Every day of this semester I commuted from the north suburbs of Chicago down to the South Loop. I used to make the trip, which could take me anywhere from an hour to an hour and a half, with a sort of smile on my face, happy to be awake early and on a sort-of adventure away from home every day. However, whether it was the looming stress of finals or the newness of commuting eventually wearing off, the smile was eventually replaced with RBF, which was more appropriate for the attitude you have to have when on any CTA vehicle.
During the time I’ve spent on the trains, most often the Red Line, I’ve learned a lot about what to do and not do to keep my ride as smooth as possible. Based on my experience this semester, here are 10 things you need to know before riding the CTA:
1. No eye contact.
Most people, in general, don’t take kindly to being stared at, but this feeling is exacerbated on trains and buses in Chicago. Commuting in itself isn’t the most comfortable experience holistically, and knowing someone is directly looking at you doesn’t alleviate that.
2. Don’t be loud.
If you can help it, try not to make any extra noise. While most people don’t care if your phone goes off, you need to take the proper measures to understand the noise level of the vehicle— if it was already loud, it probably won’t matter, but if you and your friends decide to disrupt the quiet of the evening, you’ll certainly be getting some nasty looks your way.
3. Stay out of people’s way.
This becomes of utmost importance when the trains are crowded during rush hour. People need to get on and off in a timely manner so the train can get to the next station, so— especially as a standing passenger— if people need to get off, you need to move out of the way too.
4. Be fast.
The train or bus will not wait for you to be comfortable in your seat before it starts moving, so it wouldn’t be a bad idea to immediately grab onto a nearby pole for support as you navigate through space. Not only that, but seats fill up quickly; you need to move fast so people don’t take the spot you had your eye on.
5. Expect the unexpected.
During only a few months of commuting, I’ve seen some interesting stuff. From people taking up five seats to lay down with all of their junk to old ladies smoking in closed train cars, sometimes you’ll see people with little regard for train etiquette, and really, there’s nothing you can do about it because…
6. ...Calling people out won’t work.
Most people who do these things are aware that what they’re doing is wrong, but as long as they’re not harassing you (which, if you call them out, they could do), it’s not necessarily the biggest bone to pick. It’s the CTA, after all, and not a high-class establishment.
8. Breathe deeply at your own risk.
Especially in the winter time, many homeless people will utilize the trains as shelters from the cold. Many times they’ll have their belongings with them as well, which also won’t smell great, and at times, they’ll use the cars as their bathrooms too, leaving noxious odors in the air long after they’ve hopped cars. There’s not much that you as a rider can do about this besides switch train cars and hope that the air is clearer.
9. Your time isn’t more valuable.
The trains and buses in Chicago don’t move as quickly compared to others around the country and no amount of sighing, looking at your watch, or generally just being annoyed will make it go faster. A part of relying on public transportation as a means to get around the city is to understand that there will be delays and other unforeseen problems that will arise, but one has to take these in stride.
10. Personal space doesn’t exist.
Especially during rush hour, people will cram into the trains as best they can despite the conductor’s feeble reminder that there are other trains behind that one that are coming in only a few minutes. At some point, you will be shoulder-to-shoulder-to-shoulder, someone’s backpack will be bumping up against your butt, and you’ll be able to see every grey hair on the head of the woman in front of you. You’ll survive.
Commuting has been an interesting experience to say the least, one that’s definitely more enjoyable in the early morning before rush hour and in summer evenings when the sun is still shining. I’ve definitely seen my fair share of characters and had several scary experiences, but all in all, there’s a certain charm to the CTA buried underneath the grouchy people, grime, and gruffness that speed through the Loop every day.