Here's why you should become a bike commuter in Chicago

1. Cost - bikes are cheap
2. Reliability - 97% of the time, you can get from A to B consistently
3. Convenience - bikes are door-to-door
4. Speed - bike transit time is shorter than or equal to CTA transit time
5. Comfort - (drawback) perceived danger, weather, limited wardrobe/difficult to carry some items

[@PromenadeMTL]

Looks like Chicago has a lot of potential for a nice bike network.

[@dmnddog7417]

I've been riding my bike in Chicago for about 10 years. I've only had two flats in that time. There's still a lot of room for improvement route-wise, but it has definitely improved in the time I've been riding.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

It has improved drastically in some areas, but painfully slowly in other areas. Keep fighting!

[@MITdork]

I do both (when it's above 45 degrees). It has elevated my travel experience to pleasurable one. 🤟.

[@fdtk]

Important🚨Please also adjust your seat height to save your knee

[@kitchencarvings4621]

For sure. I see people riding around with their knees up in their chests. I saw a teenage girl at the bank, and I offered to adjust her seat to the right height for her. Just watching her made me sore.

[@PacificDark]

The health benefits are priceless.

[@treakzy_9594]

and the fun you have riding.

[@jamesrobbins3566]

CTA needs lots of help, and obviously new leadership. The awful state of the CTA I think is the biggest reason biking in Chicago has grown a lot lately, on top of the recent mild winters. Here are my personal rec's to biking in Chicago: 1. ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings, be smart. 2. Follow the rules of the road, and expect/prepare for everyone around you to make dumb decisions 3. Stay on side streets / less busy streets always if possible ; avoid very busy roads like Michigan, Halsted, Clark etc. 4. Avoid biking between December and early April (unless you are O.K. with freezing temps, Ice/snow, and have the right gear and bike for it) 5. Avoid riding in the 'hoods 6. Invest in a loud bike horn (bike bells are a joke, and it's much more likely cars and peds hear a loud bike horn) 7. Wear reflective/visible (neon) gear to remain visible 8. Only bike in well lit areas at night.

[@AcountVoorlol]

I do not understand the danger of cycling, because i live in the Netherlands, but i reccomend more poeple to bike. I said that because i am like 13 years old going to middelbare school (idk how that called in the us of MERICA) and i cycle allone for like 10 km and never felt in danger or threatend by a driver. SO, getting to my point, i think everyone should think about cycling and protest, because in the 1970's it was very difrant in the NL and only protests got us here! Cycling is very good and comfort can defnitly be chanced by better infrastructure! (Side notes, why did i watched this video? Because i my friend recommended it. Why is my grammer so bad? Because i am still in the eerste (idk how it is called in the USA) and that's only nine monthes! What date was this posted? The seventh of June. (6-7-2024)

[@stevejorde]

We call them middle school here in the USA. Thank you for your post, it was very inspiring.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

The problem boils down to two things: Impatience and a lack of regard for the safety of others.

[@rustyburger]

Where you live is very different from the USA - Lots of people are VERY mentally unhealthy in Chicago. There has been 85 shootings and 24 murders in Chicago in the last 7 days. I compel you to compare those statistics to the most dangerous part of NL you can pull up, and it won't be close - it doesn't directly relate to cycling, but it relates to peoples mental state which relates to why we can't have nice things, It's even harder to make societal improvements when you can't convince people to stop shooting each other over trivial things. A lot of a very different type of person lives in Chicago then the type of people you're living with in the NL - Not saying the NL's is perfect, but compared to Chicago it is. 😂

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

If you don't understand it, all you need to do is look at how streets are designed (or lacking design) for the vast majority of the world. You're very lucky for being born in a country that cares about its bikers and citizens in general. Most countries have bikes as an afterthought. In the US, Chicago is one of the best cities to bike, but look at how many points of conflict and dangerous spots you see in this video alone, then consider most parts of the city have no bike infrastructure at all, and this video is some of the best of what we have.

[@hackman88]

Getting a flat sucks! I used to commute 8 miles round-trip 4 days/week for 3 years and got 2 flats. If I got 4 in a year, I would start using tire sealant such as FlatOut or Slime.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

I've been a bike commuter in Chicago for my entire adult life. That being said I would never tell anyone they should do the same because of how dangerous it is to ride in this city. We need better infrastructure first.

[@pbilk]

Actually you can hold an umbrella when it's rainy. The other option is a poncho that you can wear that goes between you and your handle bars so your legs also stay dry.

