Great Lakes - Help planning Chicago commute

I am trying to reach Clybourn and Fullerton, in Chicago, from my house at Custer and Oakton in Evanston. The route I took the other day was to take the signs routing you through Rogers Park to the Lakeshore Path, and taking Fullerton across. This worked pretty well, but is obviously not the quickest route. Aside from being indirect, I encountered several school buses that slowed me down a lot (were stopped to pick up, let off the students). The advantage of this route is that much of it is in quiet neighborhoods or on a bike path.

I was wondering if anyone knew of a shorter, more direct route (and hopefully a faster one) between these two points, that is also bike-friendly. Of course, I could just go down Sheridan/Broadway to Fullerton, but that is a little heavily-trafficked to be ideal.

I really just don't know the road conditions in the city at all, so any help is welcomed.

I would try a variation on the XXX team ride route (http://www.xxxracing.org/index.php?/pages/ride/).

Custer S => Howard
Howard W => Ridge
Ridge S => Ravenswood
Ravenswood S => Bryn Mawr
Bryn Mawr W => Damen
Damen S => Clybourn
Clyboun S => Fullerton

Your dodgiest section will be Ridge. Kind of narrow and busy, but doable. You could try any variety of side streets if you decide the traffic is too much.

Damen has a bike lane most of the way. You still need to be on guard against doors, but Damen is my primary north-south artery (not counting the lake).

Ravenswood is also very bike-friendly, but you'll have to do some navigation to get all the way to Fullerton.

Consider this route: http://www.mapmyride.com/route/us/il/evanston%20to%20fullerton/448126435230131866

Take Oakton to the Channel bike path that runs along McCormick
Use either Howard or Touhy to cross over the canal, take Kedzie south
Pick up the bikepath just before reaching Lincoln
Take the bike path to Lawrence
Cross over the North Branch of the Chicago River at Lawrence
Head south on North Manor to California
Take California to Addison (you can ride through Horner park).
Take North Rockwell to Belmont, take Clybourn to Fullerton.

You could also improvise between Custer & Oakton and the intersection of Touhy & Kedzie, some neighborhood streets in Evanston might be better than the traffic on Oakton.

The mixture of bike paths and bike friendly roads will promote a low stress ride to work!



Michael