r/cta

For the bus operators here, how are y’all supposed to deal with people who don’t want to pay the fare?

I used to ride the bus a lot as a student and my experience varied the few times I didn’t have a fare. Some would let you ride a few stops before dropping you off, some would not let me on, and a few would just tell me to have the fare next time.

And now I’ve seen plenty clips of adults getting really aggressive on both sides over someone who doesn’t want to pay the bus fare. I’m just curious what’s the CTA official stance on this.

Thank you for all y’all do. I hope to join as a night shift bus driver once I get my two years of clean driving experience, if it’s not too competitive lol

reddit.com

u/Far-Ninja-8392 — 10 hours ago

▲ 205 r/cta

Day 119 of eliminating L stations

Yes, I know I’m very late, sorry about that, busy guy

• Day 1 results: Berwyn 🔴 eliminated
• Day 2 results: Indiana 🟢 eliminated
• Day 3 results: Pulaski 🟢 eliminated
• Day 4 results: Racine 🔵 eliminated
• Day 5 results: Addison 🟤 eliminated
• Day 6 results: Roosevelt 🔴🟠🟢 eliminated
• Day 7 results: Division 🔵 eliminated
• Day 8 results: Harlem(O’Hare branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 9 results: LaSalle/Van Buren 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 10 results: Conservatory–Central Park Drive 🟢 eliminated
• Day 11 results: Grand 🔵 eliminated
• Day 12 results: Morgan 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 13 results: Davis 🟣 eliminated
• Day 14 results: Belmont 🔵 eliminated
• Day 15 results: Jefferson Park 🔵 eliminated
• Day 16 results: Monroe 🔵 eliminated
• Day 17 results: 43rd 🟢 eliminated
• Day 18 results: Quincy 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 19 results: King Drive 🟢 eliminated
• Day 20 results: Cumberland 🔵 eliminated
• Day 21 results: Kimball 🟤 eliminated
• Day 22 results: Clark/Lake 🔵🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 23 results: 87th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 24 results: Damen 🟢 eliminated
• Day 25 results: UIC-Halsted 🔵 eliminated
• Day 26 results: Kedzie 🩷 eliminated
• Day 27 results: Clark/Division 🔴 eliminated
• Day 28 results: Central 🟢 eliminated
• Day 29 results: Main 🟣 eliminated
• Day 30 results: Damen 🔵 eliminated
• Day 31 results: Harlem/Lake 🟢 eliminated
• Day 32 results: 18th 🩷 eliminated
• Day 33 results: Belmont 🟤🟣🔴 eliminated
• Day 34 results: Southport 🟤 eliminated
• Day 35 results: Chicago 🔵 eliminated
• Day 36 results: Western 🟠 eliminated
• Day 37 results: Wellington 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 38 results: Washington/Wells 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 39 results: Halsted 🟠 eliminated
• Day 40 results: Addison 🔴 eliminated
• Day 41 results: Clinton 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 42 results: Ridgeland 🟢 eliminated
• Day 43 results: Damen 🟤 eliminated
• Day 44 results: 95th/Dan Ryan 🔴 eliminated
• Day 45 results: Cicero 🔵 eliminated
• Day 46 results: Garfield 🔴 eliminated
• Day 47 results: 69th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 48 results: Noyes 🟣 eliminated
• Day 49 results: Western(Forest Park Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 50 results: Damen 🩷 eliminated
• Day 51 results: Sox-35th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 52 results: California 🟢 eliminated
• Day 53 results: Laramie 🟢 eliminated
• Day 54 results: Ashland 🟠 eliminated
• Day 55 results: Central 🟣 eliminated
• Day 56 results: 54th/Cermak 🩷 eliminated
• Day 57 results: Sheridan 🔴 eliminated
• Day 58 results: Paulina 🟤 eliminated
• Day 59 results: Chicago 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 60 results: Clinton 🔵 eliminated
