Illini 4000 Ride Along Participant Information

Important Reminders for Participants

• You MUST wear a helmet to participate
• We recommend you bring at least one spare tube that fits your wheel size. The 2011 riders have the tools to change a flat tire for you but will most likely not have spare tubes in your size
• Please print out the Ride Cues before arriving at Millennium Park
• We recommend you bring water and a light snack for the ride
• Bikes are not permitted inside Millennium Park. Do Not Ride through it
• When bringing bikes on Metra trains board on the handicapped cars and secure bikes with a bungee cord along the folded up chairs
• There is no extra charge for bikes
• Riding bikes on the sidewalks in the Loop in dangerous and not recommended (technically against the law)

Safety Rules/Hand Signals

• Helmets required
• While riding on roads act as a car and follow all traffic signals/laws
• On busier roads please keep single file
• Callouts to know and use: “Slowing”, “Stopping”, “Right Turn”, “Left Turn”

Rules for Bikes on Metra Trains

• Bikes on Trains: Metra Rules
• Board on handicapped cars only
• Bicycles must be secured to the lower rail of folding seats in the handicapped priority seating area with long bungee cords or other devices supplied by the cyclist which adequately secure the bicycle.
• No additional charge for bikes
• Cyclists must be considerate and allow all passengers (including those with mobility devices) to board and alight before carrying their bicycles on or off the train.

Pre-Ride Transportation Options

• Parking in the Loop

• http://chicago.bestparking.com
• AON Center (Best Deal & Closest Parking, I’ve used it before)

• $6 parking for the day (In by 9:30am, out by 7:30pm)
• Bikes not allowed in parking garage

• Lock bikes above ground on Randolph Dr before parking and pick up after exiting AON Center

• Directions into AON Parking Garage

• Parking at Caldwell Woods (Riding train into Chicago pre-ride, or cycling direct route)

• Taking the Train:

• See the Post-Ride Transportation section for Cues to Metra stations from Caldwell woods

• Edgebrook Metra: 1.5 miles - Inbound leaves at 7:50 am
• Norwood Park Metra: 1.0 miles - Inbound leaves at 7:57 am

• Cycling Into the City:

• See Post-Ride Transportation for direct bike cues to Millennium Park

• Participants Taking Trains into Chicago: Directions from Chicago Metra Hubs

• Union Station

• Cues

• 0.0 HEAD NORTH on Canal St
• 0.3 RIGHT on Washington St
• 1.1 LEFT on Michigan Ave
• 1.1 RIGHT on Upper Randolph Dr
• 1.5 ARRIVE at Cancer Survivors Garden

• Ogilvie Transportation Center

• Cues

• 0.0 HEAD NORTH on Canal St
• 0.1 RIGHT on Washington St
• 0.9 LEFT on Michigan Ave
• 0.9 RIGHT on Upper Randolph Dr
• 1.3 ARRIVE at Cancer Survivors Garden

• Millennium Station

• Cues

• 0.0 HEAD NORTH on Upper Randolph Dr
• 0.4 ARRIVE at Cancer Survivors Garden

• LaSalle Station

• Cues

• 0.0 HEAD NORTH on Financial Pl
• 0.0 LEFT on Van Buren St
• 0.1 RIGHT Franklin St
• 0.2 RIGHT Jackson St
• 0.5 LEFT Dearborn St
• 0.9 RIGHT Washington St
• 1.2 LEFT Michigan Ave
• 1.2 RIGHT Upper Randolph Dr
• 1.6 ARRIVE at Cancer Survivors Garden

Post-Ride Transportation Options

• Edgebrook Metra (Milwaukee District - North): 1.5 Miles from Caldwell Woods

• Inbound (to Union Station) - 11:50, 12:44, 1:50, 3:50
• Outbound - 1:00, 2:04, 3:00
• Cues

• 0.0 Head North on North Branch Trail following the route backwards
• 0.4 TURN RIGHT on North Branch Trail fork
• 1.4 At trail end Continue on sidewalk
• 1.5 Arrive at Edgebrook Metra

• Norwood Park Metra (Union Pacific - Northwest): 1.0 miles from Caldwell Woods

• Inbound (to Ogilvie) - 11:57, 12:57, 2:57
• Outbound - 12:52, 1:52, 2:52
• Cues

• 0.0 Head East on Devon Ave (Right out of parking lot)
• 0.0 LEFT on Milwaukee Ave
• 0.1 RIGHT on Nagle Ave
• 0.4 RIGHT on Raven St
• 1.0 ARRIVE Norwood Park Metra

• Reverse Ride the Route (17.0 miles)

• Ride Directly into the Loop (12.0 miles)

• Cues

• 0.0 START at Caldwell Woods Parking Lot
• 0.0 RIGHT onto Devon Ave
• 0.0 LEFT on Milwaukee Ave
• 0.6 LEFT on Miami Ave
• 0.7 RIGHT on Elston Ave
• 10.0 LEFT on Milwaukee Ave
• 10.6 RIGHT on Halsted St
• 11.2 LEFT on Washington Blvd
• 11.5 Options for Various Routes

• For AON Center and Millennium Station CONTINUE on Washington Blvd for 0.9 miles to Millennium Park, turn LEFT onto Michigan Ave then...

• AON: RIGHT onto Upper Randolph Dr
• Millennium Station: LEFT onto Sidewalk at Randolph Dr

• For Ogilvie head RIGHT on Clinton St for 0.1 miles, dismount and enter on Madison St
• For Union Station head RIGHT on Clinton St for 0.3 miles, dismount and enter on Clinton St