http://www.cnn.com/2006/TRAVEL/DESTINATIONS/05/02/biking.chicago.ap/index.html
Chicago on two wheels
By Caryn Rousseau
Associated Press
CHICAGO, Illinois (AP) -- Known for its blustery winds, Chicago's lakefront
might not seem the ideal place for a leisurely bike ride.
But the paved path along Lake Michigan that snakes south from the suburbs
past some of the city's most famous sites makes the perfect urban excursion
for taxi-weary tourists.
Several companies rent bicycles at prominent spots across the city. Two
examples: Bike Chicago has six outlets and Bobby's Bike Hike offers day and
night guided tours. But there's no rule you can't bring your own wheels.
Why pay for transit tickets, shuttle buses or walk miles when you can see
the city at your own pace for half the price?
I started at visitor-friendly Navy Pier, where the bicycle rental kiosk sits
along the shore. Choices range from sporty mountain bikes to comfortable
beach cruisers. Ask to try the different cycle types before you commit to
one and make sure the seat isn't too high.
Tandem bikes are available too. So are inline skates and a variety of baby
seats, strollers and wagons for the kids. Helmets and locks are included.
For those who prefer battery power to pedal power, several companies also
offer Segway tours of the city.
I was suited up and ready to go when, I admit, I got a bit lost. The signage
pointing out the lakefront trail isn't the best in some areas. My advice:
Bring a map. Bike Chicago provides them too.
A nice thing about the trail is that the addresses are painted on the
pavement. So you'll know where you are when it says, for example, "700S" for
700 South or "1600N" for 1600 North.
After my five-minute detour, I cycled a half-mile south to find a beautiful
view of Navy Pier jutting into lake with its Ferris wheel standing tall.
With all the sights to see, there will likely be more stopping than
pedaling.
Continuing south, the path runs past the Chicago Yacht Club, a marina filled
with hundreds of sailboats tottering back and forth in the lake breeze. Look
west and Chicago's famous downtown skyline -- the Sears Tower, the John
Hancock Building and Prudential Building -- looms overhead.
At Monroe Street, a side trail offers exploration of Chicago's new
Millennium Park. Cyclists can lock up the bikes to stroll through the
gardens or catch a performance at the outdoor amphitheater. But be careful,
you have to cross the very busy Lake Shore Drive to get there.
Grant Park and its postcard-famous Buckingham Fountain are next before
Chicago's museum campus, offering stops and tours at the Shedd Aquarium,
Adler Planetarium or The Field Museum. The museums have restaurants and
there are plenty of water fountains and food stands along the way for the
road-weary.
The path continues south past Soldier Field, the newly redone
spaceship-looking home of the Chicago Bears. The famous facade remains. The
city's main convention center, McCormick Place, is accessible as well, and
there are picnic lunch possibilities at 31st Street beach.
Other south-side trails off the lake lead to Chinatown, the Chicago Blues
Museum, U.S. Cellular Field (where the World Series champion Chicago White
Sox play), the University of Chicago and Museum of Science and Industry.
North from Navy Pier offers more sites you would be paying a city cabbie $15
to drive you to through traffic. I found the nicest section of the ride to
be along Oak Street Beach, where the mist from the Lake Michigan waves hits
your face as seagulls sail by. Riders pass the Drake Hotel and swanky Gold
Coast high-rise condos.
The lakefront park trail continues north through trendy Lincoln Park with
its popular zoo and conservatory. From the zoo, riders can go off trail to
cycle up Clark Street for great local shopping. The north side of the path
also offers at least six different beaches and golfing options.
The bike trail is a steal if your plan was to walk or taxi your way along
the Lake Michigan shore's most popular destinations. At the most expensive,
a single-person bicycle is $43 from Bike Chicago, or choose from the
company's several neighborhood and nighttime tours.