Finding an apartment: proximity to bus and El stops - which is more important? (Chicago: sublet)

[queenjaneappx]

Hi everyone,

I am wondering how necessary it is to live within walking distance to an El stop. I have never been on the CTA buses before - are they just as easy to get around as the El, or is it more of a hassle, or even more dangerous?

I will be in Chicago this summer for an internship. I have been spending a lot of time looking for an apartment to sublet (mainly in the LP, Lakeview, Wrigleyville areas, also considering GoldCoast). I seem to be finding a lot of places in my budget that are closer to the Lake, meaning my only transportation option is buses. I know I can easily get to the Loop on express buses. But how easy is bus transportation to get around other places in the city? For example if I wanted to visit friends in other neighborhoods, be traveling later at night, etc.

I would appreciate any thoughts on the bus vs. train situation and how much it should affect my decision of where to live. Thank you so much!!

[Intergalactic]

Between the Lake and the Red Line on the North Side is close enough to the El (except Lincoln Park, which is an extremely desirable neighborhood, and the Gold Coast, from which you might as well walk to the Loop). Close to the Lake is also close to things to do at night. Close to the Lake is safe (south of Uptown, at least). Express busses from the North Side are safe. Busses in safe neighborhoods are safe, if slow.

How is it that are you finding places "in my budget that are closer to the Lake" when the closer one gets to the Lake, the higher the rent is, usually?

[surlycue]

I tend to use the bus more often than the train because I commute east-west. I find the buses here to be clean and efficient enough. The only problem is that most do not run 24 hours and the ones I am on regularly stop around 11:30 at night so anytime you need transportation after that you will need to catch a cab.

[Bone Saw]

I think it's better to live near an L than a bus route.

In my opinion, the L is the heart of Chicago's rapid transit system. They've added or extended L lines over the years but I don't recall ever seeing additional bus lines.

Minor bus routes are more vunerable to being totally axed. L service could see reductions but the odds of an L line totally being axed is slim unless they want to go so far as to tear down the tracks.

You can travel faster and to a broader range of places by L.

[Kevin J]

Here's what you need to know:

1. If you live near the lake and want to do almost any east-west travel, it's going to be on a bus anyway, even if you live near the el (the exception: going from Lakeview to Ravenswood and Lincoln Square).

2. The corollary of #1 above: if you live on the north side, the el is only useful for going north and south. So if you're in Lakeview and have friends in Andersonville or Rogers Park, the el is the best way to get there. Friends in Wicker Park or Logan Square? You'll be on the bus.

3. Generally, the key factor in safety on the CTA isn't train vs. bus, but where you wait for or get off the train or bus. For example, whether you take the train or bus to Broadway and Wilson in Uptown, you still have to walk around in a very shady area.

All of this being said, if you're only going to be here for 3 months, this isn't really a big issue to worry about. I would find a place that's convenient for your other primary needs: getting to and from work; everyday amenities within walking distance; and the price you want to pay.

[Lookout Kid]

There are a few lakefront locations on the North Side where the express buses are very convenient--probably more so than the "L". I live in one of these locations, Buena Park, where the 136, 144, and 148 all go express right at Irving Park Road. Many people in Edgewater will take the 147 in lieu of the "L" as well. And people in East Lakeview north of Belmont like the 135, 145, and 146. South of Belmont the 151 is more popular. Otherwise, it's good to be close to the "L".

While I do take the bus quite a bit, I'm still only 2/3 of a mile from the Red Line, and I think it's always good to have your options. For instance, if there is bad weather and Lake Shore Drive is crawling, I'll take the "L". And if the Red Line is having issues, I have another option.

Note that all of my comments are regarding a commute downtown and back.

[emathias]

Personally, I think that since the CTA implemented the BusTracker system to the majority of their routes it is now as easy and maybe even easier to ride the bus than to ride the "L". The "L" is marginally more reliable for rush-hour commuting, however the lakefront express buses are still quite reliable for that, too. The "L" is better anytime traffic is going to be crazy, like for special events or on busy shopping weekends.

Otherwise, though, the buses are fine -especially used in conjunction with BusTracker.

CTA | Bus Tracker

or from your phone/mobile device:
Choose Route

That said, I chose to live beteen the Red and the Brown lines in River North because I like being able to walk to work and also because if the CTA ever runs into a big budget crunch, the "L" will probably keep running but who knows about any given bus route. For your purposes, that won't matter - for the summer, the CTA will be fine. But since I was buying, that factored into my location decision.