Safety Concern: Chicago
 

My group will be staying near Midway and taking the "L" into town for sightseeing and St. Patrick's day.

One in my group was told by some people that work in Chicago that we should not be staying near Midway and that there were certain "L" lines that we should not ride because of dangerous situations/safety concerns. These people really scared this member of our group.

Should we be concerned with the area in and around Midway?

Are there "L" lines we should stay off of?

Any assistance will help, let me know if there are places we should stay clear of.

Leaving Friday morning......

Staying near Midway is just somewhat of a more time consuming commute hassle, not dangerous.

You will be taking the Orange line and that is more than fine.

Be careful, as you would in any big city. Midway's area is a blue collar, working class community, neighborhood- some mix of industrial/ shopping (Ford City Mall is its more Southern end), and heavy traffic.

Crime is higher for theft than for assault or any other kind of personal crimes by stats. I lived at 63rd & Kolmar for 3 years in my youth and many of the same ethnics and old-timers I knew are still there.

The "L" lines that people are warning you about are primarily the red or the green which run basically North and South and much farther East than where you will be.

You won't have any problems except for the time wasted going downtown and back, because I doubt you will actually be doing much around Midway but transporting.

Where are you staying near Midway? Are you going to be walking around near your hotel after dark? If you are not from the area you may want to consider staying in a different location. There is alot of crime as in theft, muggings, and drug dealing in the area. If you are a tourist, and stand out as one, you may look like an easier target to the criminal element. The city is doing alot to clean up the area but it still has a ways to go. I am not trying to scare you but I have lived in Chicago all of my life and I would not like to see anyone have a bad time in the city.

Thanks!

JJ5, now that you said something, I remember that they also told her that it is a very long commute into the city from Midway. Just how long are we talking?

I don't do this today, although some of my friends from innermost suburban past in Chicago Ridge DO it now 2007 every time they go downtown with grandkids. They take the orange line and I think it takes them all told, maybe 20 to 30 minutes FROM the Midway area. If you are 4 or 10 blocks from Midway, the driving/bus or parking time will be added on. All told, I would say you have 45 minutes on average from hotel to venue downtown.

jedivader, this is SO relative to what you are "used" to. With all due respect for duke158, I have been a Southsider (56th and Racine born, 84th & Francisco raised and going there each week/ sleeping there- now for 2 years besides)and took the buses at 63rd and Kedzie (bus pocket is there and that is EAST of Midway by quite a bit and A MUCH rougher area)all my life.

Not to say that there are not thefts, some gangs, gang activity etc. But there are also gangs in pristine Chicago suburban areas that everyone raves about on Fodors. And people get shot and raped in Bucktown, Wrigleyville, etc. etc. A city is a city, be it high end or mid- end. This is NOT low end. That's what REALLY makes me laugh, because people call this (Midway) low end shab etc. It is not. On a comparison scale to other places on the West side or far South or East, for instance, that I could name it is a 6 out of 10- where they would be a 2 out of 10. And some of those 2 out of 10 West side and nearer South are getting rehabbed too now and "gentrified". I am MUCH more worried about sons near glamour high rise U.of I. at Chicago then near Midway, for instance. Somewhere many tourists may roam. Or with stats actually, Chinatown.

But I would NEVER, ever be afraid myself of staying at any motel or hotel near Midway. In fact, my grammar school get together/ reunion 60th Birthday party is going to be a short drive from Midway on April 28. It is at what is considered a huge Midway hotel. We do NOT put on our combat gear to go there. And many of us have kids, friends, parents who are living there or in Burbank, Bridgeview, etc.- closely associated areas.

Sorry for the long answer to a complex and relative question.

If I were sightseeing in Chicago I would NOT stay near Midway but downtown. Time and hassle wise, just so much more appealing and the spirit more asthetic etc.- the reason.

And you will find that neighborhood (Midway) one of our more industrial, diverse, historied, but NOT lethal. And not one, like my Dad's (Ashburn) where when I walk people will continually ask me if I am "lost" etc. either, because I am white. You will NOT look out of place, regardless of who you are, or what your appearance may be.

I think we are staying in a Sleep Inn Midway, listed as Bedford Park.

The L is walking distance and we would be getting back to the hotel late at night and walking back to our room.

I live in P.G. County Maryland and it has the highest crime rate in the state. I have lived here all of my life and have never really had any trouble. I am also the minority in P.G., which is a majority black county. When people outside of the county find out where I live, they act like I live in a war zone and the first thing they ask is "do you feel safe?"

I also ride the Metro train to work everyday through some of the worst areas. There are some people I know of that will give you a completely different outlook on riding Metro than I would give you.

Thanks for all the info.

I think my wife looked into getting a hotel downtown and they were either booked already or too expensive.

No way I'd stay way out at Midway and try to hang out in downtown. I'd splurge and get a room in town.

Chicago is a blast over St. Patty's day and you'll want to make the most of your time.

The commute that weekend to and from Midway would be a crowded packed nightmare.

Bedford Park is highly industrial. In fact, a good friend and her husband have a rubber mat manufacturing company there.

The trouble with booking a place this late is exactly what you have encountered.

Why don't you try to Priceline a room downtown?

Stay downtown. Midway is near Midway and that is it. You are too far from where it will be happening. I lived in Chicago 22 years and the idea of staying around Midway to celebrate on Rush St. is not one I'd suggest. Remember that once you leave "Mother's" at 2 a.m. you still have to get back to your hotel. Splurge and enjoy yourself. Why not try hotels.com?

Thanks for the additional assistance.

I have looked at some hotels downtown and the cheapest is almost $600 for three nights. Right now we are paying about $300.

I'll check priceline and hotels.

You aren't looking hard enough. Hotwire has a four star in The Loop for $93. There are other reasonable hotels on hotwire for a Thurs-Sunday stay on hotwire.

Never heard of hotwire. We usually book straight through the hotel websites, never been one to use the discount sites. Checking hotels.com right now and prices are no different than the hotel homepages. Will check hotwire.

Anyone know about this place or area?

Ramada Inn Lake Shore
4900 S Lake Shore Drive

Hotwire found one hotel in the Loop for $204 a night.

The $93 was for two people, my group has four, sorry if I did not mention that. If I could sneak the other two in, that would work.

Although 4900 S Lake Shore Dr might offer a lake view, it is even a WORSE place to stay for transportation downtown. There may be express buses, I'm not sure, but not an el--the red/green line is west of there, but NOT good, ie, from a safety standpoint, for tourists. You really ought to find some discounted rate downtown--it will be worth it. You don't want to be trying to find some off-the-beaten-path place when coming from a full day and night St. Patrick's Day celebration, with all that usually implies.

Keep trying.

The Southside St. Patrick's Parade was yesterday and they had over 300,000. It was fabulous weather too.

Don't forget to view the Chicago River and see that it is Green in color. Tell us about your trip on return.

Keep trying and you'll find a hotwire or something. Do NOT go to 4900 South.

I personally wouldn't want to stay near Midway. I agree with GoTravel and splurge. You might find a good group rate.

Just another Chicagoan chiming in... I'd try Hotwire and Priceline so I could stay downtown, too. But forget 4900 S. Lake Shore; without a car, you'll be in bad shape transportation-wise.

Once again, thanks for all the input!