I have to agree that taking public transportation is more economical than driving. I visit Chicago several times a year and almost always take advantage of their public transportation, the CTA (Chicago Transit Authority), which includes the train and bus. You can get just about anywhere in the city using public transportation, and the price is very reasonable.
One of the biggest advantages of public transportation is convenience. You don’t have to worry about where you are going to park your car (parking garages and lots are very costly), you don’t have to worry about the cost of gas prices (which are considerably more in the city) because you won’t be driving your own vehicle, and you don’t have to deal with the traffic jams and packed streets (particularly if you are taking the train). Another advantage of public transportation is environmental reasons. The less vehicles on the road, the less pollution there will be.
The CTA has an excellent website where you can find maps, schedules and fares. They also have a trip planner: simply put in your starting and ending destination (using addresses or landmarks) and it will give you several different routes you can take using their public transportation to get where you want to go!
As mentioned, the cost of using CTA transportation is very reasonable. Using a transit card, which can be purchased at 144 CTA rail stations or at more than 600 sales outlets throughout the Chicagoland area, the cost to ride the bus is $1.75 and $2.00 for the train. Transfers are $.25 and allow two additional rides within two hours after the first boarding. If you are paying with cash, the cost is $2 per ride on bus and rail; exact fare only; no change returned. No transfers issued when paying with cash. They offer discounts for visitors to the city, and these cards can be purchased at many sales outlets throughout the area.
Using public transportation is extremely economical and protects our environment. Next time you visit Chicago and want to get around the city, consider using the CTA public transportation system. You can visit their website at: www.transitchicago.com.