[@yagi3925]

Ha ha, how witty!... 🙄 The two most bicycle-friendly countries in the world are actually rain-soaked Denmark and Netherlands.

[@IowaNinersFan]

Holding an umbrella......are you Mary Poppin???? They do make rain jackets and pants for this purpose. Ponchos don't work on bikes. Been there, tried it.

[@charlienyc1]

​@@IowaNinersFanYup, REI is your friend.

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

I've never seen an umbrella on a bike lol. I don't think it would do me any favors while I'm going 27 mph

[@pbilk]

@@IowaNinersFan yes, there are purpose built rain coats for biking. They share some aspects of a poncho.

[@mbengaful]

i've been riding basically everyday for 20 years and got a flat tire maybe once. 🤔

[@stevezelaznik5872]

If you bike for transportation, get two bikes. That way you’re still mobile when one bike is in the sho

[@runawaytrain9794]

SURE, Cars and whatnot have their pros, but with bikes, think about it...we share the SAME roads with cars with the benefits of no insurance required, no license required, no yearly license fees, no gas expenses, no expensive repairs, no yearly test for your exhaust system, etc. no traffic jams to deal with, etc. etc. It's almost like it's not fair for all you car people lol. Just ribbin' the car folks lol. But no lie - most new cars and even many used cars cost as much as a nice HOUSE did just a few decades ago, and I'm not talking about SUVS! It's insane.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

Shushhhhh! Now, everyone will know and want to cycle. We'll lose our advantage.😃 Seriously though, the health benefits are insane, both mental and physical.

[@jamesrobbins3566]

Cars give you more flexibility to go to further away places like the suburbs if you go there. If you plan on only ever staying in the city, biking is fine, but it isn't practical to go beyond that. Additionally, there are even areas of the city that are hard to get to by bike (and even public transit). Chi is a big city to navigate. And not to mention the winters, it's more enjoyable to be in a warm car than freezing/sweating on a bike with icy roads. I definitely see the pros of bike riding, but worth noting there's benefits to both. We are all different people with different preferences and needs, it's nice to have a variety of options of commuting.

[@treakzy_9594]

crazy how you say biking is uncomfortable, when most of the time it's just the environment that's not pleasant. for weather, you can dress (more cloths, gloves, ponchos) or undress. and if your city would care for cyclist, snow and cars wouldn't be a problem neither. watch not just bikes videos on these topics. cool video :)

[@101southsideboy]

what do you think of those "E Bikes" as i call them ?

[@harrylen1688]

For years bike in & out the City of course Cars can be a scarry situation Personaly I dont have problems with. My problems is the other Bicyclists =lots of Egos careless passers out side the bike path between the Traffic + Most of NO Helmets. Your recommentation for cheep Bikes ? I disagree most Chicago, roads are cracked full of patches think the notorious winds :) Also a decent bike start $ 1000 to $ 1700 you buy once and the advantages for me is really worth it. 2024 :)

[@Minelaughter]

North Chicago: ✅ Northwest Chicago: ✅ Westside Chicago: ‼️‼️‼️❌❌ Southwest Chicago: ✅ South Chicago: ❌ Ranking based on bike infrastructure and general safety

[@robertwilson7683]

It's just a little bit out of my way

[@jonwald51]

It's too cold in Chicago to ride a stupid bike. Get real.

[@deponca3143]

Bikes ok.But give me a ebike.

[@boataxe4605]

Because the city has spent millions on infrastructure for bikes and you don’t have to pay a dime of it! No registration fees,and no city stickers! Plus,no consequences if you violate traffic laws ( except possibly getting killed)!

[@morsecypher]

👻

[@charlienyc1]

Biking all year is not difficult, especially with the mild winters we've been having. Just layer up and go for it!

[@carstarsarstenstesenn]

yup and balaclavas or other face coverings are great, even when it's not too cold

[@michaelkernan5165]

Comfort should increase with the more people that bike. Infrastructure, although not amazing, is getting better every year. The more people that bike, the more drivers are used to seeing bikes around! Strength in numbers

[@yagi3925]

Exactly. It's called a "critical mass" in sociology and there are "CM events" organized on a regular basis in several cities - although I'm not sure about Chicago.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

@@yagi3925 From what I've seen of those, I don't want any part of them. They get violent and smash car windows, which doesn't help anything.

