BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Transportation Service
From Chicago After the End of the Tour
First Eight Participants • Chicago
Transportation Staging Point • Transportation
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.
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.
|