The Chicago Traveler

July 19th, 2008

Chicago Links

Time-Out Chicago dutifully posts updates, reviews, and photos of the Pitchfork Music Festival.
The PBLT (a cross between a peanut butter sandwich and a BLT) at Lula Cafe is a bit more than you’d bargain for, according to Drive-Thru.
Yesterday, today, and…? You know the word I’m looking for, but do you know how to spell it? […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

July 18th, 2008

CTA Considers Standing Room Only

Now that seniors can ride the CTA for free and with the rising costs of gas, more and more people have been using the city’s public transit. While this is great in terms of “traveling green,” this means that there are more commuters during rush hour on already crowded buses and trains. But due to […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

July 8th, 2008

Public Transit Etiquette

A few folks from San Francisco, California, have created a website where they list some basic etiquette rules for riding public transit. I think politeness on buses and trains is a universal necessity though, and many of the suggestions can apply even to Chicago’s very own CTA commuters.
For example, they advise riders to keep cell […]

By Matt B -- 1 comment

June 14th, 2008

Ride Smarter

With the rising costs of gas, more and more people are turning to public transit to get where they’re going. Now, Google Maps can help guide your way.
Just enter your start and end points. If available for your route, you’ll see the option to “take public transit.” You can even see bus and train schedules, […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

June 2nd, 2008

eL Prototype Turns 125

Happy Birthday to the eL! Or rather, to the idea of the eL. On this day in 1883, the world’s first elevated electric railway made was given a test run.

New York City already had been using elevated trains since the early 1870s, but they were steam-powered. Thomas Edison and Stephen D. Field amazed the crowds […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

May 19th, 2008

Chicago Gas Prices Highest in the U.S.

The other day, before driving to the grocery store, I pulled into the gas station to fill the car’s tank. I read the sign… $4.20 for a gallon of regular gas! Eep! Filling the tank would leave me with no money left for groceries. And I’m certainly not the only one feeling the pinch on […]

By Matt B -- 6 comments

March 17th, 2008

Seniors Ride Free

People 65 years old or over can ride free on Chicago’s public transportation starting today. The free ride programs include the CTA, Metra, and Pace systems which serve Chicago and its surrounding counties (DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will).
Back in January, legislators agreed to a sales and real-estate-transfer tax hike to help bail out the […]

By Matt B -- 6 comments

March 14th, 2008

Blue Line Branch Closing

Ron Huberman, the president of the Chicago Transit Authority, stated that the CTA plans to eliminate the 54th/Cermak branch of the Blue Line, beginning April 27. The CTA declares low ridership on these West Side trains as the reason.
Fortunately, the new Pink Line covers most of this branch. However, there are three stops which the […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments

December 8th, 2007

Chicago: City on the Move

The future of public transit in Chicago looks doubtful. Last week, the Illinois House of Representatives shot down a plan to fund Chicago’s Regional Transit Authority (which governs the CTA, Metra, and Pace) by shifting state gasoline sales tax money. Lawmakers refused to support it unless a deal is also reached on road, school, […]

By Matt B -- 0 comments