The Inside Track on the CTA
By: Jenny Brandhorst

Let me set the stage for you: A small town Iowa girl moves to Chicago. In Iowa, her transportation modes consisted of a ten-speed bike, moped, car, skateboard and an occasional romp on a John Deere riding lawnmower. Now she attempts to navigate the Windy City. Suffering from a severe public transportation phobia, new-to-the-city girl walks everywhere until April showers arrive, and she’s forced by nature (and blistered feet) to take public transportation to reach her destinations.

That small-town Iowa girl was me. Accustomed to depending on a car to get from point A to point B, I must say I was a bit challenged by mass transit. So much so that upon my El-riding debut, I nearly broke out in a rash at the thought of transferring from the red line train to #74 Fullerton bus or switching from the red line to the brown line. Big cities can be intimidating enough, without trying to figure out the red, brown, purple, yellow, blue, green and orange elevated train lines (El), in addition to approximately 151 bus routes!

Not to worry, mastering the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) system and making the most of your experience is virtually a painless process. Shoot, if an Iowa girl can do it, anyone can! Here are some tricks of the train—and bus.

Lost and Found
“Merchandise Mart is next. Depending on the direction of travel, doors open on the right at Merchandise Mart.”
Even if you’re completely lost, act like you know where you’re going. Be confident and secure in your “lostness.” Until you can speak with another rider or CTA employee on your whereabouts and desired destination, it’s important to blend in so as not to draw attention to yourself or invite unwanted street solicitation. One way to fit in is to study a map and memorize your route before you are street bound. Standing in the middle of the sidewalk reading a map is just asking for trouble.

Don’t have a map? Don’t worry. The CTA provides many maps online and at many El stops, making it easy to determine the train or bus you need. (If you have a Palm, you can download a CTA map of the entire train system.) And if you think you can get by without a map, think again, you could end up scooping the loop. Many times unknowing passengers have boarded a train and circled all the way around the loop without even realizing it, hence the phrase, “scooping the loop.” Fortunately, Chicago’s streets are laid out on a grid system, which kindly aids both visitors and residents alike. Each street has a numerical coordinate starting from 0 N/S and 0 E/W (Madison St. 0 N/S /State St. 0 E/W). So, if you are at the Addison St. stop on the red line you will see numbers on the Addison sign that read 3600N/1000W to help you identify the intersection. Needless to say, your 4th grade longitude/latitude skills should come in handy.

Finally, be sure to check schedules before traveling by CTA, otherwise you might be stranded at a bus stop or El platform. Some buses and trains do not operate beyond a certain time at night or on certain holidays. Visit
www.transitchicago.com for a trip planner if you need specific directions, schedules and fares. The New Resident Program link is also very helpful.

Time Is on My Side?
“We are experiencing a delay and we regret this inconvenience.”
Allow ample time to reach a destination. Inevitably, just when you think you’re ahead of schedule and will have time to hit Starbucks and maybe even Walgreens before getting into the office, a recorded announcement is broadcast throughout the train car: “We are experiencing a delay and we regret this inconvenience.” (To be sure, the CTA probably does not regret it nearly as much as its rush-hour passengers!) The delay could be caused by “technical difficulties,” “emergency medical assistance,” “waiting for signals ahead,” or even a few drops of rain—and rain slows down the buses as well. No matter the reason, before you know it, you’re running late for your conference call and will be lucky to get into the office by 10:00 am. So watch the local news or check the CTA’s website for any major delays.

Mo’ Money
“When someone doesn’t pay, we all pay.”
Always, always, always carry some extra cash—or at least have a begging back-up plan on how to get extra coins. The fare, $1.75,(at least for now), doesn’t seem like much money, except of course when you don’t have it. And you never know when you’ll forget your wallet on the nightstand, leave your fare card in your other purse or leave your fare card swimming in your gym bag. Also, keep in mind that the bus drivers and train station attendants have no change, so it’s best to get a fare card and stock it with money. Like a boy scout, always be prepared.

Standards of Etiquette
Unfortunately, there always will be inconsiderate people using public transportation. But you don’t have to be one of them. The following are just some examples of inconsiderate public transportation conduct, which is easily avoided if you simply show some consideration. If you should be the unfortunate witness to rude behavior, just smile to yourself and know that you’re an intelligent CTA passenger. If you are an offender, tsk, tsk.
Turn it Down. Of course listening to a CD is preferable to the grumble of the train; however, not everyone wishes to hear your music. So keep the volume at a level where only you can hear it. The same standard applies to cell phone conversations and discussions between friends on the train or bus. Not everyone cares about what Lisa said behind your back, particularly at 7:00 am.

Take it to the Bar and Grill. We live in an eat-and-run world, no doubt about it, but El trains do not include dining cars, and don’t even think about eating during a bumpy bus ride. Granted, snacks like candy bars, sodas and the like are ok. A greasy burger with everything and fries? That’s pushing it. And no matter what you are eating, please throw it away. It takes two seconds to toss garbage in the proper receptacle.

Save Space. In a city with millions of commuters, space will forever be an issue, but by showing even an ounce of courtesy, we can all maintain a bit of personal space—not to mention our sanity! First, observe the seat divider and try to keep bags on your lap or at your feet. Too crowded to get a seat? There is plenty of room to stand, but don’t be a door monkey. Move to the back of the bus or middle of the train to allow other passengers room to exit and enter. More importantly, please offer your seat to elderly individuals, handicapped passengers and pregnant women.

Mind Your Business. From panhandlers to preachers to conspicuous loiterers, the CTA has many riders without a destination. In these situations, it simply behooves riders to mind their own business and possibly even secure their belongings. We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto, and these trains and buses do not lead to Oz.

End of the Line
With my vehicle-dependent days far behind me, I’ve learned that the best way to ensure positive public transportation experiences is to be prepared and be polite. Although I still ride the CTA anticipating the next odd occurrence that will spice up my day and provide a story to swap with my cohorts in nearby cubicles, I’ve become acclimated to using the CTA—and I no longer nearly develop rashes at the thought of transferring from the red to the brown line train. So small-town Iowa girl masters the CTA. In fact, with a map, some common sense, and a buck seventy-five, so can anyone.