Help with transite (CTA) in chicago

[ncage]

Ok i know this is going to be a total idiot question for a lot of you that live in a big city. I live in a relatively small city (where i live there is actually no bus service) and the only bus i've ever taken in my life is a school bus. I'm a frequently listen to the vergecast and remember how Josh was talking how inconvenient it was not to have google maps in IOS6 because the transit locations. So the first thing i did was found a map on IOS specially made for CTA (transit stop). I want to make use the transit system because i found out the hotel i'm staying out they don't have unlimited in/out privileges and with parking already $38 a might and most resteraunts parking is going to be around $20 its going to be a heck of a lot cheaper if i use transit.

Ok here comes the STUPID questions.

First of all is buses. After you get on the bus do you just look at the LCD monitor on the bus for the next stop. If its where you want to go then you pull some time of cord that will be dangling by you else the bus won't stop right?

I've heard of transfers how does that exactly work? Is that if your going from said point x to another point y and you have to take 2 buses & 1 train? Do you tell the first train/bus your final destination and they somehow give you something to denote that? I can see if you have a card but if you pay with cash it would be another story. I plan to buy a "Unlimited Ride Card" if i can find a place near the hotel to buy one (hopefully i can) and i think that means i wouldn't be affected because i can go wherever i want in a 24 hour period.

It looks like the trains i chicago are called "Color" line: Blue Line, Red Line, ect.... Do they work similar to buses. You get on and you just look on a LCD for the next stop and just get off?

I've almost embarrased asking some of these questions but if you never ridden a bus or dealt with any type of mass transit how would you know.

thanks.....

P.S. My next stupid question (well not as stupid as this one will be about valet parking).

 

[Miramonti]

No worries. It's not like you're from a small town and asking for deer crossing signs to be moved because the crossing deer are causing a hazard.

I haven't been on chicago transit for a few years so I don't know the lcd thing. Someone else will have to chime in on that.

 

[Ichinisan]

Google Maps is available for iOS through Safari. It has transit directions too.

Despite all the complainers, iOS never lost access to this.

 

[ncage]

Google Maps is available for iOS through Safari. It has transit directions too.

Despite all the complainers, iOS never lost access to this.

Thanks at least i know i have access to that. I was using it from my computer and it looks like its going to become very useful once i figure everything out .

 

[Twista]

im from chicago.

good luck

 

[IronWing]

On the trains they announce each stop ahead of the stop and the name of the station is in view all along the station platform. I don't know if they added in-car signs as well. If you can avoid bringing/renting a car in Chicago, I strongly suggest doing so. If your hotel is near a train station you can get to both airports via train and almost anything else of interest. I used the buses there only a little bit but I don't recall there being any difficulty in doing so.

With transfers you generally have to request one upon boarding the first bus on your trip. If you are getting an unlimited ride card then transfers are moot point.

 

[SKORPI0]

Transitchicago.com

 

[EvilYoda]

Plenty of websites out there to help you...I also suggest just downloading a PDF of the system map or neighborhoods where you'll predominantly be just in case routing/data breaks down. The train/L is very easy to use, shouldn't be a problem. Buses don't always have the LCD on them so just take a look at the path that you'll be on and remember what stop comes before yours (or streets). Bus drivers will help you out if you let them know your situation and then just post yourself right behind the yellow line.

And if all else fails...take a cab.

 

[Sheep]

First of all is buses. After you get on the bus do you just look at the LCD monitor on the bus for the next stop. If its where you want to go then you pull some time of cord that will be dangling by you else the bus won't stop right?

I'm pretty certain all the buses I've been on in the past 3 years have had LCD signs with upcoming stops. Get an idea of the stop or two before yours so you know when yours is coming up. When you see yours, pull the cord to signal the driver to stop. If you're on a popular route, odds are the bus will stop anyway to let people on but the driver might not open the back door if he's not aware people want to get off.

I've heard of transfers how does that exactly work? Is that if your going from said point x to another point y and you have to take 2 buses & 1 train? Do you tell the first train/bus your final destination and they somehow give you something to denote that? I can see if you have a card but if you pay with cash it would be another story. I plan to buy a "Unlimited Ride Card" if i can find a place near the hotel to buy one (hopefully i can) and i think that means i wouldn't be affected because i can go wherever i want in a 24 hour period.

If you get an unlimited pass (they come in 1-day, 3-day and weekly versions--check transitchicago.com), you won't have to worry about transfers. Living in the city I've always had some sort of pass so someone else can clue you in as to how transfers work if you don't have a pass.

It looks like the trains i chicago are called "Color" line: Blue Line, Red Line, ect.... Do they work similar to buses. You get on and you just look on a LCD for the next stop and just get off?

Chicago's trains are in a spoke pattern branching out in different directions from downtown. Most el trains do not have LCD signs showing the stops. Instead the stops are announced over way-too-loud loudspeakers. Be aware that the stop announcements are not always correct, sometimes missing stations or being one station off--the odds you'll encounter this are rare. Make sure to look at the stop map above the doors so you know when yours is coming up. Also, the red line has a few stops that are closed for re-construction right now so make sure to check transitchicago.com to confirm the stops you want are open (the closed stops are to the far north of downtown).