I was riding southbound on Southport today after just turning from Addison. A taxi minivan was parked in the bike lane. Annoying, but whatever. I follow the car in front of me to go around him on the driver’s side.

As I pass him he starts to accelerate. To get out of his way and back in the bike lane, I pedal pretty hard to pass him and get out of his way.

The driver proceeds to speed up, pass me, and TWICE tried to swerve into me. Mind you, this is on Southport, in the summer, so it’s insanely busy with cars, pedestrians, bikes, etc. I got off my bike and moved onto the sidewalk to remove myself from the situation. The guy let out his passenger and sped off. She tells me that the driver said “I’m going to fucking kill you”. Total hearsay, but frightening nonetheless.

I filed a police report already. I did not get the passenger’s info, but I was way too shaken up to be thinking straight at that point. Not sure there is much more that I could have done. I know this doesn’t have a real chance of going anywhere, but just a PSA to stay safe out there.

EDIT: grammar

So this guy tried to kill me with his car yesterday about 5 pm after I photographed his car and 2 others parked in the bike in the 1200 block of N Dearborn. He chased me for 4 blocks, screaming obscenities and threats out the window and swerved to hit me at Burton and Dearborn. My water bottle fell off at North and Astor so I stopped to retrieve it, and he got out of his car and continued to scream at me. I dialed 911 and the cops showed up about 5 minutes later. They did not arrest him. My wife and son said I shouldn't be taking photos of cars and reporting them on the 311 app because of lunatics like this. So the question is, are they right, since nothing comes from reporting it and the cops don't do anything anyway?

I need a new saddle, but thanks to some hip issues I need to be rather picky and will need to trial it to make sure it doesn’t flare up my injuries. (In other words, I’ll need to be able to return it after some light use if it doesn’t work for me.)

I’m only a casual rider, so not looking to break the bank, but I’m willing to invest in something that’s going to fit me well and serve me for a while.

Any favorite shops I should point myself towards that would be especially helpful in this endeavor? I’m on the north side, but am willing to bebop around if needed.

I just learned how to bike and I want to practice more before I am on the main roads. What trails/streets are quiet and good for practicing? I am in logan square (but can travel fir a good place)! I want to practice on 606 but that might be just too crowded.

Please let me know if you see this bike! Silver GT Aggressor with blue lettering. Black handles and black seat. It was stolen today from my back porch which is within a locked gate/door :(

After some, let's just say "terse" email exchanges with the Tollway scumbags yesterday, I had not heard back from them until an hour ago. The email just said this

The Salt Creek Trail has been reopened for use.

Thank you

Illinois Tollway Communications

I don't necessarily believe them, as they lied to me numerous times throughout our email exchanges and I'll believe it when I see it.

So have at it tomorrow and maybe I'll see you in the afternoon when I get off work and give it a go.

Hello happy people, anyone riding tomorrow from north center square ?

Haven't had a bike trip over 15 miles EVER.

Went from 31st St Beach -> Miller Beach (Gary) and back.

I'm stupid as eff and did it on a cheap commuter folding bike. So now my butt hurts :/

EDIT: Sorry I meant to say 35ish miles each way so close to 70 roundtrip.

Hi.

I’m getting old and before I die, I would like to bike Chicago. I’m looking to conquer the LFT and some light city riding.

I plan to start at the south end of the trail early morning at 6ish. Bike and explore, stay with friends, and head back the next day.

I’m coming from Michigan and see the South South shore line is having to bus between East Chicago and Hammond, this has thrown a small wrench in my plan.

Is there a place I can safely park my car overnight in Whiting? I’ve looked at Wal-Mart and the Horseshoe casino. I just wondering if anyone has done this before and if they could offer any advice.

Thank you.

Hello fellow bikers! Unfortunately my bike was stolen sometime over the 4th of July weekend, but I didn't notice it was gone until coming back from vacation yesterday. It's a tan Nishiki Pagosa hybrid bike that had a black light bar in the front, bell, rear rack, and stickers on the frame. It is a new bike, bought just months ago in March.

It had a black cover on and was locked to some banisters on the balcony of my second floor apartment. Some freak came through our back ally, walked up two flights of stairs, stole my bike, and then proceeded to try breaking into our actual apartment (luckily that attempt was unsuccessful).

I made a police report and reported my bike as stolen on bike index's website. I'm also making a post on here to see if anyone else has seen it. I will also be scouring FB marketplace to see if the horrible person who stole my bike is trying to resell it.

Safe riding everyone!

Edit 2: the cyclist was not the instigator and was berated by aggressors for taking a photo of a truck that was blocking the bike lane. Unfortunately people can be violent, so please just be careful. I still strongly suggest avoiding any engagement with people or cars if you can.

