5 Commuters Share Story at Park Party

A perfect mid-60’s November Saturday morning set the scene for a park party, the first official event from The Commute. We gathered, discussed infrastructure and route planning, had a few laughs, and enjoyed our community!

Cycling is for everyone. That was evident listening to each participant’s story and how cycling is a part of their life.

Michelle was able to find a great deal on a quality bike in the south suburbs where the riding is more open with lots of trails and less cars. Although the bike has not seen much use in Chicago, we plan to change that this upcoming spring!

Gigi is no stranger to cycling. We discussed the frustration of bike theft and its impact on the city. She shared the good side of cycling, a commute from Bronzeville north to Evanston! Anytime a Chicago bike commute includes the lakefront, even a few miles, it is hard to beat.

Randy made the trip down from Glenview, a combination of Metra, CTA, and bicycle, he arrived on a sharp, yellow Cannondale with accessories loaded. An eye-catching bike for sure. A recent transplant to Chicago, Randy is exploring all of the neighborhoods, learning and seeing as much as possible.

Ernest has plans to dust off his current hybrid and take on a few rides next spring. With a commute from Grand Boulevard to Englewood, it is very doable ride that should take 30-40 minutes. We disused other bike options available at nearby shops, and Ernest was able to test ride an e-bike.

Cain, an experienced cyclist, currently commutes from Oakland to McKinley Park, a straight shot heading west. But the southside streets (west of the Dan Ryan) are known for tractor trailers which can cause some headaches for those of us on two wheels.

Just a few stories from the day, it was exciting to see everyone come together. Look out for the next event, a Holiday Ride starting and ending at Sumac Park, slated for December 20th. It could be cold. 😊

Darcy P.