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Getting to the Start and from the End
Transportation Services
To Carbondale and Cairo Before the Start of the Tour
From Carbondale to Cairo Before the Start of the Tour
From Chicago After the End of the Tour
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Parking
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Continuing on the Tri-State Tour Chicago Century #2
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BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Transportation Service From Chicago After the End of the Tour

First Eight ParticipantsChicago Transportation Staging PointTransportation Means
Mid-Route Drop Offs Carbondale Transportation Staging Point


We are pleased to offer two separate transportation services from Chicago on both the Saturday and Sunday after the end of the tour. Logistically, the two transportation services are identical.

Saturday
The transportation service from Chicago on the Saturday after the end of the tour is for participants who ARE NOT continuing on the Tri-State Tour Chicago Century #2.

Sunday
The transportation service from Chicago on the Sunday after the end of the tour is for participants who ARE continuing on the Tri-State Tour Chicago Century #2.

  • Click Here for more information about continuing on the Tri-State Tour Chicago Century #2.

Parking at the Start of the Tour
Because parking will not be available in Cairo, we will not offer continuing transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo after the end of the tour. Participants who want to initially park their car at the start of the tour must park their car in Carbondale and take the transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo before the start of the tour.

  • Click Here for more information about the transportation service from Carbondale to Cairo before the start of the tour.

First Eight Participants
Up to four unboxed, fully assembled bicycles may be carried aboard two of the Amtrak trains from Chicago to Carbondale. Because of this there is no need for us to transport bikes ourselves unless spaces for bicycles on each train become unavailable.

As a result, the first eight participants to register for this transportation service will transport both their bicycle and their baggage directly with them aboard either the 391 Saluki train that departs Chicago at 8:15 am or the 393 Illini train that departs Chicago at 4:05 pm - whichever they prefer. Once all spaces for bicycles have been filled on one train, all remaining participants will travel on the other one until all spaces for bicycles have also been filled.

The Amtrak train scheduled to depart Chicago at 8:15 am arrives in Carbondale at 1:45 pm and the train scheduled to depart Chicago at 4:05 pm arrives in Carbondale at 9:35 pm, both approximately a 5 hour and 30 minute ride.

If eight or fewer people register for the transportation service from Chicago to Carbondale after the end of the tour, their individual Amtrak train ticket (including bicycle transportation) is included with registration and they will not need to purchase it on their own. In order to ensure spaces are available as necessary for bicycle transportation we have already prepurchased all reservations for all spaces for fully assembled, unboxed bicycles on all trains. Once you have registered we will change the name on our reservation.

If there are eight or fewer participants, we will not have a transportation staging point in Chicago because every participant will transport their bicycle with them directly aboard the train and we will not need to transport any bicycles ourselves.

Chicago Transportation Staging Point
We will only have a staging point in Chicago if more than eight people register for the transportation service from Chicago to St. Louis.

All participants must arrive at the Chicago hotel staging point at 6:30 am.


Chicago Hotel
Staging Point

Northeast corner of
E. Harrison St. and
S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, IL 60605
The Chicago hotel will be the main (and only) transportation staging point in Chicago after the end of the tour. This main staging point is different than the one before the start of the tour because we assume that no one taking the transportation service after the end of the tour will have a car parked long term in Chicago (otherwise why would you need the transportation service after the tour in the first place?) and everyone staying in Chicago will stay at the Chicago hotel.

The transportation service staging point for the Chicago hotel will be directly behind our supported hotel at the northeast corner of E. Harrison St. and S. Wabash Ave. There is a very wide marked off area on the street to load and unload bicycles and typically has little or no traffic or parked cars and avoids the hustle and bustle of the main hotel entrance on Michigan Ave.

Please do not check your bags and/or bicycle at the supported hotel in the morning. In the past we have had a very difficult time retrieving them from the supported hotel due to security concerns from the supported hotel because they, like you, want to be positive that no one takes your belongings who shouldn't. This is a situation that is best avoided since it can be quite difficult to convince the supported hotel that we actually should be taking your belongings!

  • Click Here for more information about the Chicago supported hotel.

Transportation Means

Transportation of People
After all eight spaces for bicycles on the two preferred trains have been filled, our preferred transportation schedule will be for all additional participants to travel aboard the 8:15 am Amtrak train in order to keep participants travelling on the least number of schedules.

If spaces for passengers (not just bicycles) aboard the 8:15 am Amtrak train fill up, participants will then travel aboard the 4:05 pm Amtrak train. In the extremely unlikely event that spaces for passengers (not just bicycles) aboard the 4:05 pm Amtrak train also fill up, participants will then travel on the 8:05 pm Amtrak train from Chicago to Carbondale.

After the eighth person registers for the transportation service from Chicago to St. Louis, registration for this transportation service WILL NOT include an individual ticket on any long distance public transportation carrier – you will need to purchase it on your own.

  • Click Here for more information about long distance public transportation carriers.
  • Click Here for more information about Amtrak train service.
  • Click Here for more information about the Amtrak train schedules and a list of all other daily bus schedules from Chicago to Carbondale.

After your bicycle and baggage is loaded, you will need to go over to the Amtrak Train station yourself. Directions and a map will be provided. If you don't want to walk, a cab ride there will be relatively quick and inexpensive, especially if you want to split the ride with your fellow participants.

  • Click Here for the walking directions to the Chicago Amtrak Train Station from the parking garage and supported hotel.
  • Click Here for the walking directions to the Chicago Amtrak Train Station from the parking garage and supported hotel overlaid on satellite imagery.
  • Click Here for more information about the Chicago Amtrak train station.
  • Click Here for more information about in town transportation.

Bicycle and Baggage Transportation
We will transport your bicycle and baggage ourselves only after all eight spaces for bicycles on both trains have been filled.

We will transport all bicycles and baggage for each additional participant travelling on each train and also the bicycle and baggage of each one of the four participants originally transporting their bike aboard each train upon request.

If more than eight participants register for this transportation service and at least one additional participant will be travelling aboard a specific train, we will transport the bicycle and baggage of each one of the four participants originally transporting their bike aboard that train upon request since we have to transport the bicycle and baggage of the additional participant(s) anyway. If an additional participant will not be travelling aboard a specific train, the four participants who were originally transporting their bike aboard will still do so - we will not change any previous travel plans.

Baggage Transportation
Participants will carry their baggage with them directly aboard all trains and busses.

Mid-Route Drop Offs

  • Click Here for more information about mid-route drop offs including specific locations.

Carbondale Transportation Staging Point
The Amtrak Train Station will be the transportation staging point in Carbondale. The Amtrak train scheduled to depart Chicago at 8:15 am arrives in Carbondale at 1:45 pm and the train scheduled to depart Chicago at 4:05 pm arrives in Carbondale at 9:35 pm, both approximately a 5 hour and 30 minute ride.

  • Click Here for more information about the Carbondale Amtrak train station.

If we need to stop at any mid-route stops, we will arrive in Carbondale after the train because we have to stop at the mid-route stops after the train has already arrived there.

P.O. Box 8454 • Chicago, IL 60680 • (877) TOUR-ILL [868-7455]
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