Forest Preserve sign indicating the path length and direction going north into the forest preserve.  But couldn't a sign be erected that shows and map and gives directions for those headed east to the lakefront, or who want to go south along the lakefront?  I'm aware that this is the boundry between multi-governmental units, the Forest Preserve District, the Chicago Park District, and the City of Chicago, but I don't think asking a little intergovernmental cooperation would be too much.

The first sign encountered is on the south side of Devon, after crossing Caldwell, eastbound.  However, this sign can't be seen easily if you're standing at the exit area of the North Branch Trail.

The next sign, at the corner of Devon and Spokane, clearly indicates the direction of travel.

One block south of Devon is Leoti, and at this corner of Leoti and Spokane there is no sign at this critical junction.  You’re supposed to turn left, or east.  Indeed, as I was taking these pictures, three bicyclists sped past me and continued south on Spokane.  If you miss this turn, you’ll wind up on Caldwell, a very heavily trafficked street. .

The route continues east on Leoti for just short of ½-mile before you turn again.  Given this distance it would seem like a good idea to include a “confidence” sign, a sign simply pointing straight ahead to let the cyclist know they are going in the right direction, they haven’t missed a turn somewhere.

At Leader and Leoti, a right turn is needed, and again no sign.  While taking these pictures, two cyclists passed and did turn right but another two cyclists continued east for another block on Leoti, stopped, and then turned right on the next street.

Proceeding south on Leader, it’s one block to Caldwell.  There is a sign on the south side of Caldwell, along Leader, indicating the direction of the route. (Top Picture)          Caldwell is a difficult street to cross, there is no marked crosswalk, and there are no signs along Caldwell indicating that bicycles may be present and crossing. (Bottom Picture)  Adding the marked pedestrian crosswalk and the bicycle warning signs would help.

Curiously, although it’s only a few blocks south on Leader to the next turn at Lansing, there is a “confidence” sign along this street.  This is in contrast with the lack of such a sign along Leoti, as mentioned earlier.

At Leader and Lansing these is a good example of a clear and explicit sign.  This is an example of good use of signs, with signs for the turn in both directions.

Continuing east on Lansing, there is another “confidence” sign – however the trees and foliage along the street obscure the sign.  (Enlarge the picture, and you’ll find it.)

A short distance down Lansing is the intersection with Clifford.  The sign indicates a right turn but you could just as well continue down Lansing to Forest Glen Avenue.  This does no harm, but an extra turn is added.  One block down Clifford is Las Casas Avenue requiring a left turn.  There is no sign for this, but none is really needed since it’s the only way to go.

The corner of Las Casas Avenue and Forest Glen Avenue is well signed, from both directions.  If you follow the arrow you’ll continue eastbound towards the lakefront path. Another sign might be added suggesting a right-turn, riding down Forest Glen Avenue to the stoplight at Elston Avenue – and the bike lane to downtown Chicago.  Las Casas and Forest Glen would be a logical junction for this decision, and maybe a sign or map of some sort should suggest this.

Continuing eastbound on Forest Glen you come to a stoplight at Cicero Avenue.  Across the street is a sign indicating the direction of travel,          and slightly beyond that is a sign indicating the right-turn onto Kerchival.

However, riding along  Kerchival you come to an intersection with Rogers and Kenton – and again the bike sign (as well as the stop sign) is slightly obscured by the trees and foliage.  The turn is onto Kenton, and Kenton isn’t shown on the Chicago Bike Map of Spring, 2001.

At Kenton and Bryn Mawr, there is a sign that is completely obscured by a tree.  The tree also obscures the street name signs and both signs are mounted on an existing light pole.  It isn’t necessary to trim the tree; simply move the bike sign to a freestanding sign behind the guardrail.

Along Bryn Mawr, the path crosses the railroad tracks.  There are several large obstacles to keep cars from crossing but it isn’t clear that there is passage for pedestrians and cyclists, so a sign indicating the direction of travel might be posted at this juncture as well.

At the intersection of Bryn Mawr and Pulaski another sign is posted some distance across the intersection and again partially obscured by the trees.

At this point, I quit.  I don’t know for sure I could find the lake navigating by, and depending on, the signs alone.  There are several options from Bryn Mawr and Pulaski to get to the lakefront path, some more direct than others.  The Chicago Bike Map, Spring 2001 suggests several and in addition to those shown on the map there are other options, more colorful and scenic, as well.

The signs themselves are much better than the plain-vanilla “Bike Route” signs that give no further information and perhaps serve no purpose except to inform motorists of the presence of bikes along the road.  Two suggestions to enhance the route signs:  add the direction, “east” or “west” to the arrow on each sign.  Also, perhaps an additional sign at a few points along the way with an overall view of the route from end to end.

Bob Kastigar
Sunday, 3 June 2002

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