| ILLINI WEEKEND GETAWAY
THE CHAMPAIGN OF RIDES!
Transportation
Service from Chicago to Champaign Before the Start
of the Event
Chicago Transportation
Staging Points • Transportation
Means • Champaign Transportation
Staging Point
 |
Our transportation service from Chicago to Champaign will occur
on the Friday before the event.
- Click Here for
the overall policies and procedures that will apply to all of our
transportation services.
|
Chicago
Transportation Staging Points
Main Transportation Staging Point
All participants must arrive at the Chicago
parking garage at 7:00 am (unless you stay at the Chicago hotel).
The parking garage will be the main transportation staging point in Chicago
before the start of the event. This location was chosen so participants who
need to park their car in Chicago won't need to leave their car or baggage
or bicycle unattended or carry their items very far and is within easy walking
distance of all local and long distance public transportation options in
Chicago. Please be aware that there are no bathrooms at or near the Chicago
parking garage.
- Click
Here for more information about the Chicago parking garage.
Second Transportation Staging Point
The supported hotel will be the second transportation staging point
in Chicago before the start of the event. We will come over there immediately
after we have completed loading at the main staging point.
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 hotel.
Arrival Via Local Public Transportation
If you
are planning on arriving by taking a CTA L Train,
bicycles are not allowed
on
CTA L trains weekdays from 7:00 to 9:00 am. If you
are planning on arriving by taking a Metra train, fully assembled bicycles are
not permitted on on weekday
trains arriving in Chicago between 6:31 am and after 9:30 am.
- Click
Here for more information about CTA L trains.
- Click
Here for more information about Metra trains.
Transportation Means
People
Transportation
Participants will travel aboard one of the train or bus schedules
from Chicago to Champaign on the Friday before the event. Amtrak and Greyhound
are the only long distance public transportation carriers serving both Chicago
and Champaign and all Amtrak trains and Greyhound busses arrive at the Illinois
Terminal in Champaign. By using Amtrak and Greyhound to transport people (instead
of a private charter coach bus) we can accomodate the widest possible range of
our participants' personal and work schedules.
- Click
Here for a list of all daily Amtrak train and Greyhound
bus schedules between Chicago and Champaign.
- 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 Greyhound bus service.
Registration for our transportation services does
not include your individual train or bus ticket – you
will need to purchase it on your own. We strongly recommend doing so NOW
to avoid any potential availability issues.
The Amtrak train departs from Union Station and the Greyhound bus departs
from the Greyhound Bus station. After your bicycle is loaded,
you will need to go over there yourself.
- Click
Here for more information about the Chicago Amtrak train
station.
- Click
Here for more information about the Chicago Greyhound
Bus station.
- Click
Here for more information about in town transportation.
If you will be travelling on a train or bus that arrives in Champaign
after 7:30 pm, you will not be able to attend our opening meeting on Friday
evening. In this case you should still drop off your bicycle
with us and we will leave your bicycle, baggage, and registration materials
at the front desk of the supported hotel for you to pick up when you arrive
there. You will also need to attend our opening meeting at the central rest
stop location on Saturday morning at 8:00 am.
- Click
Here for more information about checking into the event
and our opening meeting.
Bicycle
Transportation
We will transport all bicycles ourselves. Our moving truck will depart
promptly after we have loaded all bicycles in Chicago.
- Click
Here for more information about departures and arrivals
for our transportation services.
- Click
Here for more information about our bicycle transportation.
Baggage Transportation
Participants will carry their baggage with them directly aboard all trains
and busses.
Champaign Transportation
Staging Point
Our transportation staging point in Champaign before the start of the event
will be at the supported hotel and all bikes and baggage will be delivered
there.
- Click
Here for more information about our transportation staging
point in Champaign before the start of the event.
All Amtrak trains and Greyhound busses arrive at the same station
in Champaign. After you arrive in Champaign
you will only need to walk 0.3 miles to the supported
hotel from the Amtrak train station. You can actually
see the sign for the hotel from the train station. Directions and a map
will be provided.
- Click
Here for more information about the Champaign Amtrak train
and Greyhound bus station.
- Click
Here to download the cue sheet and map for the walking
route from the Amtrak train station to the supported hotel.
|
