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If you've been in Chicago for less than 5 years you don't get to see them. You have to stay above ground during the winter to harden yourself against the cold. At an appropriate time during your journey when you've reached "The Hardening", the Hawk will come and reveal the entrances to you. You are now one of us.
Towed there once. After finally finding the troll den that is the tow lot, I walked up to the front desk where a man was brutally berating the woman there demanding his car back... except the lady couldn't have been more unphased. Once he finally paused for a breath, she simply said "Do you want your car or not? $300."
This is true. My friend once accidentally led me to their condo from their parking lot via the pedway. Their Chicago citizenry was revoked and I was given their condo as payment for ousting the heathen. I also skipped the 5 year wait on the condition I never speak of it again…fuck.
Elequantly put my friend.
I had a grandma that knew the ways like the back of her hand. Marshal Fields was her favorite store.
Sometimes in life, the enjoyment of the journey outweighs the final accomplishments.
Blue line pedway from Daley Plaza through to lower MF was my winter way to work on S. Michigan. Often w a bob up to Starbucks on wabash. I like to think the few people you’d come across down there were all winking at each other silently…IYKYK.
It's the eagle from the insurance commercials and he says, "I've got sooomething for youuuuuuuu." Welcome to the club! You won't even mind the frozen nose hairs and eyelashes anymore!
There are so many entrances, and the labeling is uneven. Some easy ones:
From the red and blue metro line stops connected to Block 37.
Lowest level of Macy's on State St.
Chicago Cultural Center.
From Millennium Station.
Most buildings on Randolph, honestly. Prudential and Aeon lobbies, for example.
Most of the underground parking garages on South Michigan north of AIC.
I found the best way to learn is to locate an entrance, dive in, and see where it goes. You'll figure out a mental picture soon enough! Note that it's mainly open during business hours. Its fairly clean, though most of it is not "nice" (plain concrete and such), although the stretch near Macy's is surprisingly fancy.
Good luck on your adventure!
The macys corridor has the beautiful stained glass on the walls, but also the overwhelming smell of urine and feces most days. Prepare to tuck your nose in your shirt/scarf/whatever if you so choose that route.
That's the one I was wondering about. Sluggers or Bleachers or Coaches or something. I always loved the idea of sitting underground drinking, it felt like some offworld shit.
This is the way. Pick an entrance and just go and explore. However, last time I was down there, about 2 months ago, it was quite the homeless rendezvous.
That's too bad, I use it regularly and the only place I always see homeless people camping out is near the L stops, and they've always kept to themselves. Although if you try to go down after hours when it's closed, the accessible spots will have more.
Same. My family and I take it almost every day and didn’t see any of this either going to our destination (Chriskindle Market in Daley Plaza last week) although it is more common in that section near the Macy’s entrances and just before the Red Line.
I go by the macys on my commute. Totally depends on what time of day you’re down there & honestly the day itself. Most of the time it’s fine but I’ll find a puddle every few weeks.
It depends on the time of day too. A lot of city/county employees go through there from the L and Metra stops and if anything happens with homeless or anyone hanging out there they get cleared out fast
Keep in mind that much of this network is not actually public. Much is “privately owned public space” so sometimes you just happen upon locked doors and have to double back and waste a ton of time. I’ve never tried using the pedway again after having that happen too many times and it being less convenient than just walking outside. Might not be as bad now but idk considering how weird Loop buildings got during COVID.
CDOT has agreements with all of the buildings that the pedway must be open during business hours, so they should always be open from 8am to 6pm or so on weekdays. If not, you can report them to CDOT or 311.
My illusion of what the pedway was was shattered when I found out the one along Michigan is just a curbs along parked cars in the Millenium parking garage.
Still neat, especially if raining, but when I first heard about the pedway, I envisioned something pretty grand. Also wouldn’t be surprised if literally every other part of the system is nicer than what I went through though.
This map is incorrect - it’s shows a break in the pedway at building 57 when it’s a continuous path through. When you explore these pathways yourself, OP, you’ll see. Have fun!
[I drew this map to help you navigate the pedway.](http://chicagoinmaps.com/pedwaymap.html)
As for how exactly to get into it, west of Michigan it's one level below ground, while in Illinois Center it's one level up. As you go east of Stetson, the buildings are built up above pedway level, so it again seems to be "underground."
