CTA Tattler

Cards to give those ignorant riders

Lately I've run across a couple sites that provide us riders frustrated by other passengers' rudeness an opportunity to let them know how we really feel.

First, check out the LiveJournal Chicago El community. Cool photos and tales similar to the ones I tell here, but shared by lotsa folks. One of those folks is Switchblade Susie, who posted these wonderful new "Don't Be Jack" cards.

They are a take-off on the CTA's own campaign for manners, only a little more explicit. Such as: "Don't Be Jack -- Please turn your personal stereo down. You have a bad taste in music, and the rest of us would like not to suffer. Thank you."

Also, I believe it was Gladys who mentioned these cards (in pdf format) here earlier. They are meant primarily to be given to obnoxious cellers. Nice work by Coudal Partners and Draplindustries Design.

Another CTA delay, but a good one: No cuts for now

The CTA board voted unanimously yesterday to delay a 20 percent service cut and 1,000 layoffs until July 1, putting faith in the Illinois State Legislature to pony up some more bucks by then.

Whoo hoo!!!

G-Rod (as the Trib's RedEye like to call him), continues to "push his plan to help transit in part by forcing large corporations to pay $67 million in sales tax on software," The Tribune reports today.

The CTA was feeling quite Santa-like yesterday, indeed. The board yesterday also voted to restore late-night and weekend service on the 54/Cermak (Douglas) branch of the Blue Line.

One ominous note: A CTA vice-president said yesterday that if the state doesn't come through with more cash, the CTA will have to go ahead with the draconian cuts, and raise basic fares to $2.15, from the current $1.75.

More choice political graffiti

This graffiti was written in very neat, 6-inch-high, block letter in black marker. It was strategically placed at standing eye-level in between the last two windows in the car:

F**K

THAT

FAGGOT

GEORGE W.

BUSH

---------

(below window line)

FUCK BUSH

---------

Now people, we really have to get over that election and move. I was as bummed as anyone else, but I keep my markers in my bag when on the train.

D-Day: Decision Day on CTA budget, possible cuts

Today is the day the CTA board meets to vote on the budget for 2005, and whether there will be service cuts next year.

The local press has been sending mixed signals about which way the board may be leaning. The Sun-Times yesterday reported that "Signals from Springfield prompt CTA to delay cuts".

But then the Tribune quoted a CTA spokesman as saying CTA "board members are not comfortable yet with risking deeper cuts in July [by delaying the cuts] in the hope that Springfield will take action this spring."

We'll know soon enough.

Watch this space.

Copper cellers

I boarded the Red Line home a little early -- at about 3 p.m. I saw a Chicago police officer at one end, standing by the door. It was really the first time in a long while that I actually saw police on the train. I see them at stations and all the platform frequently, but rarely on the trains.

Then I looked down the aisle and saw another officer at the other end of the train. Talking on his cell phone. Being the curious Tattler reporter that I am, I moved closer to try to witness some important communications.

He was talking to his friend about what kind of beer he should bring to the holiday party on Saturday.

The bumbling beggar

A blind beggar with a cane enters the first train car through the rear door between cars. He gives his rap at that door: "I'm blind, you gotta help, I need money! You guys look like some good people. Please, help me."

Next he moves down through the car, jostling past people he had just hit with his cane. He would hit and harass... as soon as his cane found a foot, he would do his begging anew. But alas, he collected no cash on his travel through the car.

So he started making his way back down the car. As he got near the rear door again, always sweeping the cane, he approached a young teen girl. I noticed she deftly swung her feet, away from the probing cane. Blind man stopped by her seat, wiggling the cane around her general vicinity. She seemed to be holding her breath, hoping he would leave soon.

But no. He turned around and gracefully lowered his butt on her thighs. Once he felt her, he turned around and began his rap: "Oh please help me! I'm homeless! I'm blind!"

She just spouted out indignantly: "Sir, you SAT on me!"

Outdated CTA signs, ads

If the CTA cleaned up its trains and buses as often as it took down it outdated ads, there would be lotsa dirty trains and buses.

Hey! Wait a minute! Maybe THAT'S why....

I saw three outdated El car ads last night hanging deperately next to each other.

Two were for two different public hearings on the budget and a bus rerouting.

One was for the Museum of Contemporary Arts' Skin Tight exhibit, which closed Sept. 5.

Really makes you question the effectiveness of maintenance overall.

The douche-bag law student

Three law school geeks (sorry Bonnie) on the Red Line are talking shop about various tort and property and contract classes. Boring stuff to non-law-school-goers.

But my ears perk up at the answer to this question: "How are your job interviews going?"

"Ohhh, I must be a big douche-bag because I haven't heard from one firm yet. 'Nope, don't hire THAT douche-bag.' "

And then a little later in the conversation: "I wonder how many years law school takes off your life."

Warning to pole-leaners, coughers and cellers

The New York Times on Friday published a funny column about possible new rules for subway riders -- The City Life: Simple Rules for Riding the Subway (reg. req.) (Thanks for the tip, Greg.)

Columnist Carolyn Curiel noted new rules about not putting your feet up on the seats. (Gosh, what a great idea!)

Then she went on to propose a few new rules of her own:

A hair-raising moment

It's the weekend, when I give over this space to the Best Reader Tattler Tales. This one comes to us courtesy of Christine. (Thanks for sharing, Christine. And be sure to click here to add your own story.)

"I've seen this woman twice now, as I get on the Red Line at Jarvis at about 8 a.m.

"A slight, middle aged woman who is obviously suffering from some level of mental illness sits in the handicapped seats, peering through her glasses at every woman who boards.

"When she sees a young woman with long hair she fancies, she gets up and starts petting their hair, telling them, "You're sooooooo pretty! Sooooo pretty."

"Even more worthy of note than the woman's inability to control her compulsion to touch these young women is their reaction at being petted -- it's obvious the woman means no harm, and the young women always seem to tolerate it with a mixture of sympathy, tolerance and kindness."