CTA Tattler

I must say I am surprised that the CTA continues to have ridership increases. February is way past the point where the effects of the economy should have had a major effect, especially considering that Chicago has an enormous amount of financial firms located downtown (which, of course, have had more massive layoffs than any other industry). What is particularly shocking is that there actually were ridership increases at rush hour. Yes, the three-track being over, the elimanations of slow zones on the blue line and the openings of the final brown line stations (other than the two for which being closed has almost no effect on passenger convenience) would have some effect. But I wouldn't think that is enough to offset the economy and the fare increases. And gas prices were certainly not any higher in February than the previous year. Honestly, I am pretty astonished by this. Perhaps the economy is causing people to choose public tranportation over driving more than I though they would.

I think the ridership number for off-peak, and especially weekends is VERY promising. 10% growth system-wide for weekends is amazing! What's even more interesting is that last February our ridership was already increasing, making these numbers even more significant. Like MK, I'm rather surprised. Maybe Chicago is not getting hit as hard as other areas as far an unemployment. Our banking industry relies more on futures trading, which to my knowledge has not been hit as hard as Wall Street. I used to work in a related field and that's what I'm hearing. Heck, simply remaining neutral at rush hour would be good news in this economy, let alone an increase. Perhaps those high gas prices, bad economy has really encouraged people to ditch their cars. And it's Friday, so I'll drink to that!

"(other than the two for which being closed has almost no effect on passenger convenience)"

Such an MK thing to say. Everyone who lives near Paulina is under the age of 60 and disability-free. Everyone going to Illinois Masonic is physically-fit and just going to see their dermatologist.

I'll ask again, MK: where do you live and work, geographically? For some reason you're unwilling to share that information. If I lived at Paulina and Waveland and worked at Chicago and Franklin, for example, I'd think the CTA was the bomb and would be all for slashing the 11 and combining the 36 and 151.

Mike,

I hardly think the closing of these 2 stations has impacted the ridership numbers very much. Most people that would use these stations are either using adjacent stations or using buses. I don't believe you'll see a huge jump in ridership after they re-open. The people who actually used these options before the closures found alternate routes on the CTA for the most part.

Despite gas prices coming down, I think some people have seen that riding the train can save them money. People are pinching pennies, and making more use of public transportation when it's available is one of those ways.

We could test this by comparing it to traffic counts on area roads -- or at least to some extent. The data for road use is nowhere near as complete as for transit ridership as most roads have no permanent counters.

Another last minute thought: If you're a car pooler, and other folks in your car pool get laid-off, what do you do? Take public transportation if you can!

Too bad there are no car pool counters.

Rusty's post has given me a good idea for the CTA to close the budget gap. They should executive produce a new network reality show called "CTA: Extreme Carpool".

I'm still working out the details, but the basic shape of the show would be that teams of contestants have to navigate themselves from one part of the city to another. Imagine the suspense as one team lucks into a Red Line express run through Edgewater, gaining an advantage! Or another team being stuck after their bus breaks down on Lake Shore Dr!

There's also a "scavenger hunt" aspect, in which the teams would have to find a certain number of elements during their travels. You know, doors that don't work, arguments that turn into stabbings, shell game hustlers, people throwing food waste like chicken bones or orange peels on the floor of the bus/train, leaky roofs at new stations, or rare sightings of CTA personnel who make $100k actually riding the CTA.

The best part is that after the first season, you can do "CTA: Extreme Celebrity Carpool," giving Chicago residents the chance to rub elbows (literally, on crowded trains and buses!) with the likes of Billy Zane, Terrell Owens, or one (or more) of the Pussycat Dolls.

I don't see how this isn't a success.

I think that the extremely high prices of gas (by American standards) might have scared people into changing their behavior for the long term -- I'd be surprised if there was anyone thinking, "Oh, well gas prices are back down -- glad those high prices are over and will never ever come back!" People are seeing how much dependence on cars can expose them to major financial trouble, so they're seeking other options. And per the previous thread, increasing service is a great thing to do in a time when structural changes like that are going on -- it makes the city more livable and attractive, at a time when big cities like Chicago are the only places that are even remotely set up so that going without a car is a feasible option.

The only way "CTA: Extreme Celebrity Carpool" could work is if our idiot mayor got out of his taxpayer paid for limo & took the bus or L.

The day I see that is the day the world ends!

He could ride his bicycle and take it on the L.

I keep hearing about how Daley is such a big bicycle fan. Has anyone every seen him on an actual bicycle when it isn't part of a press conference?

http://www.mchenrycountyblog.com/uploaded_images/Daley-on-a-bike-Trib-9--12-7-729756.jpg

He did raise the fines for vehicles cutting off bicyclists a year ago as well.

I was wrong -- the 51 stops at the 47th Red Line, so that'd be more overlap with the Jeffrey Local than I was thinking of.

Sorry, wrong thread.

I think that was from when Daley was in Paris and was touting and suggesting replicating the bike share program the French have. I want to see evidence of normal, recreational bicycling. He wasn't even wearing a helmet. What kind of message is he sending to the children? :P

WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN!!!

Maybe Hizzoner has a brain wave helmet and hot air air bag (from all his tantrums "I'll hold my breath until I get what I want"...).

But yes, not a good role model from Children. At least Gov. Blowdryavitch had a hair helmet.

Bad news for anyone crunched inside of a crowded train, but very good news for the CTA.

Also, I frequently hang out with friends in lincoln square. During the brown line station closures, I would often take my bike. Other times I would walk over from an adjacent station, which could be a long walk from the bars near Irving Park.

On around St,Pat's day large amount of drunk and unruly passengers on the L and Buses were too much,how can Caucasians always complain about drunks and chicken bones when they get on the L's and buses spilling starbucks ,dropping gross food themselves on the transportation system vehicles,talking louder then High schoolers and then look at others as if though their mess dont stink.They also complain about elderly people riding free?,what a crock,If anybody deserves to ride free it's elderly folk!They paid literally millions of dollars in taxes,why attack them?

DOC1958,

http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Book-Grammar-Punctuation-Easy/dp/0470222689/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1237372588&sr=8-3