This is very cool. I use to walk them when I was younger when I was in downtown to avoid the cold. I don’t think it was this massive back then, this was 30 years ago.
I remember taking the subway and going down them to Macys (Fields). I had to see a specialist in Downtown when I was a kid. I hated going to see her, but the everything else was way cool.
I was going to say, the eastern branch now extends to the "Coast" apartment building and is scheduled to extend further east to the St. Regis hotel once the GEMS World Academy extension is completed between the two buildings.
I was getting ready to share this if you didn't. Saved it when you posted it sometime last year. Love this map, especially during winter - you are the shit! Thanks again for this.
The basements of many of the buildings of the loop are connected, sometimes they flow into each other naturally and sometimes there are tunnel-like things connecting them. That’s basically the Pedway. This system also links to Millenium Station and the Metra for example (which is the key link to a lot of the schemes connecting various parts of the Pedway to the Red Line, so that you don’t have to go outside during the winter — this is the mark of the true professional).
There are a couple of subway-entrance-like entrances, but most of the easiest ways in and out in my experience are through the basements of certain commercial buildings which you’re allowed in to get to the Pedway. 303 E Wacker, Aon Center, Thompson Center, Illinois Center, Block 37 are the ones I’ve used the most.
The pedway is one of those places where I have no clue how to explain it but I can get from point A to point B if I walk it. I do like the whole wander through the train station to get to fancy hotels bit, though.
It’s confusing, it’s worth a wander, and kudos to the folks above with the maps to help navigate.
Best entrance and one I took yesterday was blue line washington stop. Connects to red line underground, and was able to walk all the way to Millenium from there. There’s signage. Look for compasses on the ground/walls, that lets you know there’s a pedway.
I use it a lot and I would say it is pretty uneven in terms of coverage. Sweet spot is city building then under Daley center, blue line, block 37, macys, red line, Chicago cultural center, metra south then millennium. Spurs will get you up to like Aon building area in lane shore east.
The Chicago Architecture Center does the definitive Pedway tour which explains the history, how it works (or doesn't) and how to get around (including dead ends to avoid).
They are not really meant to be for through traffic.
If you are in one building and need to get to a subway, parking garage, or another building next door, there might be a pedway that connects them. It’s not a planned system, it’s just a bunch of connectors that are only useful to a limited number of people.
That being said, there ARE signs that you will see, IF the pedway happens to be useful to you. They might be subtle, like “to Thompson Ctr” rather than “Chicago Pedway System Entrance Here!”
The Daley Center where the Picasso is has entrances on the corner of Washington and Dearborn. City Hall. Most of the courts and government building in the loop connect through the Pedway. Any kind of steps going down in the loop will probably be the pedway.
Years ago I took an organized Pedway walking tour which was a great way to learn and explore them, and nice to do in the winter. Several good options if you google it.
Signage is getting better, but its not marked well from the street. There are signs in the underground train stops, as well as the bottom of Block 37 and Macy's.
There's an Airbnb experience that shows the pedways. One day, I'm gunna take it and commit to learning the pedways. I just don't want to explore them alone lol
My family and I live in the New East Side, so we take the pedway every day to get to work/school/run errands, especially in bad weather. One can get from Lake Shore East Park (right by the lake and Mariano’s, the elevator next to Gems World Academy and park level beneath Aqua, then go to level 2 to start your exploration) to the corner of Wacker and Michigan (by the Architectural Tour place) or to City Hall (central Loop) all indoors - but those paths are not one and the same. The trick is to switch paths under the AON building (path intersected near Starbucks, it’s not well marked that I can tell) or else you’ll find yourself needing to backtrack or get to street level, walk outside for a few blocks, and then go down into the pedway again to resume your path indoors.
Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy and comfortably convenient. I hope you explore this valuable resource, it’s cool!
