September 13, 2009

Event Info

Ride

The 2009 Boulevard Lakefront Tour features:

• A new, fourth route
• Event T-shirt
• Post-ride festival
• Optional picnic lunch (meat or veg)
• Volunteer support and five rest/water stops on the routes
• Ride guide with points of interest along the routes
• Scavenger hunt for raffle prizes
• Live entertainment at the post-ride festival

The Boulevard Lakefront Tour benefits the Active Transportation Alliance’s work to improve bicycling, walking and transit in Chicagoland. The ride takes place rain or shine; no refunds are available.

Choose one of FOUR routes:

• South Side Ramble - 15 miles
• Beverly Cruise - 27 miles
• Boulevard Tour - 35 miles
• Ultimate Neighborhood Ride - 62 miles

Festival

Join us after your ride for music, fun, food and beer! Don’t forget to stop by the Active Transportation Alliance tent!

Support

Rest and water stops will be evenly placed along the route to keep you going strong.

They will provide:

• Water
• Port-a-potties
• Food/treats (rest stops only)

Volunteer course marshals and ride marshals will be available to guide you and help out if you get a flat or need a quick bike adjustment.

Getting to the Boulevard Lakefront Tour

The Boulevard Lakefront Tour starts and finishes on the Midway Plaisance at the University of Chicago, just south of 59th St. and Woodlawn Ave.

By Bike

Exit the Lakefront Trail at the bike underpass at 55th and head west to Woodlawn. Take a left heading south to the Midway Plaisance.

From the west, ride east on Garfield into Washington Park and turn right on Morgan, following the flow of traffic around the park. At the fork where a small green sign directs to the right for Midway Plaisance, veer slightly right (Payne Drive) and then turn left from Payne onto South Midway Plaisance.
   
By CTA

With CTA's Bike & Ride program, you can take your bike on trains and buses. The CTA will relax its two-bike-per-railcar restriction on the day of the BLT (exact hours are TBD). Be sure to visit www.transitchicago.com for official train and bus route start times.

From the Red Line, head south from downtown and exit at the Garfield station (5500 South).

Once you're off the train on Garfield Boulevard, ride east into Washington Park and turn right on Morgan Drive, following the flow of traffic around the park. At the fork where a small green sign directs to the right for Midway Plaisance, veer slightly right (Payne Drive) and then turn left from Payne onto South Midway Plaisance.

(You can also use the East 63rd/Cottage Grove stop on the Green Line, but the Green Line trains may begin too late for your travel needs. If you do take the Green Line, don't get off at King Drive/63rd—there's no bike access at that station heading toward 63rd/Cottage Grove.)

In addition, you can take your bike on all CTA buses. The following routes will take you to and from a location near the BLT start/finish area: #4 Cottage Grove, #6 Jackson Park Express, #15 Jeffery Local, #28 Stony Island, #55 Garfield, #59 59th/61st. Please consult a map and call the number below with questions.

Go to www.transitchicago.com or call 1-800-YOUR-CTA for more information on CTA's Bike & Ride program.    

By Car

Lake Shore Drive:
Exit at 57th St. Take 57th west, which becomes southbound Cornell. Turn right on the Midway Plaisance, where a square green sign points right for "MIDWAY PLAISANCE WEST." Continue to Woodlawn.

I-90/94:
Exit at 55th St. (Garfield). Go east on Garfield into Washington Park and turn right on Morgan, following the flow of traffic around the park. At the fork where a small green sign directs to the right for Midway Plaisance, veer slightly right (Payne Drive) and then turn left from Payne onto South Midway Plaisance.