Owning a car and parking in Chicago? (Rockford, Madison: loan, home)

[oakparkdude]

I'm not a resident of Naperville, but from what I've heard, Metra parking lots in Naperville fill up by 7AM and there is something like an 8 year waiting list to get a parking permit. There are Pace buses that funnel people from remote parking lots to the Metra station.

Regarding parking in Chicago, probably about 20% of Chicago (by area) is high-density where parking is difficult and expensive. These areas mostly extend from the Loop along the north lakefront. Outside of these areas, population density falls dramatically making parking much less of a headache. Granted, the areas with difficult parking tend to be the areas people want to live in, but by no means is all of Chicago a parking nightmare. Much of the northwest, southwest, and south side of Chicago is comprised of low-density single family homes with garages which were built within the past sixty years or so.

[jessiegirl_98]

Originally Posted by KevK

Chicago City Of will always charge alot to park.

Not necessarily. I lived in West Lakeview the past two years and parked within 1/2 block of my apartment every time for free. I think this has been covered in a number of threads. Again, here's the summary: If you want a car, fine. You can either pay for parking or live in a neighborhood with easy street parking. If you don't want a car, you don't need one. It's your decision. Lastly, (this has been covered a million times) but I parked in Chicago for 6 years and never got a ticket. Just read street signs, use common sense and you will be fine! Only one of my friends ever got tickets, but she seemed to think that "no parking" signs and yellow curbs were just suggestions.

[jcp123]

Originally Posted by coldwine

California is a beach state. Of course they use sand. Here in Illinois we almost share a border with Michigan, which has some of the largest salt mines anywhere on the planet (or maybe it's Indiana or one of those states, I know we're located almost right next to the mines). Obviously we do not have beaches, our coast is mostly concrete

True, it's not that salt doesn't make sense economically...I was just surprised more than anything that other states hadn't switched as well. As far as salt damage goes, I think you might even be able to make a pretty solid economic case for sand, too.

[Attrill]

Originally Posted by jcp123

True, it's not that salt doesn't make sense economically...I was just surprised more than anything that other states hadn't switched as well. As far as salt damage goes, I think you might even be able to make a pretty solid economic case for sand, too.

Salt isn't used everywhere in Chicago. They're experimenting with a corn based spray in some sections of the city and use magnesium chloride if it's really cold. Sand is used in any areas that are close to flower boxes, since salt spraying up from traffic poisons the soil in the planters. I think you would be OK driving your car when the roads aren't wet and getting it washed a little more frequently in the winter.

[KevK]

Originally Posted by jcp123

As troubling to me as the parking costs is the salt that Illinois still uses (I actually didn't know anyone still used salt...CA quit using it years ago in favor of sand which seems to work quite well even in the Sierra-Nevada mountains). That stuff is a car body's worst nightmare.

I'm thinking about moving there, but my daily driver is a show-winning, lovingly restored '67 Mustang convertible and I CANNOT afford to nor will I accept having any salt damage on her. Sadly, I'll probably have to relegate her to fair-weather duty and get a beater to drive in winter.

You are right and Chicago just goes salt crazy. They don't just dump it on the streets but they come in these big ass trucks that spray it all over everything- roads, sidewalks, buildings and people walking. If the truck comes by and you get hit by the salt flying out of it, it actually stings your skin! It gets all over your clothing and shoes and looks like crap. I don't know why they cannot just use a dumper that confines it to the street.

[jcp123]

Well, in any case fighting it is like chasing windmills - I'll just get a craptacular old beater and say farewell to the Mustang for the winter seasons. Hopefully the alternatives Attrill will catch on, though.

[desibear]

Originally Posted by jcp123

Well, in any case fighting it is like chasing windmills - I'll just get a craptacular old beater and say farewell to the Mustang for the winter seasons. Hopefully the alternatives Attrill will catch on, though.

That's exactly how I do it. We have two cars but, like you, I love my extremely impractical coupe (which I would never take out on salted streets either..hell, it hurts me to drive it when it rains) which necessitates the wife's makes-all-the-sense-in-the-world econobox sedan. Of course, you gotta pay to play, and so I happily fork over $500/month for the pleasure of parking (indoors). So, moral of the story, bring the 'Stang, get a crapola, and accept the fact that you will pay should you choose to reside in the gold coast/streeterville/river north areas.

[jcp123]

Well, due to some other factors, I'm planning on living in the 'burbs anyway, but the salt issue would still apply, no?

[Windy City John]

Dump the car, save on gas, insurance and parking! Live in an nice city neighborhood with the extra $400/month!

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Windy City John

Dump the car, save on gas, insurance and parking! Live in an nice city neighborhood with the extra $400/month!

For sure. I have not owned a car in since 1999.