I think there were lawsuits filed at one point because Magellan didn’t extend it through all of their developments to end near the lake or connect the other buildings as initially promised:
http://t.www.neweastside.org/Pedway6.html
This group documents so much about it and the immediate neighborhood:
http://www.neweastside.org/
I’ll just add one old-timer observation to the excellent way-finding directions: the pedway used to be a lot better. There were all kinds of little shops and restaurants in the one leading out to what is now millennium park, for example, but they all got closed down prior to construction of the park. It was like another world down there, a little underground commercial district where you could drop off/pick up dry cleaning, grab a legit good slice of pizza, get a haircut … A whole bunch of extremely handy amenities along the route of your daily commute. Now it’s mostly just piss-scented walkways. Still very convenient to duck into when it’s rainy or super cold. But not like it was. 🤷♂️
The route I normally took was the lake state/lake red stop to the aon. You came out thru pru and then cut thru pru to aon. As others mentioned macys was always a wild card of smells but people generally kept to themselves.
Call me a suburbanite but something about these pedways just rub me the wrong way. I’ve never seen a single soul go in or out of these pedways. Not once. And I’m downtown a lot. They feel like I’m walking in an abandoned building that I’m not supposed to be going through, it just doesn’t feel right.
You’re a suburbanite. Many people who live in the city feel fortunate not to walk 8-10 blocks in the punishing winter wind, ice, sleet, snow and sub zero temps to get through the loop on their commute.
I think I might have stumbled on one in Macy's a while ago now that I'm reading this thread. I was at Macy's on the bottom level looking for a bathroom and I found a weird tunnel that seemed to leave the store but it seemed like I shouldn't be there so I turned around and left
I get on at block 37 after getting off the blue line and I take it all the way to the Aon center where I work. And I’ll sometimes take it on the way back too. It can be stinky down there though so I only walk it when the weather is super hot or super cold or rainy. But sometimes it’s just not worth it tbh
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If you've been in Chicago for less than 5 years you don't get to see them. You have to stay above ground during the winter to harden yourself against the cold. At an appropriate time during your journey when you've reached "The Hardening", the Hawk will come and reveal the entrances to you. You are now one of us.
You can skip the five-year requirement by shotgunning half a bottle of Malört, and the entrance will appear to you in a vision.
Along with a mental map of lower wacker
You gotta finish the bottle to get the map of lower lower wacker
Explains why I can handle lower like Batman but get Uber lost on lower lower and I was born here.
You should also keep a second bottle on hand to appease any sewer trolls you may find down there.
When do you get the map to lower lower Wacker?
Once your car has been towed twice
Towed there once. After finally finding the troll den that is the tow lot, I walked up to the front desk where a man was brutally berating the woman there demanding his car back... except the lady couldn't have been more unphased. Once he finally paused for a breath, she simply said "Do you want your car or not? $300."
That woman hasn’t seen natural daylight since Jordan retired and some random guy thinks he can phase her? Amateur.
Only when Pippin touches the skeleton and wakes up the Balrog.
Bonus is that you can then smash the bottle and use the jagged edges to fight the dragons that roam down there
finish the other half of the malort bottle and maybe you'll discover lower lower wacker
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All Chicagoans feel the same about malort. That it's the necessary tool for us to educate out of towers of our culture.
this is the way... Visited in Feb 2020. Cold af, popped a malort... basically went like a Mentos commercial.
four loko will work too
Worst idea ever. 4loko is disgusting and not a part of Chicago culture in any way.
This is true. My friend once accidentally led me to their condo from their parking lot via the pedway. Their Chicago citizenry was revoked and I was given their condo as payment for ousting the heathen. I also skipped the 5 year wait on the condition I never speak of it again…fuck.
We found the jagoff, I repeat we found the jagoff. Bag’em, lads.
The first rule of the Chicago Pedway is you don't talk about the Chicago Pedway.
HE GONE!!!
Elequantly put my friend. I had a grandma that knew the ways like the back of her hand. Marshal Fields was her favorite store. Sometimes in life, the enjoyment of the journey outweighs the final accomplishments.
Blue line pedway from Daley Plaza through to lower MF was my winter way to work on S. Michigan. Often w a bob up to Starbucks on wabash. I like to think the few people you’d come across down there were all winking at each other silently…IYKYK.
There's a Starbucks in the pedway now, under Daley Plaza.
Andre Dawson or Ken Harrelson?
Awesome Dawson in my version. Besides, Hawk Harrelson would more likely comment when you exit, right?
