View Full Version : Chicago
kingtubby
10-16-06, 06:01 PM
I am planning on moving to Chicago by next summer, and will most likely be selling my car before I go. I know a few people there already, and they keep telling me how much they love it. From my experiences there, public transportation (most specifically the trains) can be so-so. I was on my way to O'Hare a couple of months ago, and I think someone jumped into the tracks... I ended up missing my flight and had to hang out at the airport for a few extra hours. I don't think suicide is the fault of the CTA, but I feel like there probably shouldn't have been an hour delay.
Anyways, anyone living car-free in Chicago? I can't wait to join in on the Critical Mass rides and learn the city on my trust bicycle!
Car free for over three years and biking almost exclusively for a year and a half.
Dahon.Steve
10-17-06, 09:18 AM
I am planning on moving to Chicago by next summer, and will most likely be selling my car before I go. I know a few people there already, and they keep telling me how much they love it. From my experiences there, public transportation (most specifically the trains) can be so-so. I was on my way to O'Hare a couple of months ago, and I think someone jumped into the tracks... I ended up missing my flight and had to hang out at the airport for a few extra hours. I don't think suicide is the fault of the CTA, but I feel like there probably shouldn't have been an hour delay.
Anyways, anyone living car-free in Chicago? I can't wait to join in on the Critical Mass rides and learn the city on my trust bicycle!
From what I understand, they don't allow full size bikes during rush hour. However, folding bikes are allowed during rush hour so this opens the opportunity of multi-mode transport.
Yep! Never had a car or a license to drive one in Chicago, although for many years I've had the use of my wife's car when she's going where I'm going :) Now that I have the xtracycle I can return the favor, and drive her places. Chicago is a great bike city; you'll love it. It's a perfect xtracycle city too, being so flat and all. I take my bike on the El when necessary, haven't figured out the trick of mounting it to busses but I'm told it can be done.
As far as O'hare...well, I've missed flights off the Blue Line, too, but traffic accidents are far more common and block the highway just as well if not better. Transport in a big city is in the hands of fate. But for getting around, bikes and trains do it fine in this city.
The bus racks are easy to figure out. I was forced to use one when my BB unscrewed itself. I was concered my bike would bounce out of the restraints as it was just held down by the front wheel.
From the CTA website:
http://www.transitchicago.com/downloads/brochures/biketran.pdf
Bicycles are permitted on trains every weekday except from 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
On Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, bicycles are allowed
on trains all day. If you board the train with your bicycle before the hours listed
above and your trip extends into those hours, the CTA allows you to finish your trip.
If trains are crowded, the use of trains by cyclists may be restricted by the rail
operator as appropriate. Bicycles are not permitted on trains July 3.
I've visited Chicago many times. Never needed a car to get around...
I'ts a great city, I think you'll love it. Give it a try car-free. If you don't like it you can always get a car later...
The only draw back: the werid looks people give you when you tell them that you ride all year round in Chicago. It's as if you're from Mars or something....
I like Chicago a lot. I've been thinking about visiting there again on a long leisure trip, maybe next year.
It would be a nice opportunity to experiment with Amtrak again. Austin & Chicago are on the same route, so no connections needed.
paranurse
10-18-06, 04:57 AM
Just celebrating my fifth year living without a car in Chicago... Love it....
NSJ made a good point... As "liberal" as the socialist republic of Chicago is... People will think you are completely insane if you ride when it's 65 degrees or colder out..... And these are the hippie, granola type, who protest the war, but secretly cannot give up their car addiction... Like most of the U.S.
The HUGE upside is the lakefront bike path empties right out when the first fall chill settles in... I look forward to cold weather so much during the summer, when the path is absolutely horrible....
The straight dope is this:
Live in a dense neighborhood, ie. South Loop, River North, Wicker Park, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville, area's near the lake, etc... Stores, transit, and entertainment are all easier to access if the area you live in is densely populated, plus there will be more of "your kind".
Buy a backpack, get a grannycart for groceries, and if you need a car, rent one from the many car rental places in town...
Never had a problem getting to O'hare or Midway, usually the CTA is decent... And I use it all the time...
vBulletin® v3.7.3, Copyright ©2000-2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.