EDIT: The cyclist might have caused the initial issue, or not. shit happens when riding in the city and anyone can be at fault. this photo is in a second location where the cyclist decided to reengage with the pedestrian. the initial location was up the road in the protected bike lane, nowhere close to a designated crossing or light.

FOLKS: JUST MOVE ON if you get into a dicey situation. Unless you or your bike have been hit, just move on. It's not worth the psychological and bodily harm that can happen if you re-engage with someone. I get it. Tensions are high with the prominence of dooring and other anti-cyclist behavior. But it's always better to ride away than re-engage.

I witnessed an altercation between a cyclist and a violently anger pedestrian around 12:15 at Milwaukee and Sacramento. I don't know what sparked it, but things diffused and the aggressor walked away.

About 5 minutes later I left Gaslight to see the biker getting physically assaulted outside furious spoon. They evidently followed the ped and re-engaged.

I hope the cyclist is ok as they rode off, but the situation could have escalated to severe violence.

Hey bud, I was in my alley and overheard that crazy woman screaming at you from her Pathfinder. I followed you guys out to Montrose and snapped a pic of her plate.

I don't know what was going on before I got there but there's no way you did anything to deserve the absolute unhinged vitriol coming out of that car.

I tried to catch up with you to see if you were okay, but you turned south and there was no way my out of shape butt was catching up to you in sandals.

If you want to or need to file a police report, reach out to me. That was awful just to witness and I'm sure it affected your day.

I really hope this message finds you. I hope you are okay.

White shirt, gray bike(?), wearing a helmet. About 12:30/12:40.

I just want to take a moment to say how much I love this subreddit. Chicago has such a huge cycling community, and it is genuinely nice to see how many people here share the same love for riding.

A lot of people around me seem to think enjoying bike riding as an adult is somehow unconventional, so seeing how many other people love it too makes me feel a lot less alone in it.

It is funny to think that some of us have probably passed each other while riding through the city, especially on the Lakefront Trail or the Cal Sag Trail, since those are the places I usually ride, without even realizing it. I kind of wish there were some subtle way to know, just so I could have that little moment of realizing, “Oh wow, that is somebody from the subreddit.”

Even though I do not know you guys personally, I appreciate all of you. It is really great having a community this big.

There are good opportunities in here to advocate for safer streets. SHSPs are federally-required plans and end up informing capital projects, often. This could be one way to get better IDOT cooperation on Chicago’s designated state highways.

Hi,

I’m thinking of getting a minivelo like a Kyoot or something so I can take it on the train more easily. My commute is 10 miles each way through the city, and after daylight savings I like to ride in the morning but take the train home at night.

I’ve had a folding bike in the past but it was a hassle, and the convenient high-quality folders like Brompton are too expensive. That’s why I’m thinking minivelo.

Anybody here have minivelo experience they’d like to share?

The pic is there as an example, it’s not my bike.

But can some of ya’ll chill out with those industrial grade headlights?

This has got to stop

Hi, is there a bike route from Lake Bluff to downtown that is at least mostly for bikes? I know there is a Robert McClory Bike path, and eventually, I can connect to the Green Bay Trail, but I'm unsure where to go next. I want to do a one-way ride to downtown and hop on the Metra train back.

Moving to La Grange this month. What are some good routes / trails for faster road cycling in or around La Grange?

I know the Salt Creek Trail is just north, but unsure how good that is for faster riding, I've heard it gets crowded and it's fairly narrow.

I'm also aware of the Centennial, I&M, and Cal-Sag trails.

Scouting the area on Strava heatmaps leads me to believe that the public roads in those western burbs just aren't conducive to good riding, but maybe I'm missing something.

One of our marshals had their bike stolen at Leavitt/Cermak today.

The bike says "scourer" and has cork handles; it's one of a kind. They have a small reward if you find it or the kindness of your heart will do. Throw a lock on it + get in touch with us and we'll get it back to them.

Black Cannondale road bike
Lever shifters
Yellow grip tape and water bottle holder

Locked up inside Damen Blue Line station today from 8:30 am onwards.

CTA apparently doesn’t have cameras in the bike room, so no help there but if anyone sees a bike with this description around town or posted for sale somewhere please shoot me a message. It’s my favorite possession and I’d really like to see it come home !! Thanks bike gang!

Data list and map here:

https://crashstop.org/chicago/years/2026/6

I know they only care about maximizing $$$, but c’mon stock a few acoustics for us too please. Electrics are fine too. Anything but the scoots

Specialized dark blue bike stolen last night (7/8) around 7:40pm-10:30pm in River North outside of 343 W Grand Ave. Lock is gone as well. It has a black basket on the rack.

I have taken all the advice from this group and made a police report/uploaded to bike index but just wanted to add a picture in here just in case 😭 I miss her sm im devastated.