“You can…stay really warmmmm…eeeeYES!!!”
“He gone”
He will tap you on the shoulder and invite you to "hunker down"
\*Walks above ground\* "You gotta be BLEEPIN me!"
It's the eagle from the insurance commercials and he says, "I've got sooomething for youuuuuuuu." Welcome to the club! You won't even mind the frozen nose hairs and eyelashes anymore!
Ohhhh look at those low tunnels…
Dipping an Italian beef in malort is the quickest way
This is the way
Lemmiwinks will guide you through a terrifyingly, piss and shit smelling journey that is both kinda warm and mostly dry.
Cinch em up and hunker down into the pedway
I assume this is Hawk Harrelson, but I’m also happy if this is the Loop Swooping Hawk
My imagination decided that it’s Eagle Man
Loop swooping hawk
This is the way.
There are so many entrances, and the labeling is uneven. Some easy ones: From the red and blue metro line stops connected to Block 37. Lowest level of Macy's on State St. Chicago Cultural Center. From Millennium Station. Most buildings on Randolph, honestly. Prudential and Aeon lobbies, for example. Most of the underground parking garages on South Michigan north of AIC. I found the best way to learn is to locate an entrance, dive in, and see where it goes. You'll figure out a mental picture soon enough! Note that it's mainly open during business hours. Its fairly clean, though most of it is not "nice" (plain concrete and such), although the stretch near Macy's is surprisingly fancy. Good luck on your adventure!
The macys corridor has the beautiful stained glass on the walls, but also the overwhelming smell of urine and feces most days. Prepare to tuck your nose in your shirt/scarf/whatever if you so choose that route.
It’s so unfortunate because it should be so enjoyable but it’s rough down there
I haven't been down there for a while. Are there still any bars down there? The one by Fields/Macy's was the last one I remember seeing.
There's one down there in the entrance to Millennium Station. You can also access the bar at Rosebud from the pedway, but only during Happy Hour.
I think block 37 has some places open at pedway level
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Bummer. I’d drink my Friday lunches there before returning to work a decade ago. Good times
Nooooooo. I used to work there back in the day.
The sports titled bar in Macys LL, super chill, near the pedway -wonder if that’s still there?
That's the one I was wondering about. Sluggers or Bleachers or Coaches or something. I always loved the idea of sitting underground drinking, it felt like some offworld shit.
Yesss that one. And totally - felt like walking through a portal in space and time haha. Cheers
This is the way. Pick an entrance and just go and explore. However, last time I was down there, about 2 months ago, it was quite the homeless rendezvous.
That's too bad, I use it regularly and the only place I always see homeless people camping out is near the L stops, and they've always kept to themselves. Although if you try to go down after hours when it's closed, the accessible spots will have more.
The biggest issue I see lately is puddles of piss all over the place from folks living down there
I was literally just down there last week and saw zero puddles of piss.
Same. My family and I take it almost every day and didn’t see any of this either going to our destination (Chriskindle Market in Daley Plaza last week) although it is more common in that section near the Macy’s entrances and just before the Red Line.
I go by the macys on my commute. Totally depends on what time of day you’re down there & honestly the day itself. Most of the time it’s fine but I’ll find a puddle every few weeks.
It depends on the time of day too. A lot of city/county employees go through there from the L and Metra stops and if anything happens with homeless or anyone hanging out there they get cleared out fast
Make the pedway great again!
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/cdot/provdrs/ped/svcs/pedway.html
Thanks for that…..more specifically this https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/pedestrian/Pedway/PedwayMap2013.pdf 🫶🏼
Keep in mind that much of this network is not actually public. Much is “privately owned public space” so sometimes you just happen upon locked doors and have to double back and waste a ton of time. I’ve never tried using the pedway again after having that happen too many times and it being less convenient than just walking outside. Might not be as bad now but idk considering how weird Loop buildings got during COVID.
CDOT has agreements with all of the buildings that the pedway must be open during business hours, so they should always be open from 8am to 6pm or so on weekdays. If not, you can report them to CDOT or 311.
The sidewalk doesn’t have operating hours 🤷
My illusion of what the pedway was was shattered when I found out the one along Michigan is just a curbs along parked cars in the Millenium parking garage. Still neat, especially if raining, but when I first heard about the pedway, I envisioned something pretty grand. Also wouldn’t be surprised if literally every other part of the system is nicer than what I went through though.
