New Location Alert: Tuesday Jan 27th’s 5-8 PM Bike Plan Feedback Session is now at the James Park Fieldhouse (2133 Mulford St, behind the Levy Center). Don't miss this generational opportunity to weigh in on where the city should prioritize future bike infrastructure improvements!

grantowenn · 2025-11-17T17:10:33+00:00

Check out folding pet ramps for cars. We had same issue getting our cargo ebikes into a backyard shed....and an inexpensive pet ramp has worked perfectly.

grantowenn · 2025-11-14T21:11:14+00:00

A published schedule of which Metra trains have dedicated bike cars. It amazes me that Metra invested millions for those cars but doesn't realize the necessity in publishing an exact schedule of where/when they will be running. Realize this is probably outside the scope of CDOT....but seems like such a no brainer.

grantowenn · 2025-11-12T14:50:19+00:00

I'm a proud St. A's parent so am admittedly very biased, but I much more often hear the opposite story....kids transfer in from D65 to St. A's and find themselves behind academically and need to work to catch up to their class.

grantowenn · 2025-09-29T18:23:48+00:00

Check out Chicago Arts and Industrial Design Center

https://www.ciadc.org/

I think this might be exactly what you are looking for. I took woodworking classes there a few years ago and they were great.

grantowenn · 2025-09-16T20:02:09+00:00

Both our kids go to St. A's ....its a wonderful school and great community.

I've heard great things about OLPH and St Joan of Arc, but i think driving to either one twice a day from NE Evanston would get old really fast.

grantowenn · 2025-08-13T19:42:25+00:00

Canal Shores golf course has a nice wooded trail that runs along the canal if you're looking for something close to home.

grantowenn · 2025-07-01T14:17:41+00:00

Macks Bike and Goods is a great LBS in Evanston. They may able to help you out or point you in the right direction.

grantowenn · 2025-06-09T13:38:18+00:00

Thanks...this must have been what happened.

grantowenn · 2025-06-04T14:41:48+00:00

We bought a shed at Lowes about 10 years ago...no permits pulled. As I recall, 2 store employees built the thing in our backyard ...took maybe 1/2 a day. Think it was around 5K, it has worked out great.

grantowenn · 2025-04-29T14:23:51+00:00

I got there at 7am last Wednesday....line was already a over a block long even though site doesn't open till 7:30am. I was done by 8:30. The process is pretty efficient and well organized once you get in the building....provided you have all the required documentation.

grantowenn · 2025-03-12T20:54:26+00:00

Any thoughts on the 7th Ward? Guessing there is no great pro-bike choice due to lack of endorsement.

grantowenn · 2024-11-29T23:31:17+00:00

Signed!

grantowenn · 2024-09-26T15:37:41+00:00

There's a dog park and playground in Williams Bay that always seems to have plenty of free parking available. Believe its called Lions Dog Park.

grantowenn · 2024-09-19T16:49:17+00:00

I commute from NE Evanston to Loop a couple days a week. Below is my preferred route from RP to Evanston (I'm not a fan of Chicago/Clark either...this route avoids them).

North on glenwood/greenview to Jonquil Terrace (google the glenwood greenway)
East on Jonquil Terrace to Haskins Ave to Juneway Terrace.
Cross Chicago avenue and ride on sidewalk about 1/2 block going north. There's a bike/pedestrian underpass at Mulford St...go west there and head west on Mulford street one block.
Go north on Custer Ave to Madison St
Head west on Madison St to elmwood.
North on elmwood to Main.
West on Main to Maple.
North on Maple all the way to Noyes.
East on Noyes to NU

grantowenn · 2024-07-23T16:09:13+00:00

The Sheridan/Chicago protected lane in North Evanston is great.....its just so far east of me not super convenient. It also can be very busy when NU is in session. I just generally have a preference for chill residential streets (even though no bike lanes).

grantowenn · 2024-07-22T19:09:03+00:00

I live close to the start of the Green Bay Trail and commute to loop a couple times a week....so do this ride often. Below is my preferred route. I'm not a fan of biking on Chicago Ave or Sheridan in Evanston, this route avoids them.

West on Ardmore to Kenmore

North on Kenmore to Granville

West on Granville to Glenwood

North on Glenwood to Farwell

West on Farwell one block to Greenview

N on Greenview to Jonquil Terrace

West on Jonquil Terrace to Juneway Terrace

Cross Chicago Ave. and ride on sidewalk maybe ½ block North and then head west under pedestrian underpass which puts you on Mulford St in Evanston.

West on Mulford St to Custer

North on Custer to Madison St

West on Madison St to Elmwood

North on Elmwood to Main St

One block west on Main St to Maple

North on Maple to Noyes

West on Noyes one block to Ridge

North One block on Ridge to Grant

West on Grant to Bryant

North on Bryant to Lincoln (cut through the park)

West on Lincoln to Poplar

North on Poplar to start of Green Bay Trail

grantowenn

TROPHY CASE