The Ride

Best and Worst of the L -- on the radio

Fri, 16 May 2008 16:55:21 -0600

Check out a discussion of the Best and Worst of the L (see Monday story ) on WLUW, 88.7 at 6 p.m. Friday. If you miss it, you can find it in the archives at the Outside the Loop Radio site.

Bicycle Anarchists

Tue, 13 May 2008 16:27:10 -0600

I'm a frequent bike commuter. I think it's great exercise and a great way to clear your head before and after a busy day. I'm frequently irritated by car drivers who think bikes have no right to the road. However, I'm also irritated by bicyclists who think the rules of the road don't apply to them...

Trains v. Planes: An argument

Thu, 08 May 2008 10:33:49 -0600

Ever wonder why there isn't an easier way to get to a city 300 miles away without going through airport security? Train fans, especially those who have seen the efficient train service in Europe, have been wondering for years. Here's a link to an essay on the subject. Go to the April 21 entry under the "Cluster---- Nation" articles. Here's an excerpt:

Acts of Kindness in Transit - Tell Us Your Story!

Thu, 01 May 2008 10:32:17 -0600

Everyone has a bad transit story -- the belligerent bus driver, the train that got stuck for an hour, the delay at the airport.

But how about a few nice transit stories? Did anyone out there ever get a smile from a bus driver that made a bad night better? Or did a CTA motorman hold the train for you as you came galloping down the stairs, and keep holding it after you accidentally dropped your keys on the platform?

TSA officer responds

Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:31:46 -0600

Last week, I did a story about TSA uniforms left unsecured at O'Hare Airport http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/893261,CST-NWS-tsa14.article

One of the responses we got was from a TSA officer, who didn't want to be identified. Here it is:

Where were you when the Blue Line failed?

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:57:05 -0600

If anyone was on the Blue Line today when the trains had to stop in the tunnel, please share your story. The CTA is saying the initial delay was caused by a mechanical failure on a train just north of Clark and Lake, but that the major delay was caused because some people in a train north of the disabled train decided to get off the train on their own, which forced the CTA to turn off power to protect them. If you were there, we'd love to hear from you.

Share your bike commuting stories

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 06:00:00 -0600

Several years ago, I got to visit Amsterdam, where the bike is king. Bike commuting is normal there — you see people in business suits riding bikes while talking on cell phones. There's barely room on some streets for cars, which have to drive slowly and wait their turn.

The Chicago area is not nearly as bike friendly as Holland. But bike commuters here say more people would do it if they just tried it a couple of times...

What CTA Stations Really Need Work?

Fri, 28 Mar 2008 10:25:34 -0600

On Wednesday, the Chicago Department of Transportation gave details of a $67 million project to upgrade the Grand and State subway station. See story here: http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/862231,station032608.article

Certainly the Grand and State station is dingy and dimly lit. But do other stations need the rehab more?

Back on the Bike

Tue, 25 Mar 2008 14:55:31 -0600

It's better than Christmas -- it's Bike Day, the first day after the long, icy, gray, sunless, depressing Chicago winter that it's warm enough to bike to work again. Bike Day varies -- depending on how brave you're feeling. It is March, after all -- you never know what the weather's going to do. It could be 50 and sunny when you leave in the morning and 25 and snowing on the way home.

Move that bag! -- the readers respond

Thu, 13 Mar 2008 17:12:48 -0600

A lot of people responded to my post on whether or not you should speak up on the L. Due to a glitch, the comments didn't get posted. They're on there now -- if you want to check them out. Look under "Move that bag! -- Speaking up on the L"

Video Humor from the Illinois Tollway

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 13:06:44 -0600

It turns out not everybody who buys the I-Pass actually gets around to sticking it on the windshield. Illinois Toll officials say they have seen people just wave it around as they approach the toll arches. To educate the public, the Illinois State Toll Highway Authority has put together an instructional video -- which is hilarious in the way only government-made instructional videos can be....

Move that bag! -- Speaking up on the L

Wed, 20 Feb 2008 10:13:56 -0600

On the Metra, conductors roam the cars, collecting tickets, making sure muddy feet stay off the seats. On the CTA, except for the lonely employee driving the train or the bus, we're on our own. If some tough has his radio on too loud, or is hogging two seats, we have to police ourselves. The question is -- when is a good time to step up to be the L Scold?

It wasn't a bailout for everyone, disabled transit riders say

Thu, 24 Jan 2008 19:34:39 -0600

Even with the mass transit funding bailout passed last week, thousands of disabled transit riders who use
Pace paratransit will still be hit with higher fares beginning Feb. 1, when the cost of the ADA monthly
pass doubles to $150.

The increase angers paratransit users who feel their needs weren’t addressed in the $535 million bailout
bill that kept the CTA and Pace from going ahead with drastic “doomsday” service cuts and fare increases.

Adding insult to injury, they say, was Governor Blagojevich’s surprise move to allow seniors to ride mass transit for free.

What's the big deal?

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:22:33 -0600

The CTA is ordering hundreds of new rail cars that will likely have New York-style aisle-facing seats. The seating configuration creates more aisle space and makes it easier for passengers to get on and off.

But for some reason, many Chicagoans hate the idea.

How come? Does facing your fellow rider make it that much harder to ignore them or something?

RTA seeking ways to improve your commute

Tue, 22 Jan 2008 17:28:47 -0600

The Regional Transportation Authority is seeking suggestions on how to improve transit options for people with disabilities, older adults and reverse commuters.

If you've got a good idea for a capital or operating project that would make the CTA, Metra and/or Pace more efficient while not duplicating existing service, you can apply for federal grant money to make that idea happen.

The RTA is accepting applications for two federal grants worth a combined $6.5 million. One is the Job Access Reverse Commute Program, which focuses on improving transit for low-income and reverse commuters. The other, the New Freedom Program, seeks to add new public transportation options for people with disabilities.

More information will be available at a Jan. 30 open house at the RTA's headquarters, 175 West Jackson Blvd, Suite 1550, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. You can also download a grant application at jarcnf.rtachicago.com.

All applications are due by 4 p.m. on March 20.