Since we’re on a CTA kick today, I thought I’d share with the gentle readers of Yo my decision to avoid the CTA entirely during the warmer weather. For those of us who live in the city without cars, the CTA is a lifeline – I’ve made sure every apartment I’ve rented here has been close to an el stop a bus route, or both.
But it’s a taut, fraying lifeline. I live near the Clark Street bus, which is mostly just fine, except when buses never come, and never come, and then there are three: one of them broken, one only going as far as Foster and one jammed to the gills. I used to prefer the el, but now the much-feared “three-tracking” is underway, repairs to the Brown Line that CTA officials promise will double some commute times at rush hour.
Some say it hasn’t been too painful so far. I’m not interested in finding out. I’m in a bad relationship with the CTA right now – I know it just isn’t capable of giving me what I want, but I stick around, hoping it won’t be that bad. So I’m liberating myself. I’ll borrow cars, walk or ride my bike (check out my sweet ride above).
Check back for future dispatches from the CTA-free front. I’m hoping one of them won’t be from the hospital. As I write these words, two of my colleagues are swapping tales of narrowly missing hitting bikers with their cars.