Lakefront Path

Went on a bike ride on the Lakefront Path here in Chicago. It's maintained immaculately, runs up and down Lake Michigan (obviously) with a number of places to stop and check out, and is easily accessible. But I gotta be honest, I'm not a big fan.

I've been on it quite a bit and have done all 18.5 miles of it many times. Yes, there are some nice sections to the north and south, but the middle 10 miles is infested with walkers, runners, bicyclists, skaters, and dog walkers. No big though, what do you expect in a big city? But it's the people themselves.

You've got bicyclists who treat the Path like their personal training grounds, rocketing along and around corners at 30 mph without warning. Groups of joggers ignore the drawn lanes designating directional traffic, line up across the already narrow path, and bitch at you when you try to squeeze through them. The oblivious cut across the path without signaling or looking. Others react unpredictably when you warn them of your presence, as if they're on a path that's not supposed to have people on it. And the fucked up thing is that it's not the tourists, it's the residents who don't seem to know any better. Congestion is expected, stupidity is not.

That said, it is in itself a beautiful and nicely maintained path. If you show up early enough or during the off season, it is a fantastic little ride to take.


Casual snap of racked bikes. Notice the ubiquitous pink Nalgene.


Enjoying the view during one of our breaks.


Ramps, ramps, ramps.