[@yagi3925]

@@kitchencarvings4621 Physical violence against cars (drivers)? I’ve never witnessed any such thing in critical masses but I’m talking about the European scene. It might be different in the USA. I once took part in a slow roll in Detroit, that’s about all I know about the North American scene.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

@@yagi3925 This was about 8 or 10 years ago at a critical mass event in San Francisco, I think. Some drivers got caught in the crowd of bikes, and they started climbing and jumping on the car. They started bashing in the windows with bikes. Many of them were naked. It was a mob. I don't know if they are all like this. I hope not, but I don't want to be associated with such people.

[@yagi3925]

@@kitchencarvings4621 Thanks for the description. It’s insane and I fully appreciate that you should want to dissociate yourself from such people. I am dfinitely against “car centrism” but it’s equally crazy to be “anti car” pure and simple. Thanks again for your account.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

To my way of thinking, it's free. Even with the cost of bikes and maintenance, being in better shape could potentially save you thousands or even hundreds of dollars on medical bills in the future. You are paying out the nose for having and using a car, but you are essentially being paid to ride a bike.

[@aliancemd]

How do you take into consideration all the toxic exhaust you are inhaling while riding in traffic?

[@kitchencarvings4621]

@@aliancemd@aliancemd I'd be breathing it in a car, too; it's in the air. Many people wear a filtering mask, and I've done that before.

[@aliancemd]

@@kitchencarvings4621 That's not true. Those are quite big particles that car filters easily filter out.

[@morsecypher]

@@aliancemd Some are big, but many aren't. Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) for example. On occasions when air pollution was particularly bad, I ride with a filtering mask. Also, car filters *could* easily filter big particles out, but I think that in most cars that doesn't happen. For starters, I don't think that many drivers change or clean filters. But the key point is that health risks (including from pollution) on the bicycle is not really worse than in the cars. In fact, exercise that cyclists get (and drivers don't get) outweighs risks of cycling.

[@s0nicfreak]

​@@aliancemd You're assuming that everyone drives with the windows closed. And doesn't get out of the car.

[@gem3132]

I live in the SF Bay Area. Commute on a "Dutch" bike 4 flat miles to work and 4 miles back, 5 days x week. About 25'. The 2 bus lines will take about the same time.

[@paintballer4055]

based on title: Step 1: Move to Chicago. Step 2: Obtain apartment in Chicago. Step 3: Obtain job in Chicago within commuting distance to said apartment. Step 4: Your video.

[@krob9145]

I've found using my bike for transport to be cheap, reliable, convenient and quick in a city with traffic. It's also comfortable. I'm so used to a bike that being in a car too long makes me travel sick. Dressing for the weather isn't a problem.

[@davidprice6902]

I live on the northside and bike in Chicago and his five criteria misses the most important. Is it safe? Chicago is rapidly expanding bike lanes in the city but there are streets you do not want to ride on and you must always be vigilant. On average, about six cyclists die each year.

[@charlienyc1]

That number is way off. My guess is six a month or week.

[@s0nicfreak]

In 2022, there were 160 motor vehicle fatalities in Chicago. They involved: 57 drivers 52 pedestrians 28 passengers 13 motorcyclists 10 bicyclists So is bicycling safe? Much safer than driving, walking, or being a car passenger apparently.

[@joshuabloom7716]

I just got a scooter and along with my bike I use it to get everywhere; I really wish Chicago built out a bike network like NYC. I just visited Manhattan and they literally have protected bike lanes across every street. In Chicago I find myself constantly on the street alongside cars which feels super dangerous.

[@realemmyrossum]

Nice video! I just moved and have been biking using the divvys for a few weeks now. It’s been great. I agree that it can be incredibly cheap with a normal bike but e-bikes take at least some of the uncomfortableness out of the equation. Also there is bike insurance as well. But even if you go that route too biking is still incredibly more cost effective than driving/owning a car

[@shamusduffey4873]

Immediately when you talked about $600 bikes being only marginally better, I remembered that that's the cost of mine. The difference here is that this one folds, which gives you so many more opportunities when it comes to transit and inside storage.

[@kitchencarvings4621]

Ideal for the city since you can take it into the store with you and ask for a safe place to put it while you shop. I want a folding bike but my next purchase will be a cargo bike.

[@hilariohernandez]

Nice video, a lot of good points!

[@MikeMassey-fi5of]

Shouldn’t question #1 be “Is it safe?”

[@morsecypher]

Have you watched the video? He talks about safety.

[@drizzleprism5826]

I didn’t know Chicago had bicycles. I lived there for 7 years and never once saw one

[@tshirtphilosophers]

Maybe you should get your vision checked?

[@drizzleprism5826]

Could you repeat that?