CTA Rant Thread (Chicago, Cicero, Athens: buying, luxury, construction)

[j33]

Originally Posted by july

Seriously people, I'm too impatient to just stand there while the escalator slowly inches along. In DC, the left side was always for walkers, so that's what I'm used to.

That's fine, but realize that there are many reasons why one would not walk up an escalator, and they are not all because that person is lazy.

I remember having a sprained ankle that hurt like hell when I walked on it, but I still had to take the 'el' to work, and I absolutely stood still (and off to the side) on the escalator, and didn't feel bad about it for one minute.

[browneyedgurl]

Originally Posted by j33

That's fine, but realize that there are many reasons why one would not walk up an escalator, and they are not all because that person is lazy.

I remember having a sprained ankle that hurt like hell when I walked on it, but I still had to take the 'el' to work, and I absolutely stood still (and off to the side) on the escalator, and didn't feel bad about it for one minute.

I agree. I have a knee that snap, crackles, and pops at the easiest of movements. No more jogging, no more dancing, nothing. It's at the point where long periods of standing is too much now (and I'm 23, imagine what I'll be dealing with in a few years). Sometimes I do walk up the escalator, and when I don't, I do stand to the side, but I honestly feel like if that bothers anyone...oh well. Sounds like a personal problem to me.

[Chicago60614]

Originally Posted by july

I always thought the rule was that the left side of an escalator is for walkers and the right side is for those who are standing.

Exactly, everyone who's lived in a city anywhere knows that you stand to the right and walk on the left. This is mostly true for public transit, as I very rarely see it in stores or other "calmer" areas. It's pretty universal everywhere, I've been in South America, Europe or all over the US, and everyone in transit systems naturally stands to one side and everyone walks up the other.

I'm talking about people who stand right in the middle with one hand on the left rail and one hand on the right when they could easily just move to the side. More often, though, it's two people who are babbling and standing next to each other as 1-5 people come storming up on the left, yet they just glance at everyone and keep talking. It's pretty obvious everyone wants you to move. I don't know how you could use CTA more than 5 times and not realize that unless you're using one of those skinny escalators, you always stand to the right. If it's a mini one like North/Clybourn or Clark/Lake going up to the brown line - well than that's obviously different cause it's so small you couldn't possibly pass...

It's obviously not a big big deal or anything, but it's just a pet peeve when people refuse to follow those litte social laws we all do for one another...

[july]

That's fine, but realize that there are many reasons why one would not walk up an escalator, and they are not all because that person is lazy.

I didn't mean to imply that anyone was lazy, so if it came off that way, I apologize.

I don't see the problem with standing to the right to allow people to pass on the left. That way, everybody is happy. The people who don't want to walk don't have to, and those who do want to walk can.

[tomasvzqz]

Originally Posted by dragoro

Nope escalators aren't meant to be walked on.

I disagree. I think an escalator is meant to get you there faster. It's not a ride, like Seinfeld said. I think it's ok to stand on the right if you have knee/health problems, but leave room on the left for those who are healthy and don't feel like getting on a ride and just stand there.

[Sailaway50]

CTA "event" yesterday. My new favorite. Barf on the blue line at Forest Park right before the train is supposed to take off at rush hour (projectile) and when the security guard comes on the train (yes, there actually WAS one), tell her in detail how you just got out of the hospital and how sick you were (are?).

Nice. Exodus to next car. Which smelled like formaldehyde.

[Avengerfire]

$67 Million to rebuild a perfectly functioning subway station? What in the world is going on at the CTA,city,and state governments?

Yeah, I know, it is dumb question.

Downtown CTA stop to get $67 mil. facelift :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Transportation

[Chicago60614]

^ yeah, that's crazy. It's mostly federal funding, along with $1.4 million from the city and some from state.

I know they're just doing it cause it was a FILTHY and uglny station, and it's in a high tourist/visitor area, but still.... $67 million??

[supernerdgirl]

^^ hey, at least that one isn't the CTA's fault, since the Chicago DOT owns the subways..

and... what?: Floyd Long, 27, a chef who commutes to Grand from the South Side, said he thought the money would be better spent elsewhere. "The Red Line is perfect — the station looks fine to me,” Long said. “It’s the Green Line that needs it. Those stations are old.” ah, well, I bet he never makes it far enough north to see the north side red line stations.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by supernerdgirl

^^ hey, at least that one isn't the CTA's fault, since the Chicago DOT owns the subways..

and... what?: Floyd Long, 27, a chef who commutes to Grand from the South Side, said he thought the money would be better spent elsewhere. "The Red Line is perfect — the station looks fine to me,” Long said. “It’s the Green Line that needs it. Those stations are old.” ah, well, I bet he never makes it far enough north to see the north side red line stations.

No kidding. Most of the stations past Addison need alot of help. I believe it cost on average 10-15(which still is a crapload of money-its hard to believe it costs that much when the stations were not even being worked on 75% of the time they have been out of service!) million for each normal sized (not including Belmont and Fullerton of course) Brown line elevated station to be redone. I know this is a ballpark guesstimate but at least 3-6 Red Line elevated stops could have been redone with the same amount of money it will cost to do one subway station!