There's bicycle parking in the back yard and on the front of the building. If these are full (which is often the case), there is additional bicycle parking at the bicycle racks on the SW corner of Oakley and North, just east of the Handlebar front entrance.

Stave St is your friend! Stave runs parallel to Milwaukee on the west side of the tracks. You can pick it up off California just south of the Blue Line stop (2800W, 2200N). When Stave ends at Armitage, head a half-block east to Campbell (2500W). Turn right (south) on Campbell to North Ave (1600N) where you can turn left (east), pop across Western, and wind up at the Handlebar.

Avoiding the major streets except when necessary is the key for a good ride from the North. You will have to take main streets to cross the River and the Highway; but other than that, there are back street alternatives. Any of the streets around Leavitt (2200W) are good north/south streets to travel on. We suggest that you cross the river on the Diversey Ave bridge (2200W, 2800N). Heading west over the bridge and taking the first left onto Logan Blvd will put you in a good space to head across Western and take the first street west of Western south; this is Campbell (2500W). Follow the road to the left back toward the highway and follow this around onto Artesian (2428W). Follow this South, thru the alleys, all the way to the corner of Milwaulkee and Armitage. Take a right onto Armitage and make the first left onto Campbell. Take this south to North Ave, and turn left and head east across Western to the Handlebar.

Damen Ave (2000W) isn't a bad ride for getting south once you get close to Wicker Park. Crossing the river on Damen isn't great, but you can take the 'Shopping Mall' back route: near the corner of Diversey and Wolcott (1900W, 2800N), you'll see a small access road going South, just east of the light on the corner. Take this road and head left into the Menards parking lot. Follow the road around to where it dumps out onto Clyborn. Across the street, you'll see a Dominicks supermarket -- this is where you're heading. Mind the traffic and cut across to the entrance to the parking lot. Go past the Domincks and continue into the shopping center parking lot -- it dumps out the other side onto Fullerton. Wait for the light here -- the timing helps. When the light turns green, haul up the hill hugging the right until you're past the crest. When it's clear cut over for the left turn onto Damen. Once on Damen, take the bike lane south all the way to North Ave (1600N). Take a right on North Ave and head west over to the Handlebar.

There are lots of options here. The quickest, most direct route is to head up Milwaukee to North Ave (1600N), take a left, and head to the Handlebar. However, if you want to skip the (often) heavy traffic on Milwaukee, you can head west out of the Loop (Adams (200S) is nice) over to northbound Oakley (2300W) and head North to North Ave, then it's a quick left and over to the Handlebar.

North Avenue isn't very nice to ride on, we recommend taking a side street (to the South, Blackhawk?) until you need to cross Western. Once you're to Western, it's a quick trip on North to the Handlebar.

North Avenue isn't very nice from the East either. If you're on it, you can stay on it (to cross the River and Highway); but it's nicer to travel west on Cortland St (1900N). You can pick it up off Clyborn north of North Ave. Follow it across the River and Highway to Damen. Take a left on Damen, head south to North Ave, and right on North to the Handlebar.

Take the Blue Line to the Damen stop and walk west along North avenue the (short) 3/8ths of a mile to the Handlebar.

Take the North Ave Bus east or west (depending on where you're coming from) and get off at Oakley Ave (2300W, between Western and Leavitt).

Take the Western Ave Bus north or south and get off at North Ave (1600N). The Hanlebar is one and a half blocks to the East.

Just tell the driver "Take me to the Handlebar!". If s/he appears puzzled, tell 'em "Oakley and North".

You've got the address. Look for parking on North Ave. near the restaurant. Be sure to mind rush hour parking restrictions posted along either side. You can sometimes find parking along the side streets as well. The Handlebar does not provide parking for cars.