The Chicago Traveler

Gas prices are finally beginning to drop a bit. Summer’s almost over, so it’s time to get out of the house and go on a little road trip. From the beaches to the views, the Beverly Shores and Indiana Dunes area is the perfect getaway if you’re looking for a quick break from the routine. Located just 50 miles (80 km) around the lake, this family-friendly escape has great beaches and cool attractions.
If your eyes are always on the skies, take a gander at the Indiana Aviation Museum. There are nine former military aircraft in the museum, and all of …read more

2 Comments

We’ve all probably been more budget-conscious than usual, but sometimes it feels good to splurge a bit. If you want to get around town in luxury, here are some of the most extravagant ways of traveling around Chicago.
At Bentley Gold Coast, you can find some of the best cars in the world, ranging in price from $100,000 to over $1 million. Stop in (just south of Intermix), and check out items like the 2008 Lamborghini Murcielago LP640 Roadster with 631 HP and a V-12 mid engine or the 2008 Bentley Azure, a twin-turbo V-8 that churns out 450 HP and …read more

2 Comments

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 limited funding, the CTA cannot afford to buy more buses nor more rail cars.
The answer to the problem? Cattle cars!
Okay, not exactly, but not far from it. According to the Tribune and the Sun-Times, the Chicago Transit Authority is considering removing seats from at least …read more

1 Comment

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, so you’ll know when to set your departure time. Step-by-step directions are available both in text and on the map.

In addition, the Chicago Transit Authority has recently released the CTA Bus Tracker. Select a route, direction, and transit stop in the Estimated Arrival Times Window, …read more

Comments Off

If you plan on taking a long road trip (for example, to one of Illinois’ Seven Wonders), you know you have to keep your eyes on the road. But you may see a few more unsightly… um… features.
The Illinois Department of Transportation announced on Friday that it is already over-budget due to all the snow their trucks had to plow this past winter. So this summer, in an attempt to cut costs, IDOT will not be picking up all the roadkill on state roads. “Hazardous” remains and bodies that are in actual driving lanes will still be removed, but …read more

2 Comments

If you’ve been down Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive recently, you know that it resembles a rocky mountain road more than an urban thoroughfare.
Radio talk show hosts can make jokes about the numerous potholes along the lakefront road, but very few people are laughing. In fact, the situation is so bad, public transportation officials have decided not to raise Lake Shore Drive’s speed limit.
Normally, from April 1 through November 1, Lake Shore Drive’s speed limit is set at 45 mph (72 kmph). But the pothole situation has gotten so bad, the Chicago Department of Transportation has determined that it’s just not …read more

Comments Off

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, and government projects throughout the state. Unfortunately for public transit workers and riders, those kinds of negotiations take time. A lot of time.
As the buses and trains come closer and closer to losing the funding they need, the CTA board has had to take drastic …read more

Comments Off