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Old 01-16-2008, 10:10 AM
 
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I have two foreign co-workers who're flying into Midway either this Friday or early next week. Looks like they've studied CTA website and have their mind made up on taking the orange line all the way downtown. They say that by all means they want that unique el train experience and refuse to even think about a cab.

I've never taken el to Midway. And I probably won't be able to make time to check it out myself, since it was kind of on a short notice. So my question is - does anyone know if it's a safe route to take? In terms of safety, would it be equivalent to taking red line from Howard to downtown, or say a blue or brown line downtown?

They would be riding the train either early in the morning or around 3~4 in the afternoon, depending on the flight they choose. One of them is white, another is asian, both are kind of yuppie-looking and rather unfamiliar with American urban realities.
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:16 AM
 
Location: Tower Grove East, St. Louis, MO
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I've taken the orange from Midway several times. I would do it at night, so during the day and as men it's absolutely fine.
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:20 AM
 
Location: Chicago
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I've taken the Orange Line to midway and vice versa many times and have never had an issue.

At the time of day especially, they should be fine. You can always recommend that they ride in the first car to decrease the chance they'll be bothered by the occasional panhandler/youth raising money for their "school's basketball team."
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:20 AM
j33
 
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It is perfectly safe. I've taken it many times to Midway (usually I get on at 35th). I've never had a single problem.
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:20 AM
 
Location: Around Chicago
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Whenever I see questions like these, I always think of that scene in Adventures in Babysitting when the suburban kids are on an el train and get caught in the middle of a gang fight. I wonder if that's the scenario tourists envision when they wonder about their safety on the train.
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:21 AM
 
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Default A Scenic Ride

Yes, the Orange line ride from Midway downtown to the loop is safe and I've taken it. Isn't it out by Midway where the youth was ticketed for sleeping on the Orange line? Perhaps the security does not have a lot to do.

Take this in the best way: Anyone, domestic or foreign, male or female, who does not have enough 'game face' to ride the el in midafternoon should not venture into urban areas. Just my thoughts on the subject.
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:24 AM
j33
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by skye1974 View Post
Whenever I see questions like these, I always think of that scene in Adventures in Babysitting when the suburban kids are on an el train and get caught in the middle of a gang fight. I wonder if that's the scenario tourists envision when they wonder about their safety on the train.
I remember watching that movie with my parents as a suburban kid and we all laughed because we all knew it was BS (I rode the 'el' for the first time alone as a teenager in 1988). But come to find out, people actually thought that is what it was like. Weird eh?
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:35 AM
 
Location: Around Chicago
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Quote:
Originally Posted by j33 View Post
I remember watching that movie with my parents as a suburban kid and we all laughed because we all knew it was BS (I rode the 'el' for the first time alone as a teenager in 1988). But come to find out, people actually thought that is what it was like. Weird eh?
I think the worst I've seen is someone getting their chain snatched while sitting next to the door. One does have to be vigilant and have a "game face" (tm Manigault) when riding public transportation.

"Don't f#$k with the Lords of Hell!"
"Dont f#$k with the babysitter!"
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Old 01-16-2008, 10:42 AM
j33
 
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I did have a disturbing incident back around '91 when I was taking the 'el' down to 95th street for some reason and a guy got on the train who clearly had a handgun sticking out of his trousers. Everyone on the train saw his gun (he made no effort to hide it and appeared very high) and we all nervously started to move to other cars. That is probably the freakiest thing that I've ever seen. But that was a different time.
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Old 01-16-2008, 11:30 AM
 
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Its fine on there and there are cops on the trains so you will be fine.
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