Co-Lance Videdo

Wed, 13 Oct 2010 16:29:00 -0700

Chicago's Transit System

Tue, 08 Dec 2009 07:13:12 -0800

I leave my house around 6:30am to begin my long journey to work. Normally I catch the El [Chicago's above ground subway - "El" Elevated...you get the idea] to the Metra train, that takes me to a commuter bus, that drops me off in front of my building around 8:10am. Phew... I live in the city and work in the suburbs, a growing trend in Chicago, so I've learned to live with the commute. Now I don't own a car, I think it's kind of wasted money when living in a city, like Chicago, with a great public transit system. Wait, I'm sorry a mediocore transit system. No, actually a pretty crappy transit system. Damn it, why don't I have a car?

Today I started my walk to the El. I thought to myself how awesome it was that I showered, did my hair and ate breakfast without rushing around like a mad woman. The weather was about 27 - 30 degrees and it's snowing, there actually is a winter storm warning that will start at noon and end late Wednesday evening. Needless to say it is wet and cold. I get to the corner where I usually cross the street to enter the El station and I see fire trucks. I think to myself "Huh, the Dunkin Donuts[inside the station] must of had a little fire. Guess I will just get my tea at work". So I continue on my way, take out my El pass and as I try to scan myself in the CTA attended says, "Um you can't go in there". Me, "What? Why? I need to get on in time to catch the Metra train". She casually responds, "The El just caught fire and we had to shut the tracks down so they can work on it". Now I start to think about all the elements here. It is freezing outside, the snow is really starting to come down and the El CATCHES ON FIRE? WTF?!

[A little side note] We had to reroute ourselves every weekend, all summer long because they were "working" on the El. Actually this specific line, including this specific station. That is 21 weekends, 42 days from June - October of "working" on the tracks! Wouldn't you think they'd catch the problem that may cause a fire two months after they've finished "working" on this exact track? What the hell are my tax dollars paying for?! Oh and get this...I call to cancel my dog walker for today and he says this happened last week as well! What?

After calming down I started to look at the bright side of things, it's cold, it's wet and now I am in my sweats working from home. But wait. What about tomorrow? Will tomorrow be the day when I catch the El and I too blow up as we pull out of the station? Honestly, they wonder why the city didn't get the Olympics!? Well lets see...they didn't want athletes from around the world burning alive on your arcaic transit system!

[Breathe]

Though in the end, fire and all I sit and think to myself...it still beats sitting in Chicago traffic.

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A Wise Man Once Said...

Co-Lance Videdo

Chicago's Transit System