| BICYCLE ILLINOIS
Transportation
Service To Carbondale and Cairo Before the Start of the
Tour
Chicago
Transportation Staging Points • Transportation
of People • Mid-Route
Pick Ups
 We
are pleased to offer transportation service to Cairo on the
Saturday before the start of the tour.
Chicago Transportation Staging Points
Main Transportation Staging Point
All participants
must arrive at the Chicago parking garage staging point when
it opens at 5:00 am (unless you are staying at the Chicago
hotel
the
previous
night).
The parking garage will be the main transportation
staging point in Chicago before the start of the tour. This
location was chosen because there is very limited loading
and unloading space around the Chicago Amtrak train station
and the parking garage is typically very empty early on Saturday
mornings, giving us plenty of room to operate. In addition,
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. Please be aware that there
are no bathrooms at or near the Chicago parking garage so
you will need to use the bathrooms at the Amtrak Union Station.
- 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 tour. 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.
Transportation of People
Chicago to Carbondale
Participants will initially travel to Carbondale aboard
the Amtrak train that departs
from
Union Station in Chicago at 8:15 am.
Registration
for this transportation service DOES NOT include your
individual Amtrak train ticket – you will
need to purchase it on your own. You must purchase a ticket
for the 391 Saluki Amtrak train scheduled to arrive
in Carbondale at 1:45 pm because we cannot provide
transportation
services for any other train schedule. We strongly
recommend purchasing your Amtrak train ticket NOW to
avoid any potential availability issues.
- Click
Here for more information about long distance public transportation carriers.
- Click
Here for more information about Amtrak
train service.
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.
The train arrives at the Carbondale Amtrak train station
at 1:45 pm according to schedule,
approximately a 5 1/2 hour
ride.
- Click
Here for more information about the Carbondale
Amtrak train station.
Carbondale to Cairo
Because Carbondale is the last stop on the Amtrak
train line and the train does not continue all the way to
Cairo, you will transfer to a bus directly at the Carbondale
Amtrak train station that will transport you the rest of
the way from Carbondale to Cairo after the Amtrak train arrives
there. This continuing transportation service is included
for all participants taking the transportation service to
Carbondale and Cairo before the start of the tour - there
is no additional charge and you will not need
to purchase any type of separate
ticket for your individual transportation on your own.
If you brought any carry-on baggage with you on the train
you will need to carry it with you on the bus. We will not
be able to place any carry-on baggage into our vehicles in
Carbondale.
- Click
Here for more information about our transportation
service from Carbondale to Cairo before the start of the
tour.
Mid-Route Pick Ups
- Click Here for
more information about mid-route pick ups including specific
locations.
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