• Day 61 results: Garfield 🟢 eliminated
• Day 62 results: Merchandise Mart 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 63 results: Kedzie 🟠 eliminated
• Day 64 results: Halsted 🟢 eliminated
• Day 65 results: Oak Park 🟢 eliminated
• Day 66 results: Pulaski 🩷 eliminated
• Day 67 results: Dempster 🟣 eliminated
• Day 68 results: Linden 🟣 eliminated
• Day 69 results: California 🩷 eliminated
• Day 70 results: Morse 🔴 eliminated
• Day 71 results: Central Park 🩷 eliminated
• Day 72 results: Argyle 🔴 eliminated
• Day 73 results: Dempster/Skokie 🟡 eliminated
• Day 74 results: Montrose 🟤 eliminated
• Day 75 results: Harlem(Forest Park Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 76 results: Jackson 🔵 eliminated
• Day 77 results: 35th/Archer 🟠 eliminated
• Day 78 results: Francisco 🟤 eliminated
• Day 79 results: 47th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 80 results: Pulaski 🔵 eliminated
• Day 81 results: Kedzie 🟤 eliminated
• Day 82 results: Adams/Wabash 🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 83 results: Monroe 🔴 eliminated
• Day 84 results: Kedzie-Homan 🔵 eliminated
• Day 85 results: Cicero 🟢 eliminated
• Day 86 results: Thorndale 🔴 eliminated
• Day 87 results: Austin 🟢 eliminated
• Day 88 results: Grand 🔴 eliminated
• Day 89 results: Jackson 🔴 eliminated
• Day 90 results: Cermak-McCormick Place 🟢 eliminated
• Day 91 results: Western 🟤 eliminated
• Day 92 results: State/Lake 🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 93 results: 51st 🟢 eliminated
• Day 94 results: Ashland 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 95 results: Armitage 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 96 results: Cicero 🩷 eliminated
• Day 97 results: Polk 🩷 eliminated
• Day 98 results: Irving Park 🟤 eliminated
• Day 99 results: Montrose 🔵 eliminated
• Day 100 results: North/Clybourn 🔴 eliminated
• Day 101 results: Kostner 🩷 eliminated
• Day 102 results: Oak Park 🔵 eliminated
• Day 103 results: Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 104 results: Loyola 🔴 eliminated
• Day 105 results: Wilson 🔴🟣 eliminated
• Day 106 results: 79th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 107 results: Lake 🔴 eliminated
• Day 108 results: Ashland/63rd 🟢 eliminated
• Day 109 results: Austin 🔵 eliminated
• Day 110 results: Chicago 🔴 eliminated
• Day 111 results: Western(O’Hare Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 112 results: Illinois Medical District 🔵 eliminated
• Day 113 results: Kedzie 🟢 eliminated
• Day 114 results: Harrison 🔴 eliminated
• Day 115 results: California 🔵 eliminated
• Day 116 results: Rockwell 🟤 eliminated
• Day 117 results: O’Hare 🔵 eliminated
• Day 118 results: Howard 🔴🟣🟡 eliminated
• >!Day 119 results: 47th 🟢 eliminated!<

u/Boss-fight601 — 14 hours ago

▲ 17 r/cta

Was there a wheel elimination today?

Not sure if I missed it!

reddit.com

u/sleepybear2323 — 15 hours ago

▲ 78 r/cta

Red Line Headways

Just a mini shoutout for Southbound headways being 3-5 minutes right now! If only it could be like this consistently cause when it works, it’s amazing 🥴

u/Beginning-Monk6584 — 19 hours ago

▲ 42 r/cta

brown line stopped due to police activity

currently on a brown line train at Chicago/Franklin, operator says we're stopped due to "police activity in the loop." anyone know what's going on?

UPDATE: operator said no trains are going into/out of the loop

UPDATE: our train is moving, operator says loop is open. still curious what's going on

reddit.com

u/FlightGuy42 — 20 hours ago

▲ 60 r/cta

Berlin-Spandau is a living example of what the new State/Lake Station will look like.