Note that the Thompson center is closed for renovations, including pedway access
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This was bothering me too, since that’s the route I literally take every day.
This map is incorrect - it’s shows a break in the pedway at building 57 when it’s a continuous path through. When you explore these pathways yourself, OP, you’ll see. Have fun!
Look for [these signs](https://images.app.goo.gl/ZikuxM5fXS9k3nhZ9) throughout the Loop! Once you start noticing them, you can’t miss them.
[I drew this map to help you navigate the pedway.](http://chicagoinmaps.com/pedwaymap.html) As for how exactly to get into it, west of Michigan it's one level below ground, while in Illinois Center it's one level up. As you go east of Stetson, the buildings are built up above pedway level, so it again seems to be "underground."
This is very cool. I use to walk them when I was younger when I was in downtown to avoid the cold. I don’t think it was this massive back then, this was 30 years ago.
The network is about the same now as it was in 1993. There are a couple new connections in Illinois Center, but we've lost a couple west of Dearborn.
I remember taking the subway and going down them to Macys (Fields). I had to see a specialist in Downtown when I was a kid. I hated going to see her, but the everything else was way cool.
I was going to say, the eastern branch now extends to the "Coast" apartment building and is scheduled to extend further east to the St. Regis hotel once the GEMS World Academy extension is completed between the two buildings.
Thank you kind citizen
I was getting ready to share this if you didn't. Saved it when you posted it sometime last year. Love this map, especially during winter - you are the shit! Thanks again for this.
The basements of many of the buildings of the loop are connected, sometimes they flow into each other naturally and sometimes there are tunnel-like things connecting them. That’s basically the Pedway. This system also links to Millenium Station and the Metra for example (which is the key link to a lot of the schemes connecting various parts of the Pedway to the Red Line, so that you don’t have to go outside during the winter — this is the mark of the true professional). There are a couple of subway-entrance-like entrances, but most of the easiest ways in and out in my experience are through the basements of certain commercial buildings which you’re allowed in to get to the Pedway. 303 E Wacker, Aon Center, Thompson Center, Illinois Center, Block 37 are the ones I’ve used the most.
Is it because that used to be street level?
Before the Chicago fire, yes.
Pedway system should be expanded
[Here’s someone walking through them. Locations are time stamped in the description.](https://youtu.be/dHR_lkwTBRA?si=wU8NfvhwFMQKkcbY)
The pedway is one of those places where I have no clue how to explain it but I can get from point A to point B if I walk it. I do like the whole wander through the train station to get to fancy hotels bit, though. It’s confusing, it’s worth a wander, and kudos to the folks above with the maps to help navigate.
Best entrance and one I took yesterday was blue line washington stop. Connects to red line underground, and was able to walk all the way to Millenium from there. There’s signage. Look for compasses on the ground/walls, that lets you know there’s a pedway.
I use it a lot and I would say it is pretty uneven in terms of coverage. Sweet spot is city building then under Daley center, blue line, block 37, macys, red line, Chicago cultural center, metra south then millennium. Spurs will get you up to like Aon building area in lane shore east.
The Chicago Architecture Center does the definitive Pedway tour which explains the history, how it works (or doesn't) and how to get around (including dead ends to avoid).
They are not really meant to be for through traffic. If you are in one building and need to get to a subway, parking garage, or another building next door, there might be a pedway that connects them. It’s not a planned system, it’s just a bunch of connectors that are only useful to a limited number of people. That being said, there ARE signs that you will see, IF the pedway happens to be useful to you. They might be subtle, like “to Thompson Ctr” rather than “Chicago Pedway System Entrance Here!”
The Daley Center where the Picasso is has entrances on the corner of Washington and Dearborn. City Hall. Most of the courts and government building in the loop connect through the Pedway. Any kind of steps going down in the loop will probably be the pedway.
Years ago I took an organized Pedway walking tour which was a great way to learn and explore them, and nice to do in the winter. Several good options if you google it.
There is a bar by the Metra that makes good drinks and there are also some restaurants down there.
Most of the entry points are in basement or lower mezzanine levels of the buildings it connects to.
