Driving to UIC from Oak park (Chicago, Forest Park: construction, school, safe)

[exciting]

Hi, guys

How long does driving to UIC take from Oak Park, around 8:30am and 5:00pm? The mapquest gives about 20 minutes, would doubling it be enough to account for traffic?

I am considering Metra as well, but it only goes to Transportation, another 15-20 minutes walk from UIC campus. The blue line is also a possiblity, but I hear that it is not reliable and crowded.

Your help is appreciated!

exciting

[boe75]

Drive to Forest Park Blue Line station, drop your car off at the parking lot, and take the Blue Line to UIC-Halsted. It's safe during rush hour. Sure as hell beats the Eisenhower with construction underway.

[kindrakindra]

Green line and switch to pink at Ashland. Certainly safe during commuting times. The drive would be about 30 minutes in average bad traffic, I would guess.

[Lookout Kid]

That's an easy commute with many options. You've got the Ike, Roosevelt Road, Green Line to Pink Line, and the Blue Line. I wouldn't worry about taking the Blue Line at those times at all. It's pretty reliable... I'm not sure where you're getting your information. If one train has a problem, another one will come by shortly.

[chet everett]

Lk and I are on the same page with this one -- as there are LOTS of streets that flow pretty well east-west as well plenty of places that make the north-south adjustments the drive might be very close to the google estimate, even on Ike you gain the fourth lane at Austin so that aids traffic flow.

Should you want to take transit that is going to be generally ok during rush hours, as the stations on Ike Blue line are far enough apart that you get decent service...

[AuDiBelle]

Very easy commute, driving or on the Blue Line. People would kill for that commute, especially given that you have the option of public transportation too.

[adele115]

It's all been said here; the commute is easy compared to most Chicagoland nightmares. Current construction reprieve has made that commute even easier during rush. If you can park at UIC (as an employee or student) driving is super easy, and you can get there in 10 minutes once you're on the Ike. Blue line is a breeze and an entertaining collection of characters. Side streets are also an option. Most will envy this commute!

[hexm26]

Being petite, if I take the blue line during rush hours, would I be squashed? Would I be robbed, phone or purse etc?

I saw some complaints on CTA reviews about unreliable service for blue line. Some say that it may take more than 30 minutes at times for a train to come. I guess that is not between Oak Park and UIC, but to the north.

[Lookout Kid]

Originally Posted by hexm26

Being petite, if I take the blue line during rush hours, would I be squashed? Would I be robbed, phone or purse etc?

I saw some complaints on CTA reviews about unreliable service for blue line. Some say that it may take more than 30 minutes at times for a train to come. I guess that is not between Oak Park and UIC, but to the north.

It's unlikely you would be robbed during rush periods (though not entirely impossible). Basically, if you've got a $700 iPad, don't use it on the western branch of the Blue Line. Use your $180 Kindle instead.

Lot's of small people ride the "L" every day without being harmed in any way. Being small may actually help you find a space that's more comfortabe on a crowded train. And with the Blue Line in Oak Park, you're near the end of the run so you should be able to get a seat.

It would be pretty unusual for you to have to wait 30 mintues for a train. It could happen on an off day with some sort of terrible mechanical failure, but hundreds of thousands of people use the CTA to get to school and work every day.

[chet everett]

Actually the ridership for the west side blue line is very low, with even the most well used stops having just over thousand or so ridders per weekdayhttp://www.transitchicago.com/assets...ts/2009-12.pdf