BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Transportation Service from Chicago After the End of the Event

The Saturday option is for participants who are not continuing on the Tri-State Tour and the Sunday option is for participants who are continuing on the Tri-State Tour.

These options are most popular with participants initially arriving in Carbondale before the start of the event from areas in and around southern Illinois including St. Louis, Louisville, and Nashville.

We will not offer a transportation service option from Carbondale to Cairo after the end of the event because long term parking will not be available in Cairo.

If you choose to sign up for either one of these transportation services you will need to arrange lodging in Chicago on your own the night before the transportation service since lodging in Chicago is not included in registration.

The transportation services from Chicago after the end of the event are slightly more expensive than the transportation service to Carbondale and Cairo before the start of the event because we need to hire additional staff and rent additional vehicles to offer these transportation services, as opposed to the transportation services before the start of the event where our staff and vehicles will already be travelling to Cairo as part of the event.

Transportation of People
Participants will travel aboard an Amtrak Superliner train to Carbondale. Registration for the transportation service from Chicago includes your Amtrak train ticket.

The train departs Chicago at 8:15 am and arrives in Carbondale at 1:45 pm according to schedule, approximately a 5 1/2 hour ride.

Click Here for more information about the Amtrak train service policies and procedures.

Chicago Staging Point
The Chicago hotel will be the only staging point for the transportation service from Chicago after the end of the event. Baggage and bicycle loading will be done there at 6:30 am at the northeast corner of E. 8th St. and S. Wabash Ave. at 6:30 am. This is a later time than the transportation service before the start of the event because the moving truck needs to arrive after the train does for mid-route drop offs.

The northeast corner of E. 8th St. and S. Wabash Ave. is located on the same block as the supported hotel and is a very wide open area and a great place to load bicycles and baggage from since it typically has little or no traffic or parked cars. There is a Caribou Coffee shop across the corner where you can get some coffee to wake up and you will also be able to meet and socialize with your fellow riders while you are waiting for us to pick you up. Please be aware though that there will not be anywhere to sit.

This staging location is different from the transportation service before the start of the event because we assume that no one taking the transportation service after the end of the event will have a car parked long term in Chicago (otherwise why would you need the transportation service after the event in the first place?) and everyone staying in Chicago will stay at the Chicago hotel.

We need to have all participants at the staging point at the same time because of our transportation plans. Please have your bags fully packed and your bicycle ready to be transported when you arrive at the staging point. PLEASE DO NOT ARRIVE LATE – OTHER PEOPLE WILL BE DEPENDING ON YOU. If you are late we cannot wait for you.

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!

You will still need to wear your wristband to identify you as a member of our group for the Amtrak train service.

Bicycle and Baggage Staging and Loading
We will first load baggage into the moving truck, then any remaining bicycles not on outside racks. It will be your responsibility to ensure that your bike and baggage gets loaded onto the moving truck before it departs.

It will be your responsibility to ensure that your bike and baggage gets loaded onto the moving truck before it departs and you will need to go over to the Amtrak train station yourself once your bicycle and baggage has been loaded.

The Chicago hotel is only 1.3 miles from the Chicago Amtrak train station. Directions and a map will be provided. If you don’t want to walk, a cab ride to the train station is relatively quick and inexpensive, especially if you want to split the ride with your fellow participants.

Click Here for the routes to and from the Amtrak train stations for the transportation service in Chicago overlaid on satellite imagery.

Bicycle and Baggage Service Limitations
If fewer than 5 participants travel on a specific Amtrak train, each participant will carry his or her bicycle and baggage directly with them on board because each train can accommodate up to 4 unboxed bicycles on board. If 5 or more participants travel on a specific Amtrak train, we will transport your bicycle and baggage on a separate moving truck.

Click Here for more information about bicycle and baggage transportation means.

Mid-Route Drop Offs
To provide a mid-route drop off you will depart the train when it arrives in the drop off town. After the train arrives you will then drive to the designated drop off location for the drop off town where we will meet you and unload your baggage and bicycle from our moving truck. This way your baggage and bicycle will not be left unattended before you arrive.

Click Here for more information about mid route pick ups and drop offs.

Arrival in Carbondale
The moving truck will arrive at the Carbondale Amtrak train station after you do because it will need to stop at mid-route drop off locations after the train has already arrived. It is impossible to know exactly when the moving truck will arrive in Carbondale though since our arrival time depends on when the moving truck is fully loaded and able to depart Chicago, how many mid-route towns we need to stop at, and on traffic conditions. We will attempt to keep in contact with you to let you know our progress and expected arrival time, but we cannot make any guarantees. However, you may always to call us at the main phone number (877) TOUR-ILL [868-7455] for our estimated time of arrival if it seems like we’re running significantly later than expected.

Because the long term parking in Carbondale will be at the Amtrak train station you won’t need to transport yourself, your bicycle, or your baggage to your car from the Amtrak train station after you arrive.