TRI-STATE TOUR
Taking the Metra Train from Kenosha

Very Important Information About Taking the Metra Train Back from Kenosha to Hammond, IN

In the past, people have told us that they plan on taking the Metra train back to Hammond, IN from Kenosha. We STRONGLY RECOMMEND AGAINST DOING THIS since you will almost definitely get stuck on the way. Here’s why:

In Summary:

• Only 24 people can even make it to downtown Chicago on the Metra train due to bicycle limits on the train.
• There is absolutely no way to avoid biking in the dark on very busy Chicago streets.
• At the absolute best you would get back to Hammond around 11:00 pm.
• And once you finally make it back to the start you will still have to go home from there.

What happens if you don't make it and get left behind or are forced to bike on busy streets in the dark after already biking at least 85 miles that day already? Especially late on a Saturday night when a larger percentage of drivers will have been drinking? We hope you don't get stuck in that situation. Here’s the benefits of taking our return transportation service to Hammond:

• We guarantee that we can handle everyone who registers for this service before the registration deadline.
• Even with heavy traffic, we expect the return transporation from Kenosha will only take about an hour and a half.
• Our return transportation service is by far the fastest, most reliable, and most direct way to get back to the event starting location.
• Considering the cost of alternate transportation means is at least $9.40 anyways, our transportation option is even less expensive.
• You'll save yourself a ton a headache and hassle. And who knows, maybe you'll save your own life from getting hit by a drunk driver that didn't see you riding at night.
• Ask yourself, why take a chance with your safety?For a few extra dollars? Is it worth it? We absolutely don't think so.

And here are the ugly steps to get it done. We spent many hours figuring it out so you won't have to.

To get to downtown Chicago from Kenosha Anderson Park via the Metra Union Pacific North Line:

• Only two trains depart Kenosha after the ride. The first train doesn’t leave Kenosha until 6:49 pm and the next one doesn't depart until 10:20 pm. (The previous one departs at 8:49 am). Depending on when you finish the ride, you may have to wait around for a long, long time for the train.
• Only 12 bikes are allowed per train and spots for bicycles are first come first serve, so your bike can’t be guaranteed a spot. If more than 24 people decide to take the train you'd be stuck, and Metra conductors are very strict about enforcing the bicycle limits on each train. It's also possible that someone not doing the Tri-State Tour will want to put their bike on the train from Kenosha. In addition, bikes are stored on the train in the areas reserved for disabled passengers who have priority. If a disabled passenger gets on the train, your bike may get kicked off. Metra conductors are very strict about enforcing this rule as well.
• The Kenosha Metra train station is 3 1/2 miles away from our ending location at Kenosha Anderson Park. You would have to bike to the train station on your own through the Kenosha streets on top of the 85 to 100 miles you already cycled that day. Bicycle Illinois cannot support you riding in case something happens or provide a route to the train station.
• The train from Kenosha to downtown Chicago costs $7.05. You must remember to bring enough cash with you and if you do hope you don't lose it.
• The 6:49 train arrives in downtown Chicago at 8:25 pm, and the 10:20 train arrives in downtown Chicago at 11:55 pm. This is over an hour and a half train ride.
• The train stops in downtown Chicago, but does not go all the way to Hammond Forsythe Park. In fact there is no direct transportation to Hammond Forsythe Park from downtown Chicago.

Here's how to get to the 93rd Street/South Chicago Metra station from downtown Chicago via the Metra Electric South Chicago Line:

• Once downtown you could take the Metra Electric Line South Chicago Line train from downtown to the 93rd Street/South Chicago station which is one of the two train stations within a reasonable distance from the starting location but still 4.5 miles away.
• After the first train from Kenosha arrives in downtown Chicago at 8:25 pm, you would need to transfer to the Electric Line trains to the 63rd Street station which depart at 9:20 pm, 10:20 pm, and 11:20 pm. Only 8 bikes are allowed on each train of these trains, so 4 people from the the 6:49 train from Kenosha would have to wait almost 2 hours for the 10:20 pm train.
• The train from Kenosha arrives in downtown Chicago at Ogilivie Transportation Center, and the Metra South Chicago Electric Line train departs from Millenium Station which is a about mile away. Sunset is at 8:20 pm, so you would have to bike through downtown Chicago from Ogilivie Transportation Center to Millenium Station in the dark.
• There is no connecting Electric Line South Chicago Line train available after the 10:20 pm train from Kenosha arrives in downtown Chicago at 11:55 pm, so the 8 people taking that train would be stuck.
• Once you arrived at the 63rd St. station you would have to remember to get off that train and to transfer to the train to the 93rd Street/South Chicago station. Ultimately you would arrive at the 93rd Street/South Chicago station at 9:58 pm or 10:58 pm.
• Only 2 bikes are allowed per Electric Line train to the 93rd Street/South Chicago station, so 2 of the people on the 9:20 Electric Line train would have to wait another hour at the 63rd St. station to get the train to the 93rd Street/South Chicago station. The 4 people on the 10:20 Electric Line train would be stuck.
• The Metra Electric South Chicago Line train costs $2.35 from Millenium Station to the 93rd Street/South Chicago station. You must remember to bring enough cash with you and if you do hope you don't lose it.

To get to Hammond Forsythe Park from the 93rd Street/South Chicago Metra station:

• You could take the #30 CTA bus which costs $2.00 per ride without a CTA card, or $1.75 with a CTA card. The #26 and #100 busses don't run on Saturdays.
• The CTA busses do have bike racks which can carry two bikes each. But if the bike rack is broken and doesn't work, which unfortunately happens a lot from our experience, you'd have to ride to the start from there.
• Also, you must remember to bring enough cash and/or your CTA card with you and if you do hope you don't lose it. You would then get off the bus at the intersection of Ewing and Indianapolis Blvd.
• Form there you would have to bike on Indianapolis Blvd., a major 6-lane major highway, the only road to get back to the start. The #1 Hammond bus does not run that late on Saturdays.

To get to Hammond Forsythe Park from downtown Chicago via the South Shore Line:

• Unless you have a folding bicycle and somehow carried your container with you "BICYCLES ARE PROHIBITED on South Shore trains except if disassembled and carried on board in a bag or container expressly designed for such purposes and stowed in the overhead baggage racks".
• Once downtown you could take the South Shore Line train to the Hammond station which is the other closest train station to Hammond Forsythe Park but still 4.5 miles away.
• The Metra Union Pacific North Line train from Kenosha arrives in downtown Chicago at Ogilivie Transportation Center, and the South Shore Line train departs from the Randolph St. Millenium Station which is a about mile away.
• The South Shore Line costs $4.75 from the Randolph St. Millenium Station to the Hammond station. You must remember to bring enough cash with you and if you do hope you don't lose it.
• After the Metra Union Pacific North Line train from Kenosha arrives in downtown Chicago at 8:25 pm the Electric Line South Chicago Line trains departs at 11:15 pm or 12:45 am and arrives at the Hammond station at 11:55 pm and 1:25 am. It gets dark out at 8:20 pm so you would have to bike through downtown Chicago in the dark from Ogilivie Transportation Center to the Randolph St. Millenium Station and from the Hammond station to Hammond Forsythe Park.
• From the Hammond station you’ll have to bike the 4.5 miles to Hammond Forsythe Park in the dark on major roadways because Hammond busses don't run that late.

And once you finally make it back to the start you will still have to make it home from there if you drove your car to the start!