Anyone have advice for a route into the city from the east? Presently in Illinois on RT.50.
THANKS!

Stay north, get to Collinsville, then Granite City, cross the Mississippi River on the Chain of Rocks bike bridge. This bridge is just next to I-270. From the bridge there is a bike path to downtown STL. Avoid East St Louis.

A no hassle alternative is to get on the Metrolink and cross over to St. Louis. Could go all the way to airport to link up with the Katy.

After having been there two years ago on the bike I will agree with avoiding East St. Louis. I didn't and that was a rather interesting experience to say the least. I was glad as you know what to make it out alive. I ended up missing a turn after I crossed back into IL and ended up in the heart of the wrong territory. Here was the route I took back then. The way going into town wasn't bad but coming back out...like I said was brick roads and close to ghettos. 08/28/12 - A bike ride in Auburn, Illinois I was trying to stick to US40 but I goofed on one of the turns and ended up anywhere but where I was trying to get to.

Looking pretty stormy there right now with the spring weather front collisions ..

If the OP wants to get on the MetroLink, take Hwy 158 south where it meets Hwy 50. There's a station about 3 miles south on Hwy 158. However Hwy 50 gets busy near Lebanon. There are some side roads that parallel 50 such as Old Hwy 50.

If you want to actually ride into St. Louis and avoid ESL, probably the best way is to go a little north to Hwy 40 and Troy, Illinois. From there you can get on the Madison County Trails ( MCT Trails ). From there you can cross the Old Chain Of Rocks Bridge and head south on the Riverfront Trail. It will take you right to the Arch and downtown STL.

However if your plans include the Katy Trail, you could head north from the Madison County Trails to Alton, Illinois and cross over the Mississippi River from there as the bridge has a bike path. Find Missouri Hwy 94 to Machens and the trail begins there.

You could also take the MetroLink to the first stop in Missouri and head north up the Riverfront Trail and cross the Chain of Rocks bridge and eventually get to the Katy Trail.

Elaine is about 5 days ahead of you and already on the KATY. She also came from Hwy 50 but took some backroads. Here's her blog about the ride.

Elaine Sachs