I’m very excited for the new station‘s completion! Some parts of the Berlin-Spandau train station remind me of the new State/Lake station renderings. Different track layouts but they are similar in size. Thoughts or better examples?

Picture 1: Berlin-Spandau Station Pictures 2-3: CTA new State/Lake Station renderings.

u/ZaffreBlu — 22 hours ago

▲ 6 r/cta

No fare?

Just took the 9 and the 64, not sure if the buses I got were just broke or what but both were free?

reddit.com

u/Overeader — 19 hours ago

▲ 264 r/cta

Day 118 of eliminating L stations

today we are gathered here to mourn the loss of a beloved terminus… i expected to have to an eulogy sometime soon as we enter the final month and I should’ve done one for O’Hare. But to those rooting for this station, i know this comes as a shock, and i know >!RYP!< have suffered a deep blow due to this. tonight, i feel your pain, as this was the backbone of the alliance. i am so sorry that this had to happen. my heart is with you all.

• Day 1 results: Berwyn 🔴 eliminated
• Day 2 results: Indiana 🟢 eliminated
• Day 3 results: Pulaski 🟢 eliminated
• Day 4 results: Racine 🔵 eliminated
• Day 5 results: Addison 🟤 eliminated
• Day 6 results: Roosevelt 🔴🟠🟢 eliminated
• Day 7 results: Division 🔵 eliminated
• Day 8 results: Harlem(O’Hare branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 9 results: LaSalle/Van Buren 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 10 results: Conservatory–Central Park Drive 🟢 eliminated
• Day 11 results: Grand 🔵 eliminated
• Day 12 results: Morgan 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 13 results: Davis 🟣 eliminated
• Day 14 results: Belmont 🔵 eliminated
• Day 15 results: Jefferson Park 🔵 eliminated
• Day 16 results: Monroe 🔵 eliminated
• Day 17 results: 43rd 🟢 eliminated
• Day 18 results: Quincy 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 19 results: King Drive 🟢 eliminated
• Day 20 results: Cumberland 🔵 eliminated
• Day 21 results: Kimball 🟤 eliminated
• Day 22 results: Clark/Lake 🔵🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 23 results: 87th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 24 results: Damen 🟢 eliminated
• Day 25 results: UIC-Halsted 🔵 eliminated
• Day 26 results: Kedzie 🩷 eliminated
• Day 27 results: Clark/Division 🔴 eliminated
• Day 28 results: Central 🟢 eliminated
• Day 29 results: Main 🟣 eliminated
• Day 30 results: Damen 🔵 eliminated
• Day 31 results: Harlem/Lake 🟢 eliminated
• Day 32 results: 18th 🩷 eliminated
• Day 33 results: Belmont 🟤🟣🔴 eliminated
• Day 34 results: Southport 🟤 eliminated
• Day 35 results: Chicago 🔵 eliminated
• Day 36 results: Western 🟠 eliminated
• Day 37 results: Wellington 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 38 results: Washington/Wells 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 39 results: Halsted 🟠 eliminated
• Day 40 results: Addison 🔴 eliminated
• Day 41 results: Clinton 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 42 results: Ridgeland 🟢 eliminated
• Day 43 results: Damen 🟤 eliminated
• Day 44 results: 95th/Dan Ryan 🔴 eliminated
• Day 45 results: Cicero 🔵 eliminated
• Day 46 results: Garfield 🔴 eliminated
• Day 47 results: 69th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 48 results: Noyes 🟣 eliminated
• Day 49 results: Western(Forest Park Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 50 results: Damen 🩷 eliminated
