Chicago is an amazing city to live in, and my favorite city to live in. I'm so lucky to live in a place with a public transportation system, but the Chicago Transit Authority definitely has it's ups and it's down. Here are the best and the worst things that any Chicago community is always ready for.
1. The love/hate relationship you have with Ventra.
Do I love that the CTA is no longer cash only? Yes. Is Ventra mostly a pain in the ass? Absolutely. No one will forget when they first made the switch to Ventra, and your money kept disappearing off of your Ventra card without even swiping it.
2. When you make the unforeseen decision to walk onto a urine soaked car.
It is unavoidable; if it hasn't happened to you yet, it's coming.
3. When it's Sunday morning, and the next bus isn't coming for another 40 minutes.
No, seriously it's fine, I have all of the time in the world and no where to be.
4. When you still haven't met anyone who has ridden the Purple line and you question it's existence.
One day you'll find someone to solve the mystery.
5. When you look up the bus tracker and you get that "no available arrival times" bullshit.
It's fine I'll just throw all of my money away on cabs, Uber, and Lyft.
6. The weird stains on the seats of the Blue line.
You are getting off a double, it's late, you can barely keep your eyes open, but you'd much rather stand the 45 minute commute home than sit on the last open seat with the very large, very questionable stain on it.
7. The never-ending Red line construction.
It started before you were born, you thought it was over, and it will still be going on forever.
8. All of the manspreading.
Excuse me sir, please take up one seat instead of four, thank you kindly.
9. When the electricity goes out and your in-between stations and underground and you spend the next 15 minutes convinced that the apocalypse has begun.
Send help please!
10. When you're waiting on the platform forever and three express trains pass you by.
Hello darkness, my old friend.
11. When you're holding onto a poll and you accidentally touch someone else's hand.
And then you make that awkward eye contact.
12. The fact that the Brown line is the best way to see the Chicago skylines.
Who needs to pay for tourist attractions?
13. When the semester is starting so your U-Pass is turning back on.
Bless.
14. When you're making a transfer and the bus is waiting for you when you get off the train.
Okay, so sometimes the CTA can be alright.
