Torontovibe
Senior Member
Everybody always talks about the distance of the subway system but they never compare the actual stations and what they consist of. Have any of you guys actually rode the Chicago Subway/El?
First of all, almost all of Chicago's subways are above ground and much of it runs along highways, which makes it so much cheaper to build. Only a few stations, (in the Loop) are underground. Those above ground stations must be very cheap to build because they consist of only a wooden platform (think the boardwalk, in the Beaches) and a small section of roof cover. There is usually a small over-head heater in one tiny section. It's a pretty bare bones setup and not very attractive at that. The stations on the redline are about 30-40 feet above the street and in winter, it's cold as hell, with the wind practically blowing you off the platform. I was there in December a few years ago, and rode the subway almost every day for 2 weeks, so I know exactly how cold it gets. We have no subway stations like that in Toronto. When it comes to the design of the subway stations, there is no comparison at all, Toronto's stations are so much nicer and way more comfortable to use. Even New Yorks subway stations are a step up from Chicago's and that ain't saying much. The truth is, they both look pretty ghetto. I'm sure Toronto's subway stations (all underground) cost much more to build. Of course, in that case, you are more likely to have less stations and shorter subway lines. I would not want to see those above ground subway stations in Toronto, unless they are ONLY along highways, like the 401. (but never above streets like in Brooklyn, The Bronx or North Chicago)
Ask people in Chicago if it's a good idea to ride the subway and you will probably get an answer like "HELL NO"! On my first vacation to Chicago, I stopped to ask a guy in a shopping mall, how to get to the subway and the guy replied with "You don't want to use the El, it's only for the riff-raff". Then just this summer, at my hotel, I asked the clerk where the closet subway station was, so I could ditch the car and just use public transit and she told me, to just drive downtown because the subway was too dangerous and that she would never take the El in Chicago. Of course, I did not take her advice because I had used the subway in my previous trips and only had 1 problem in south Chicago but since I was not going to south Chicago, I wasn't too concerned. (and I had no problems at all)
It's easy to get around Chicago on the subway and you almost always get a seat. You do wait longer for a train, especially at Skokie. I waited over half an hour and that was around 10am, (weekday) so it's much longer than I'm used to waiting in Toronto. Waiting 30 mins. outside the Skokie Station in September is not a problem but in December, it was not so nice. On the plus side, the parking was really cheap! I think it was 1 or 2 dollars, for 24 hrs. You can't beat that.
When I think of how long I usually wait for a train in Toronto and compare that with Chicago or New York, I have to say, Toronto does much better. Every time I have taken a subway outside of Manhattan, I always seem to wait a really long time when I take the train back. Whether it's Brooklyn, The Bronx or especially Queens, it always seems to take more than a half hour before the subway gets there. And I'm not talking late at night, either. (6pm to 9pm)
First of all, almost all of Chicago's subways are above ground and much of it runs along highways, which makes it so much cheaper to build. Only a few stations, (in the Loop) are underground. Those above ground stations must be very cheap to build because they consist of only a wooden platform (think the boardwalk, in the Beaches) and a small section of roof cover. There is usually a small over-head heater in one tiny section. It's a pretty bare bones setup and not very attractive at that. The stations on the redline are about 30-40 feet above the street and in winter, it's cold as hell, with the wind practically blowing you off the platform. I was there in December a few years ago, and rode the subway almost every day for 2 weeks, so I know exactly how cold it gets. We have no subway stations like that in Toronto. When it comes to the design of the subway stations, there is no comparison at all, Toronto's stations are so much nicer and way more comfortable to use. Even New Yorks subway stations are a step up from Chicago's and that ain't saying much. The truth is, they both look pretty ghetto. I'm sure Toronto's subway stations (all underground) cost much more to build. Of course, in that case, you are more likely to have less stations and shorter subway lines. I would not want to see those above ground subway stations in Toronto, unless they are ONLY along highways, like the 401. (but never above streets like in Brooklyn, The Bronx or North Chicago)
Ask people in Chicago if it's a good idea to ride the subway and you will probably get an answer like "HELL NO"! On my first vacation to Chicago, I stopped to ask a guy in a shopping mall, how to get to the subway and the guy replied with "You don't want to use the El, it's only for the riff-raff". Then just this summer, at my hotel, I asked the clerk where the closet subway station was, so I could ditch the car and just use public transit and she told me, to just drive downtown because the subway was too dangerous and that she would never take the El in Chicago. Of course, I did not take her advice because I had used the subway in my previous trips and only had 1 problem in south Chicago but since I was not going to south Chicago, I wasn't too concerned. (and I had no problems at all)
It's easy to get around Chicago on the subway and you almost always get a seat. You do wait longer for a train, especially at Skokie. I waited over half an hour and that was around 10am, (weekday) so it's much longer than I'm used to waiting in Toronto. Waiting 30 mins. outside the Skokie Station in September is not a problem but in December, it was not so nice. On the plus side, the parking was really cheap! I think it was 1 or 2 dollars, for 24 hrs. You can't beat that.
When I think of how long I usually wait for a train in Toronto and compare that with Chicago or New York, I have to say, Toronto does much better. Every time I have taken a subway outside of Manhattan, I always seem to wait a really long time when I take the train back. Whether it's Brooklyn, The Bronx or especially Queens, it always seems to take more than a half hour before the subway gets there. And I'm not talking late at night, either. (6pm to 9pm)
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