Author explores best bike trails in Chicago, suburbs

"People don't realize that Chicago is one of the best biking cities in the country," says Greg Borzo, author of "Where to Bike Chicago" (BA Press 2011; $24.95), one of the first of series of guides to bike trails in American cities.

"We live in such a car-dominated culture that people sit at home and are afraid to bike in the city but I was born in Chicago and I'm been biking all my life."

Indeed, Borzo, who also authored "The Windies' City: Chicago's Historical Hidden Treasures," doesn't even own a car and gets almost every place he needs to go either by the "L" or by biking.

"I've never had a car," says Borzo who bikes year round even when it's snowing. "My wife has a car but I try to ignore it."

In his compact-sized book ("perfect for putting in a backpack," says Borzo), the author offers 45 rides for adults and 27 for kids that wind their way not only through the city's parks and streets but also through suburban forest preserves and trails.

"Most of the routes I knew from riding but when I started the book I looked at maps and talked to clubs and found more and more places to ride," says Borzo, who did each of the 72 rides at least two times and sometimes three, riding more than 2,000 miles in a nine-month period. "I would ask people what's your favorite and I would get more ideas."

As for himself, Borzo says he doesn't have a favorite ride though he does mention Morton's Arboretum as a beautiful place to bicycle.

"Many people don't realize you can bike there," he says."If you go there on a weekday, you'll pretty much have the place to yourself and the roads are paved and easy. Another interesting ride is the Joliet Ironworks Heritage Trail, which goes through an amazing stretch of an old, abandoned industrial area past these old foundries and abandoned buildings. You go near the 'Joliet Joint' prison from the Blue Brothers. Riding through that historic area you get a good sense of the what was the industrial grandeur of the area."

Borzo says one of the best parts of writing the book was exploring new routes.

"Growing up on the North Side of Chicago, I discovered some great rides on the South Side, like the Old Plank Road Trail," he says. "A lot of rides had to be left out of the book because we could only have so many."

The book is divided by routes with a detailed map, description of the area, a bike log that tells how to navigate the trails, a section called "At a Glance" breaks down the distance, terrain, traffic, how to get there either by bike, public transportation or (horrors!) car, what food and drink is available and side trips of interest.

As an example, in his description of Buffalo Creek Preserve & Buffalo Grove, Borzo mentions a detour to Long Grove known for its artisan chocolate shops is worth the time and effort.

Closer to home, there's Ride 26: Wolf Lake and Burnham Greenway, an 11.4-mile ride that includes a side trip around most of the 804–acre lake, which Borzo describes as rich in biodiversity.

As a gung–ho biking enthusiasts, Borzo says he's glad to see more and more people biking.

"We now have bike share in Chicago and more trails are being built that connect to other trails," he says. "I hope the book encourages people to ride recreationally but also to ride to work, run errands, go shopping and visit friends. If we can incorporate biking into our daily routine, we can help the environment and be healthier."

Borzo has also included a chapter on biking history in Chicago noting that the city has a rich tradition that stretches back to the 1860s when the first bicycles, known as velocipedes, arrived from Europe. Less than 30 years later, 31–year-old bicycle mechanic Ignaz Schwinn moved to the city and within two years had opened a small bike factory on the corner of Peoria and Lake streets. Borzo believes that by relaying the history of bicycling in Chicago he'll inspire more people to start pedaling.

"You don't have to do all of a trip or you can connect from one trip to the other sometimes," says Borzo. "It gives you a real sense of discovery and a unique way to explore the city."