Parking in Wicker Park vs. Blue/Red Lines in the evening? (Chicago: home, live)

[nj21]

Which one is the better option?

Say, if you're going out around 7 pm and returning later in the evening? Maybe around 11 pm or 12 am.

Don't mind paying for parking at all, to be honest..as long as it isn't too expensive.

[Vlajos]

I always say, take a train/bus to your destination and cab home.

[nj21]

Originally Posted by Vlajos

I always say, take a train/bus to your destination and cab home.

Yea, I was considering the cab home. It's only an 8 minute ride by cab/car.

[Drover]

Depends on where you're headed I suppose. Finding parking near the big six-way can be difficult. Outside of that area I've typically been able to find free parking within a block or so of whatever place I'm going to. Since I live right off the Blue Line I end up taking it more often than not, especially now that you can use your phone to figure out when the next train is coming. Before that it would be anyone's guess how long you'd have to wait for a train late at night.

[MassVt]

Originally Posted by Drover

Depends on where you're headed I suppose. Finding parking near the big six-way can be difficult. Outside of that area I've typically been able to find free parking within a block or so of whatever place I'm going to. Since I live right off the Blue Line I end up taking it more often than not, especially now that you can use your phone to figure out when the next train is coming. Before that it would be anyone's guess how long you'd have to wait for a train late at night.

I thought that the Blue Line had time monitors on the platforms now. ( I haven't been in Chicago in a while) I could have sworn that I saw them while standing on the Blue Line Cumberland stop in 2011-12..

[Isotope-C14]

Originally Posted by MassVt

I thought that the Blue Line had time monitors on the platforms now. ( I haven't been in Chicago in a while) I could have sworn that I saw them while standing on the Blue Line Cumberland stop in 2011-12..

Some do, but not all.

Irving Park does not, but many of the closer-in ones do. I'm sure they will be increasing that number more and more as time goes on.

Sadly we have to watch stupid commercials half the time while waiting for transit times.

NO! McDonald's, I ain't eating your crap! No matter how many hours you post that, this is effing Chicago!

[Drover]

Originally Posted by MassVt

I thought that the Blue Line had time monitors on the platforms now. ( I haven't been in Chicago in a while) I could have sworn that I saw them while standing on the Blue Line Cumberland stop in 2011-12..

Some do, some don't. Regardless, I don't want to get to the platform and only then figure out that the next train isn't coming for half an hour when I could have spent that half-hour having one last drink or cup of coffee after dinner or whatever, or if I'm ready to go home now, I know to flag a cab rather than wait for the next train. The point is that the main reason I chose to drive and hunt for parking was to remove the uncertainty of how long it would take to get home if I'm planning to be there late. At 1am, what is a 12-minute drive can be a 45-minute commute if I rely on the late-night bare-bones public transportation schedules. At least now I have a good idea and can plan my departure time and method accordingly.

[marothisu]

The problem isn't cost of parking, it's really that sometimes parking can be difficult to find (not always, but sometimes). Usually it's just easier to take the train or bus, or cab it. And based on where you live, you can always just take the Division St bus there in the least. It's like 15 minutes ride to that blue line stop.