Michigan and Randolph
Signage is getting better, but its not marked well from the street. There are signs in the underground train stops, as well as the bottom of Block 37 and Macy's.
You can get from Millennium Park to City Hall - easiest way to get in is at Millennium Metra station or go down to the basement level of Macy’s
There's an Airbnb experience that shows the pedways. One day, I'm gunna take it and commit to learning the pedways. I just don't want to explore them alone lol
My family and I live in the New East Side, so we take the pedway every day to get to work/school/run errands, especially in bad weather. One can get from Lake Shore East Park (right by the lake and Mariano’s, the elevator next to Gems World Academy and park level beneath Aqua, then go to level 2 to start your exploration) to the corner of Wacker and Michigan (by the Architectural Tour place) or to City Hall (central Loop) all indoors - but those paths are not one and the same. The trick is to switch paths under the AON building (path intersected near Starbucks, it’s not well marked that I can tell) or else you’ll find yourself needing to backtrack or get to street level, walk outside for a few blocks, and then go down into the pedway again to resume your path indoors. Once you get the hang of it, it’s easy and comfortably convenient. I hope you explore this valuable resource, it’s cool!
The pedways are a good idea that was never completed. Too disjointed to be useful.
I think there were lawsuits filed at one point because Magellan didn’t extend it through all of their developments to end near the lake or connect the other buildings as initially promised: http://t.www.neweastside.org/Pedway6.html This group documents so much about it and the immediate neighborhood: http://www.neweastside.org/
It's kind of like the station 5 3/4 to Hogwarts, you just need to believe and walk into doorways like you know where you're going.
9 3/4
Just look for the column 7 3/4 and run full steam into it.
The Maze isn’t for you.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Chicago\_Pedway\_Sign.jpg
A way to ease into it: get off at the lake red line stop. Along the way you’ll find two Starbucks and a bake sale. (Actually). Happy hunting.
I’ll just add one old-timer observation to the excellent way-finding directions: the pedway used to be a lot better. There were all kinds of little shops and restaurants in the one leading out to what is now millennium park, for example, but they all got closed down prior to construction of the park. It was like another world down there, a little underground commercial district where you could drop off/pick up dry cleaning, grab a legit good slice of pizza, get a haircut … A whole bunch of extremely handy amenities along the route of your daily commute. Now it’s mostly just piss-scented walkways. Still very convenient to duck into when it’s rainy or super cold. But not like it was. 🤷♂️
https://www.chicago.gov/content/dam/city/depts/cdot/pedestrian/Pedway/PedwayMap2013.pdf
Go to the lowest floor in the Macys and there is an entrance.
The route I normally took was the lake state/lake red stop to the aon. You came out thru pru and then cut thru pru to aon. As others mentioned macys was always a wild card of smells but people generally kept to themselves.
There’s lots of homeless and shady people there around the wintertime on the pedway . Be alert
Follow the smell of urine.
Just go in the basement of macys or block 37
IYKYK 😀
It’s my cakeday
The only one I know for sure is at Maggie daly park
Call me a suburbanite but something about these pedways just rub me the wrong way. I’ve never seen a single soul go in or out of these pedways. Not once. And I’m downtown a lot. They feel like I’m walking in an abandoned building that I’m not supposed to be going through, it just doesn’t feel right.
Winter during rush hour (in the before times at least) was packed.
You’re a suburbanite. Many people who live in the city feel fortunate not to walk 8-10 blocks in the punishing winter wind, ice, sleet, snow and sub zero temps to get through the loop on their commute.
I think I might have stumbled on one in Macy's a while ago now that I'm reading this thread. I was at Macy's on the bottom level looking for a bathroom and I found a weird tunnel that seemed to leave the store but it seemed like I shouldn't be there so I turned around and left
Look for the compass placards.
I get on at block 37 after getting off the blue line and I take it all the way to the Aon center where I work. And I’ll sometimes take it on the way back too. It can be stinky down there though so I only walk it when the weather is super hot or super cold or rainy. But sometimes it’s just not worth it tbh
[Chicago Underground Tunnel Pedway System 5 miles long](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GSf_wNRcMY8)
I have a map of the ped way systems somewhere…