Chicago Card (Plus) or 30-Day Passes? (credit card, transfer, live)

[wellmabt]

I am moving to the Wrigleyville area later this month and will be using the El to get to downtown for work each day. Should I get a Chicago Card or the 30-day passes?

The 30-day passes are $75 ($2.50 a day) whereas the Chicago card is $1.75 per ride. Since I'll be using the El a minimum of twice a day, 5 days a week (but likely much more), it seems the 30-day passes are a better deal. However, when I was in Chicago last summer for a couple of weeks, it seemed that many, many El riders had the Chicago card. Am I missing something here? Is it just a convenience thing?

[chet everett]

If you are truly using the system daily the monthly pass is a better deal. If you take off some time the value "disappears" while the Chicago Card is a stored value deal -- technically the stored value cards are transferable/shareable while monthlys are one user only...

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by wellmabt

I am moving to the Wrigleyville area later this month and will be using the El to get to downtown for work each day. Should I get a Chicago Card or the 30-day passes?

The 30-day passes are $75 ($2.50 a day) whereas the Chicago card is $1.75 per ride. Since I'll be using the El a minimum of twice a day, 5 days a week (but likely much more), it seems the 30-day passes are a better deal. However, when I was in Chicago last summer for a couple of weeks, it seemed that many, many El riders had the Chicago card. Am I missing something here? Is it just a convenience thing?

You can get the monthly pass through the chicago card.

That's the best way to go if you're going to be using it beyond the twice-a-day commute.

[alwaystraveling25]

Hello,

I have the "Chicago Card Plus" (only difference between the regular and the Plus is that it is linked to a credit card), and I started out with the pay per use. Now that I am permanently working here and not traveling, I switched it online to "30 Day Pass". You will DEFINITELY want to get the CCP, since all you do is touch the touchpad with your card, instead of having to swipe the car in and out everytime, it saves so much time!

If you go to chicago-card.com you can read about it and manage your account online. It really could not be any easier.

You will love it! I live right by there, and even though there are some headaches, it sure beats paying 17 dollars a day to park at work!

[Thepreacherswife]

I think the CCP has several advantages over a 30-day card.

First, as jdiddy said, you can put your monthly pass on the CCP. You can always change your mind and go back to pay-per-use.

Second, if you lose your CCP or it's stolen, CTA will freeze the card and issue a new card with your previous balance intact (less a $5 replacement fee). If you lose your 30-day transit card, I think you're SOL.

Third, if your employer offers transportation benefits (like WageWorks or something similar) you can have the monthly $75 pass cost (or whatever amount you choose) taken out of your paycheck pre-tax.

Fourth, if you set up your CCP as a monthly pass, you can still share the card with others in your traveling party for the normal $1.75 per ride cost (passback).

It's a pretty good system, especially if you plan to ride more often than twice a day.

[scarletneon]

if you get the CC, be sure to protect it well or it will break at random.
I learned that lesson really quickly.

take care of it, baby it, and it will be nice to you.
if you just throw it in your back pocket or put it next to any sort of card it doesn't like, it will stop working.
it also does not like Chicago winters.

Also, regarding losing one, if you have it set to 30 day I don't think it will "recover" the days that you've lost it for. For example, if it reloads on the first of the month, and you lose it for 5 days in the middle of the month, it's going to reload 27 days after the first regardless. And you will lose it for a few days because apparently they have to send a new one in the mail? I don't think you can just pick up a new one at CTA HQ.

[Avengerfire]

Just get a weekly pass every week. $20 a week.

[Chicago60614]

^ but isn't it cheaper to get a 30 day pass?

30 days for $75
28 days for $80


I just do the 30 day pass. I tried switching to just loading $75 on pay per use (my company puts $75 on the 1st of the month), and it would give me $82 loaded with the bonuses. I still spent more than $82 per month just using it to go to work and back and then wandering around after work or weekends.

[Avengerfire]

If the 7 day or 30 day is lost or stolen you are not covered and I would rather lose 20 bucks than 75.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

If the 7 day or 30 day is lost or stolen you are not covered and I would rather lose 20 bucks than 75.

If you have the chicago card, you can just call the CTA and transfer the balance to the new card they mail you, which comes pretty quickly. Mine came in 3 days last year when I lost my wallet on a CTA bus.