L Questions

[doublesuited77]

assuming of course that those buses will still be running next year. those LSD buses are the first things gone in the 2008 budget.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by doublesuited77

assuming of course that those buses will still be running next year. those LSD buses are the first things gone in the 2008 budget.

Which is really ridiculous, if you ask me. The LSD express buses are always packed to the hilt and take thousands of people off of the "L" and out of their cars. I still think they are putting them on the chopping block because they know that the well-to-do Lakeshore Drive residents will squawk really loud to Springfield.

[Manigault]

I think the problem with the LSD buses is 'passenger miles per dollar'. Since they don't have a lot of on and off they generate less revenue per mile on average than less packed buses on, say, Roosevelt Road. At one time the express buses cost 20 cents more. I could live with going back to that at 50 cents.

[mdz]

Which is really ridiculous, if you ask me. The LSD express buses are always packed to the hilt and take thousands of people off of the "L" and out of their cars. I still think they are putting them on the chopping block because they know that the well-to-do Lakeshore Drive residents will squawk really loud to Springfield.

Bing-bing-bing, we have a winner

[Chicago60614]

The commute is getting better, I took the red line for the first time in months yesterday morning and this morning. I can't believe we actually went FULL SPEED from Fullerton all the way until I got out at Grand. I took it this summer and it was just pathetic crawling along for 30 minutes. I felt like I was downtown 10 minutes after I got on the train - what a surprise!

I wouldn't worry about crime on the northside trains. Of COURSE you have to be aware of your surroundings, but when would you not? I certainly wouldn't WORRY every time you're on the train. I've taken the train every day for 6 years, rush hour, red line, brown line, midnight, 2am, 4am, etc. I've never once even seen anything remotely dangerous or scary. Sure there are insane people and sketchy people - but they mostly just leave you alone if you leave them alone.

Yes stuff DOES happen, but just be aware and careful, it's not too bad.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

The commute is getting better, I took the red line for the first time in months yesterday morning and this morning. I can't believe we actually went FULL SPEED from Fullerton all the way until I got out at Grand. I took it this summer and it was just pathetic crawling along for 30 minutes. I felt like I was downtown 10 minutes after I got on the train - what a surprise!

Here's what I don't understand though -- I don't know what goes on on the Red Line these days, but while the Blue Line does in fact run at full speed from the Loop all the way to Addison during rush hour, that seems to be the ONLY time it does so. At all other times, the trains sneak along the track almost the entire way in both directions because there are always crews all over the place. Well, if the slow zones are in fact fixed and ready for full-speed operation, why are there still crews constantly crawling all over them to such a degree that an otherwise 35-minute commute takes almost an hour if I don't leave at rush hour? It's downright irritating...

[Chicago60614]

^ I think they're still working on everything, but only at off-peak hours. So they have to slow things down when workers are present.

The same thing happens on the Brown Line, it's good in the morning/evening - but on the weekends I take it and there are people all over the tracks working and we crawl along. Sometimes they do single track as well, which REALLY slows things down. I was in Europe all summer and was VERY jealous over their systems that function like they're suppose to...

[browneyedgurl]

Originally Posted by Chicago60614

The commute is getting better, I took the red line for the first time in months yesterday morning and this morning. I can't believe we actually went FULL SPEED from Fullerton all the way until I got out at Grand. I took it this summer and it was just pathetic crawling along for 30 minutes. I felt like I was downtown 10 minutes after I got on the train - what a surprise!

True. I remember a few months ago where the Red Line seem to crawl along so slowly that I thought I could actually feel myself aging, it was so irritating. But lately, it's better. I live in Edgewater, and when I went to take my final yesterday, I got on the train at the Bryn Mawr stop at about 4:52. By 5:30, or 5:35, I was sitting comfortably outside of my classroom at Roosevelt U.