Pink Line to Cicero at Night (Normal, Brookfield: neighborhood, dangerous, bus)

[sammen]

Hello--I moved to Westchester from Indiana--last week! (Thanks for the advice for my move--it's turned out great!) I was considering taking the el to town next Friday--leaving in the afternoon--coming back around 11:00PM. I see I can park at Cicero--54th and Cermak--and take the pink line to where I want to go. But--I looked at the park 'n' ride situation and the problem= there are so few places right by the station that thye look usually full. There are more spaces in the "Park 'n' Ride" lot that is a short walk away. But that walk is through an alley at night. I'll be with my husband--but we're kind of old folks (62). I've heard the pink line is pretty safe--compared to the other el trains from this directions. But I'm wondering if that little walk is cool--it looked a little seedy . .I should say that I'm not a paranoid, frightened kind of old white lady (even though I'm very pale!) and have no weirdness about diversity. (My neighborhood in DC was about 1/3 each Hispanic, African-American, and whiteys, and really safe. I just don't want to be STUPID.
Sharon A.

[chet everett]

Sharon:

If you just don't want to hassle with parking in the Loop I would really recommend taking a Metra train from LaGrange or Western Springs, the drive to those towns from Westchester is a heck of a lot more efficient than trying to put-put all the way to Cicero.

If you are trying "explore" the CTA I would recommend first checking out the Blue Line from Forest Park -- to get to the fairly modern terminal off of DesPlaines is actually easier than getting to Cicero as you just take DesPlaines Rd up from its intersection with Cermack which is a quick drive as it mostly skirts cemetaries and Forest Preserve...

If still want / need to go via the Pink Line it is not truly "dangerous" so much as generally not as well traveled at the Blue Line and it is arguably still effected by some of the least "redeveloped" sites on the west side in the Lawndale area... There was a thread a little bit ago about "where not to go on the Red Line" and I cautioned that it is not so much there are violent thugs on the trains (as most gang bangers seem to prefer traveling by personal vehicle instead of public transit) but that the various stops along the route have a real dearth of things nearby to recommend them -- same thing really applies to Pink Line until you get Polk St where the UofI hospital is...

[sammen]

Thanks , Chet--I had heard that the blue line from Forest Park was dangerous at night---but maybe not? If I could park there and go to the loop and come back--that would be cool. (I mean by midnight--not 2 or 3 in the morning!) The metra is a good idea too--it just seems a big hike from the metra to the downtown el--but I could be confused! I did park at Brookfield for free when I visited and "metrad" in and out of town--seemed pretty easy. ANy more advise of any type is appreciated--you are a great/my favorite source! Sharon A.

[chet everett]

I don't think the Blue Line is any more "dangerous" -- the fact is that the since the line runs right down the middle of the Ike it is always super "exposed" and easy for cops to get to should any thugs make trouble for anybody. The parking at the Forest Park Terminal is mostly OK and the terminal itself pretty much always has a bus or two hanging arouind so that means more eyes to watch over the area...

[ToriaT]

Normally if I am downtown I just get a cab to go to the metra station, I don't walk. Its not that expensive.

[Lookout Kid]

The Pink Line is definitely worse than the Blue Line in terms of safety. At least there are people on the Blue Line.