chicago card and city parking question (credit, zoned, job)

[amy_cate]

hey guys,

two quick questions from your new neighbor. you all have been so helpful so far that i thought you might be able to answer these for me...

1- is there a city parking permit that you have to get no matter where you park in the city? city parking pass?

2- what is the difference between a chicago card and a monthly unlimited card for the cta?

thanks all. i also realized today much to my dismay that i have to retake the written test at dmv to renew my license..arghhh...!!!!

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

hey guys,

two quick questions from your new neighbor. you all have been so helpful so far that i thought you might be able to answer these for me...

1- is there a city parking permit that you have to get no matter where you park in the city? city parking pass?

2- what is the difference between a chicago card and a monthly unlimited card for the cta?

thanks all. i also realized today much to my dismay that i have to retake the written test at dmv to renew my license..arghhh...!!!!

1) Yes, you have to get a city sticker if either you're plates are registered to the city, or you license has a city address.

2) A Chicago Card can be used as either a pay-per-ride card, or a monthly unlimited. If its pay per ride, you link it up with a credit or checking account, and once your account falls below 10, it reloads it with an amount of your choosing. If you choose to reload in $20 increments, you are given a $2.00 bonus (the cost of one fare and one transfer) when it reloads.
If you choose the monthly unlimited, it will automatically deduct the cost of a monthly pass from your credit/checking account at the end of your 30 day period.

So if you use the CTA mainly for commute to/from work, around 10 times a week, this is the better way to go. If you plan on using it in addition to work, then the monthly pass is the way to go.

Either way, if you're going to use the CTA, get the chicago card. You save a quarter on each fare, which quickly adds up, and you won't find yourself hustling to reload your card at the station as you can hear your train pulling away.

[amy_cate]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

1) Yes, you have to get a city sticker if either you're plates are registered to the city, or you license has a city address.

how much is this card?

LAME.

2) A Chicago Card can be used as either a pay-per-ride card, or a monthly unlimited. If its pay per ride, you link it up with a credit or checking account, and once your account falls below 10, it reloads it with an amount of your choosing. If you choose to reload in $20 increments, you are given a $2.00 bonus (the cost of one fare and one transfer) when it reloads.
If you choose the monthly unlimited, it will automatically deduct the cost of a monthly pass from your credit/checking account at the end of your 30 day period.

So if you use the CTA mainly for commute to/from work, around 10 times a week, this is the better way to go. If you plan on using it in addition to work, then the monthly pass is the way to go.

Either way, if you're going to use the CTA, get the chicago card. You save a quarter on each fare, which quickly adds up, and you won't find yourself hustling to reload your card at the station as you can hear your train pulling away.

well i'm still interviewing now so i am not riding as much as i will when i get a job.

[amy_cate]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

1) Yes, you have to get a city sticker if either you're plates are registered to the city, or you license has a city address.

2) A Chicago Card can be used as either a pay-per-ride card, or a monthly unlimited. If its pay per ride, you link it up with a credit or checking account, and once your account falls below 10, it reloads it with an amount of your choosing. If you choose to reload in $20 increments, you are given a $2.00 bonus (the cost of one fare and one transfer) when it reloads.
If you choose the monthly unlimited, it will automatically deduct the cost of a monthly pass from your credit/checking account at the end of your 30 day period.

So if you use the CTA mainly for commute to/from work, around 10 times a week, this is the better way to go. If you plan on using it in addition to work, then the monthly pass is the way to go.

Either way, if you're going to use the CTA, get the chicago card. You save a quarter on each fare, which quickly adds up, and you won't find yourself hustling to reload your card at the station as you can hear your train pulling away.

what is the difference between residential and city parking permit or are they the same thing? for example, i don't think i need one at my apt or in my area (that i know of) but if i go somewhere else i will...god nyc is so much easier in this regard. and when you get a nyc license from out of state you do NOT need to retake the written test!!

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

well i'm still interviewing now so i am not riding as much as i will when i get a job.

if i'm not mistaken, you can always get a Chicago Card and start it off as pay per use, then switch it over to a monthly one when you're ready.

right? guys? bueller?

i'm not absolutely sure because i immediately got it for monthly since I don't have a car.

[Mel2882]

My roommate told me that to park anywhere in the city, you have to have a city sticker no matter if you are visiting, have out of state license plates, etc., unless you are parking on meter or in a garage. How are visitors supposed to just "know" this if it's not posted?

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

what is the difference between residential and city parking permit or are they the same thing? for example, i don't think i need one at my apt or in my area (that i know of) but if i go somewhere else i will...god nyc is so much easier in this regard. and when you get a nyc license from out of state you do NOT need to retake the written test!!

oh, btw. the written test is super easy. half of it (17 out of 35 questions or something) is questions about signs, like which one of these means railroad crossing? the only kind of tricky ones are ones about the dui laws.

[ahava]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

if i'm not mistaken, you can always get a Chicago Card and start it off as pay per use, then switch it over to a monthly one when you're ready.

right? guys? bueller?

Yes, you can switch at any time. If you have the Chicago Card Plus you can do it online.

[sukwoo]

Originally Posted by Mel2882

My roommate told me that to park anywhere in the city, you have to have a city sticker no matter if you are visiting, have out of state license plates, etc., unless you are parking on meter or in a garage. How are visitors supposed to just "know" this if it's not posted?

If your car has plates which are registered with a city address, you need to buy a city sticker. The suburbs generally have similar stickers as well. Its basically just a way to tax automobile owners. If you're from out of town, with out of town plates, you don't need a city sticker.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by sukwoo

If your car has plates which are registered with a city address, you need to buy a city sticker. The suburbs generally have similar stickers as well. Its basically just a way to tax automobile owners. If you're from out of town, with out of town plates, you don't need a city sticker.

Exactly. Vistors don't need it. You only get a ticket if: 1) your car is registered in Chicago, and/or 2) you drivers license has a Chicago address. Otherwise, you don't need one.
Now, if you are visiting in a permited parking zone, you need a vistors pass. These are clearly marked (e.g., no parking except residents from 6pm to 6am, etc). People who live in these zoned areas can get cheap vistor passes from the alderman.