Map highlights low-stress bicycle routes throughout Chicago

Update: The map created by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield was updated to include more routes across the city. You can find the story and new map here.

Despite all of the advances that Chicago has made over the years to make the city more bike friendly, riding through downtown neighborhoods or on major roads can still feel a bit daunting. However, there are plenty of detours and stretches of street that are much more mellow and generally friendlier for folks who prefer transport on two wheels.

To help others find safer routers through their neighborhoods and to encourage bicycling, John Greenfield of Streetsblog Chicago has teamed up with the users at The Chainlink, a social networking forum for Chicago cyclists, to produce the “Mellow Chicago Bike Map.” The map highlights routes that are “low-stress, mostly on-street bike routes” suggested by Chainlink users.

While the map highlights numerous routes through many Chicago neighborhoods, Greenfield acknowledges that the Mellow Chicago Bike Map is still a work in progress and will be updated over time. Greenfield also suggests that folks head over to this thread on the Chainlink to suggest routes that should be included on the map.