Biking on Bike Paths Between Chicago and Milwaukee

This is the title of a new guidebook describing the best route between Milwaukee and Chicago and a connector route to the west side of Milwaukee to tie into the bike path from Cottage Grove and Madison. In the summer of 1997, since my wife and I had exhausted our supply of the better bike routes around Milwaukee, our hometown, we rode our bikes to Chicago, feeling our way along and asking directions and recommendations as we went. We were surprised to discover a route that took us on a series of bike paths, which we struggled to interconnect. After a number of trips between Chicago and Milwaukee, we felt that we had put together the best way to connect the bike paths that we had found. Our intention was to avoid traffic and pass by the most interesting places but continue to progress directly to our destination.

We found out that few cyclists realized that they could pedal out on their local bike paths and find their way to Chicago or Milwaukee with relative tranquillity. So now I've become a guidebook writer, and I start with the last and nearest route of my bicycle experience.

The route from Chicago to Milwaukee is 95.8 miles. Because of a different route on the Chicago streets section, the route from Milwaukee to Chicago is 95.9 miles. This guide takes you the best way possible, but there are varying enjoyment levels because of the diversity of the routes. This diversity leads to unequal distances in the different sections, but each section is integral in the type of riding. These sections vary from quiet paths to somewhat busy streets. The long, good sections far outweigh the short, poor sections. The highlights are:

• Lake Front Bike Path in Chicago
• Oak Leaf Bike Path in Milwaukee
• Bike paths in Evanston and Northwestern University
• Bike route on the Lake Front in Kenosha
• Lake Shore Bike Path South
• Lake Shore Bike Path North

"Biking on Bike Paths between Chicago and Milwaukee" describes in 18 sections going south and 18 sections going north the route, surfaces, traffic conditions, points of interest, facilities, side lights, alternatives, other information, and parking and side trips for each. Complete directions and a map are part of each section.

Information about "Biking on Bike Paths between Chicago and Milwaukee" is available from Blommer Books, 2676 N. Lake Drive, Milwaukee, WI 53211, (414) 291-7833.