Better is in the eye of the beholder

A week or so ago, my mainly internet but sometimes in real life friend, Snak Shak, said there's a better way to get downtown than Park/Portland. Starting the next day, I stopped using Park/Portland, because I knew he was right. I gave Chicago the old college try, but I'm not convinced. It took me a few days to get the feel of the traffic flow, but for me Chicago still has one main strike against it. Specifically, there's no good way to get onto the Greenway that doesn't involve stairs. The closest rideable entrance I found was at 11th, and to get there you need to cross Chicago against the flow of traffic, then battle the traffic coming out of the Allina. Plus, the buses on Chicago were not fun. Truthfully, I didn't find it pleasant.

I tried some other alternates over the last week as well. My current favorite seems to be under construction. With the extension of the bike lanes further north on Minnehaha, it makes that route a lot more attractive going north of the Greenway. It also lets me avoid the construction currently happening on the LRT trail. So I take Minnehaha to the detour point at 24th St, cross the curly bridge over Hiawatha, and then take 11th Ave north into downtown by way of Elliot Park. It does seem to shave about 10 minutes off the Park/Portland route, and eliminates a lot of the Park/Portland speed traffic. But still, it seems there should be a better way.

The Cat Cave?

Snak Shak, I think I found it's lair...