Riding into work

Now that the fall quarter at the University of Chicago has begun, I am back to working at the reference desk for the evening shift at the reference desk from 5-8. At least until there is danger of ice, it's the best time to ride to work. Riding into Hyde Park from Homewood at 10:30 in the morning and back home sometime after 8:00 p.m. is a breeze. There is something sweet about the ride home of an evening. The surface is smooth, the glow of the traffic around you at 65 m.p.h.. Then there is a nice s-curve at around 103rd street on Interstate 57.


I normally ride the Metra to work. Riding to work during rush hour is just an absolute pain. The bumper to bumper traffic at 5-6 m.p.h. at best is a exercise for your clutch hand. Interstate 57 is not the problem, it's the overcrowded Dan Ryan Expressway. Although the surface is new with a better flow (at least for the ride in), the ride home is always congested.

Riding on the North Side

I live in the south suburbs of Chicago. I work in Hyde Park, 6 mile short of the epicenter of Chicago. Most of my motorcycle riding is going further south with an occasional jaunt into the downtown area. Well, I had a meeting to attend at Northwestern University and decided to make it a motorcycle ride through the city. The ride reminded me why I don't enjoy riding inside of Chicago propper and why I ride Metra to work. I didn't leave home until 10:00 in order to miss any morning rush. The ride on the Dan Ryan and Lake Shore Drive was a breeze. Once LSD ended, I took Sheridan Rd all the way until NWU. This 4 lane road is extremely tight and congested. My meeting ended and I was back on the Connie for the ride home by 3:15. Sheridan Rd was even worst with congestion and the road itself is not in the best of condition. LSD was OK but you don't want to change lanes anywhere north of the Belmont exit because of the worn out canyons in between the lanes. The Dan Ryan was backed up and I worked on 1st gear and the friction zone for miles. The 50 minute ride to NWU turned into an hour and 45 minute ride home in traffic. At least I was able to spend some daytime hours riding the Connie during the week. There is always a silver lining.