Chicago commuting help needed

[Randy Seltzer]

I'm working here for the summer, living in Irving Park (let's say Irving Park & Kedzie) with my office on the South side-ish at 26th and California. What's the best way to commute (by car) during rush hour?

Today was my first day, and I took Kedzie to 90/94 to 55 in the morning, and the same when returning home. It was a parking lot nearly the whole way. Almost 45 minutes each way.

Should I take Western the whole way down? I could also take 90/94 to Ogden, then take that diagonal over.

What's the fastest route during rush hour? Help me Chicagoites!

[jnglmassiv]

My first thought was Western Ave the whole way.
You might consider Cicero, too.

What times do you arrive at and leave work?

[Randy Seltzer]

Arriving at 9, leaving at 5.

You think I should take Western? Maybe I'll try that tomorrow and see how it works.

[MikeG]

Definitely Western. The trick to driving on Western is to know when to be in the left lane and when to be in the right. For example, from Irving to the bridge over Belmont the left lane is best. Once you go over the bridge, you want to get in the right lane to miss the people merging to turn left at Elston. From there you stay left again till about Augusta when you have to play it by ear if there are buses.

You'll develop a feeling for it, but generally when you are approaching an angled intersection (six corners type) you want to be in the right lane. Likewise with really busy left turn lanes and intersections where buses tend to get stuck pulling into the lane after stopping to collect or let off passengers.

[Tim R. Mortiss]

I can't add any advice to that given already, but I'll give you this cheery thought: Wherever you live, for the rest of your life, the traffic will never bother you again.......TRM

[Randy Seltzer]

Thanks for the tips, y'all. I tried Western today and it was as MikeG said: it's all about being in the correct lane. Overall commute time was 40 minutes (instead of yesterday's 45).

Tomorrow I might try getting on 90/94 at Addison so I can take the express lanes.