by Aaron M. Renn
Chronicling life riding the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA)
Visit The Weekly Breakdown on the web at http://www.urbanophile.com/breakdown/
According to Metra's latest On the Bi-Level newsletter, the agency is studying the possibility of eliminating the turnstile system for fare collection on the IC/Metra Electric line.
Steve Fester wrote in with this story:
What follows is my experience getting home from work today, Friday 3/10:I boarded a 156 LaSalle northbound at Madison St. at 4:20 PM. The bus was already filling up in the aisle with people, which I thought was strange for being so early in the rush hour. Anyways, I managed a seat, and the bus was jam packed by Lake St.
I awoke somewhere around Erie St. to a dying engine and the lights going off. Our driver informed us that when there is "too much weight" on the bus, the engine shuts off. At this point one passenger quipped in a defensive tone, "What are you trying to say?!?" (that got my and several other laughs.) I've experienced this before on the LaSalle buses (not the old MAN ones) but never had an explanation until today. Fine, I thought. We were moving again within a minute.
But of course it happened again. And again. And people didn't seem to be leaving the bus in any significant number. After the third dead engine, and after seeing 3 other buses pass us, I decided to exit at Division and catch another one. I caught another 156 immediately behind us (passenger count: 6) and we had passed the lethargic other bus within a couple stops.
Arriving at North Avenue, I saw we were stopped at a red light behind a 135. Great, I thought. I'll catch this and get off at Belmont, which is my usual 156 stop. I exit the 156 and walk up to the 135, just as its driver is walking back to the 156 I just exited! The 135's horn was stuck in the "on" (read: blaring) position somehow, and its driver had saught help from the 156 driver. I boarded the 135 anyways, and thankfully the 156 driver was able to silence the beast (ironically, he did it by turning the engine off and then restarting!!) Within 5 minutes I was at Belmont, 30 minutes after boarding at Madison, which is actually pretty good time despite taking 3 buses!
Question for your resident expert bus driver: Is this true about "too much weight" on the bus?? If so, is it only on the newer buses?
A more rhetorical question: Why do I need to take 3 buses to make a 4 mile trip?
I'm just glad I have my monthly pass so I can milk it in situations like this.
The Weekly Breakdown is a small Internet journal devoted to the trials and tribulations of being a regular rider of the Chicago Transit Authority. I would be happy to hear about and include your experiences. Just send mail to breakdown@urbanophile.com. The views expressed by contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of the publisher.
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