Good bike messengers don’t need to rely on Google or Mapquest to find their destination. They know every street and alley downtown and the fastest way to get from Point A to Point B.
Best downtown routes
– LaSalle Street is convenient if riding a bike because the lights are timed so cyclists can coast through six blocks without hitting a red light, said Adam Glenn, who delivers food on his bike.
– Lower Wacker Drive, Lower Michigan Avenue and Lower Randolph Street are quick, direct routes without many cars and can keep cyclists dry, messengers say.
– Milwaukee and Elston Avenues are good routes because they run diagonally and have dedicated bike lanes, said former messenger Amy Polcaster.
Streets to avoid
– Michigan Avenue during rush hour and Wabash Avenue, Glenn said.
– The triple intersection of Grand and Milwaukee Avenues and Halsted Street, because of traffic and road conditions, said messenger Augie Montes. The potholes make roads look like “well-used minefields,” he said.
– Streets under construction, messengers said.
– Bridges can be troublesome and can cause you to fishtail if slippery. “When it’s raining or snowing, the metal bridges in the city can be extremely unforgiving,” Glenn said.
