Getting to Know the Windy City - Chicago 2005 - page 74

share the road. Make sure that you wear a helmet at all times and stick to the
lakefront path or area parks if you're nervous about veering into traffic.
The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation ( & 312/42-PEDAL; www.chibike
fed.org), a nonprofit advocacy group, is a good resource for bicyclists. The group
publishes several bicycling maps with tips on recommended on-street routes and
parkland routes as well as a guide to safe cycling in the city.
Bike and Roll rents all sorts of bikes, including tandems and four-seater
“quadcycles,” as well as in-line skates, from two locations: at Navy Pier ( & 312/
595-9600 ) and North Avenue Beach ( & 773/327-2706 ). Bikes rent for $9.75
an hour or $34 a day. Helmets, pads, and locks are free. The shops are open daily
from 9am to 7pm, weather permitting.
FAST FACTS: Chicago
American Express Travel-service offices are located in the Loop at 55 W.
Monroe St. ( & 312/541-5440 ) and across from the Virgin Megastore, at
605 N. Michigan Ave. ( & 312/943-7840 ).
Area Codes The 312 area code applies to the Loop and the neighbor-
hoods closest to it, including River North, North Michigan Avenue, and the
Gold Coast. The code for the rest of the city is 773. Suburban area codes
are 847 (north), 708 (west and southwest), and 630 (far west). You must
dial “1” plus the area code for all telephone numbers, even if you are
making a call within the same area code.
Babysitters Check with the concierge or desk staff at your hotel, who are
likely to maintain a list of reliable sitters with whom they have worked in
the past. Many of the top hotels work with American ChildCare Service
( & 312/644-7300 ), a state-licensed and insured babysitting service that
can match you with a sitter. The sitters are required to pass background
checks, provide multiple child-care references, and be trained in infant
and child CPR. It's best to make a reservation 24 hours in advance; the
office is open from 9am to 5pm. Rates are $16.50 per hour, with a 4-hour
minimum, and a $10 fee for transportation.
Business Hours Shops generally keep normal business hours, 10am to
6pm Monday through Saturday. Most stores stay open late at least 1
evening a week. Certain businesses, such as bookstores, are almost always
open during the evening hours all week. Most shops (other than in the
Loop) are now open on Sunday as well, usually from noon to 5pm. Malls
are generally open to 7pm and on Sunday as well. Banking hours in
Chicago are normally from 9am (8am, in some cases) to 5pm Monday
through Friday, with select banks remaining open later on specified after-
noons and evenings.
Car Rentals See “Getting Around,” earlier in this chapter.
Dentists The 24-hour referral service of the Chicago Dental Society ( & 630/
978-5745 ) can refer you to an area dentist. Your hotel concierge or desk
staff may also keep a list of dentists.
Doctors In the event of a medical emergency, your best bet—unless you
have friends who can recommend a doctor—is to rely on your hotel physi-
cian or go to the nearest hospital emergency room. The Chicago Medical