Owning a car and parking in Chicago?

[HockeyFan]

Interesting discussion. I forgot about carsharing, that seems more reasonable than high rental car rates!

For me, I'd find it too confining to be without a car (I'm actually a passenger in a car on the way to a game in Rockford as I type this), but I can see where you would survive without one if travel wasn't a high priority.

[CarolinaBredChicagoan]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

Interesting discussion. I forgot about carsharing, that seems more reasonable than high rental car rates!

For me, I'd find it too confining to be without a car (I'm actually a passenger in a car on the way to a game in Rockford as I type this), but I can see where you would survive without one if travel wasn't a high priority.

I might add that for many, many transplants to Chicago who aren't from the immediate area, there's not a whole lot of a reason to go out of town. I mean, there's nothing wrong with Rockford, but it's hardly a hotspot. If you don't have friends in those places, there isn't a whole lot of reason to go...

My only point in saying that, is to say that the reason a lot of people in the city don't bother with cars is that they don't see there as being all that many places to drive to with great regularity.

[IloveLoganSquare]

You'll find Chicago has more of a centre to it then most cities, the closer you get to that center (I view it as around Rush and Division) the more expensive things get, with certain exceptions. (Streeterville) As things get more expensive and crowded, the Squarefootage becomes housing, not parking, and parking becomes a hot commodity. Same with New York. If you want a place for $800-1000/ month you can get a studio in the center I described. If you want a one bedroom you will end up out in Lakeview or Bucktown, or probably much further even. Which is OK because those neighborhoods do NOT have your described parking issues. Wrigleyville is another important exception, for a fun afternoon in Wrigleyville try driving during a Cubs game. I bet people just give up trying to park and watch the game because of it sometimes...

Finally, check with your insurance company before you move here. Typically they will try to raise the crap out of your insurance for the first six months. I had mine TRIPLED, last time I moved here (Geico). The time that I moved here before that it went up 50%. I switched to AIG and got a lower rate.

Originally Posted by Hungry For Cheese

Well I live in northern Los Angeles...we ALL need cars here and we don't pay for parking (for the most part, 95%) and can all park at our homes, apartment streets and usually inside the apartment complex.

From reading this it would seem Chicago has terrible parking conditions with $200/mo to rent a spot just to leave the car.

Is is reasonable to rent an apartment somewhere that includes parking...say $800-1000/mo for a 1br with an assigned spot on a gated lot inside the complex? Or is that now how Chicago does it?
I'm thinking about moving there eventually, but bought a much needed new car here that I plan on keeping for 10 years and using daily.

Can I live in a suburb apt with parking readily available for free? Houses have to have garage, street parking and driveways right?
If I commute to a job, do they have parking lot that is free for employees?

The city comes across and anti-car and the people as heavy public transportation users.

[CAG13]

You definitely do not to have a car in the city. Public transportation has a lot to offer. In fact, I suggest not trying to drive around in the city considering how traffic is. Chicago is making good strides for improving their transportation as well. In fact, I found out that their is a new railway being built...
ChicagoWord » Chicago to be the hub of nine-state, high speed network.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by CAG13

ChicagoWord » Chicago to be the hub of nine-state, high speed network.

...

[jlawrence01]

Originally Posted by HockeyFan

For those without cars -- how do you visit friends in the suburbs? Take a day trip? Go to Michigan for a weekend? Go to a remote sports event? Those are huge things to me anyway. Are those things you sacrifice?

You can generally rent a car from places like Hertz Local Edition for <$10 per day as long as you avoid the airport locations. You save on taxes if you head to a location outside the city (like Park Ridge).

[supernerdgirl]

Originally Posted by CAG13

You definitely do not to have a car in the city. Public transportation has a lot to offer. In fact, I suggest not trying to drive around in the city considering how traffic is. Chicago is making good strides for improving their transportation as well. In fact, I found out that their is a new railway being built...
ChicagoWord » Chicago to be the hub of nine-state, high speed network.

Hee, it's a big hope that some of us have, but it's certainly not happening any time soon.