• Day 51 results: Sox-35th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 52 results: California 🟢 eliminated
• Day 53 results: Laramie 🟢 eliminated
• Day 54 results: Ashland 🟠 eliminated
• Day 55 results: Central 🟣 eliminated
• Day 56 results: 54th/Cermak 🩷 eliminated
• Day 57 results: Sheridan 🔴 eliminated
• Day 58 results: Paulina 🟤 eliminated
• Day 59 results: Chicago 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 60 results: Clinton 🔵 eliminated
• Day 61 results: Garfield 🟢 eliminated
• Day 62 results: Merchandise Mart 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 63 results: Kedzie 🟠 eliminated
• Day 64 results: Halsted 🟢 eliminated
• Day 65 results: Oak Park 🟢 eliminated
• Day 66 results: Pulaski 🩷 eliminated
• Day 67 results: Dempster 🟣 eliminated
• Day 68 results: Linden 🟣 eliminated
• Day 69 results: California 🩷 eliminated
• Day 70 results: Morse 🔴 eliminated
• Day 71 results: Central Park 🩷 eliminated
• Day 72 results: Argyle 🔴 eliminated
• Day 73 results: Dempster/Skokie 🟡 eliminated
• Day 74 results: Montrose 🟤 eliminated
• Day 75 results: Harlem(Forest Park Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 76 results: Jackson 🔵 eliminated
• Day 77 results: 35th/Archer 🟠 eliminated
• Day 78 results: Francisco 🟤 eliminated
• Day 79 results: 47th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 80 results: Pulaski 🔵 eliminated
• Day 81 results: Kedzie 🟤 eliminated
• Day 82 results: Adams/Wabash 🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 83 results: Monroe 🔴 eliminated
• Day 84 results: Kedzie-Homan 🔵 eliminated
• Day 85 results: Cicero 🟢 eliminated
• Day 86 results: Thorndale 🔴 eliminated
• Day 87 results: Austin 🟢 eliminated
• Day 88 results: Grand 🔴 eliminated
• Day 89 results: Jackson 🔴 eliminated
• Day 90 results: Cermak-McCormick Place 🟢 eliminated
• Day 91 results: Western 🟤 eliminated
• Day 92 results: State/Lake 🟤🟢🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 93 results: 51st 🟢 eliminated
• Day 94 results: Ashland 🟢🩷 eliminated
• Day 95 results: Armitage 🟤🟣 eliminated
• Day 96 results: Cicero 🩷 eliminated
• Day 97 results: Polk 🩷 eliminated
• Day 98 results: Irving Park 🟤 eliminated
• Day 99 results: Montrose 🔵 eliminated
• Day 100 results: North/Clybourn 🔴 eliminated
• Day 101 results: Kostner 🩷 eliminated
• Day 102 results: Oak Park 🔵 eliminated
• Day 103 results: Harold Washington Library–State/Van Buren 🟤🟠🩷🟣 eliminated
• Day 104 results: Loyola 🔴 eliminated
• Day 105 results: Wilson 🔴🟣 eliminated
• Day 106 results: 79th 🔴 eliminated
• Day 107 results: Lake 🔴 eliminated
• Day 108 results: Ashland/63rd 🟢 eliminated
• Day 109 results: Austin 🔵 eliminated
• Day 110 results: Chicago 🔴 eliminated
• Day 111 results: Western(O’Hare Branch) 🔵 eliminated
• Day 112 results: Illinois Medical District 🔵 eliminated
• Day 113 results: Kedzie 🟢 eliminated
• Day 114 results: Harrison 🔴 eliminated
• Day 115 results: California 🔵 eliminated
• Day 116 results: Rockwell 🟤 eliminated
• Day 117 results: O’Hare 🔵 eliminated
• >!Day 118 results: Howard 🔴🟣🟡 eliminated!<

u/Boss-fight601 — 1 day ago

▲ 10 r/cta

Elevated rail next to Forest park branch blue line between IMed and Racine

there is an odd stretch of rail that runs parallel to blue line when heading East to Racine.

it is elevated and if I recall seems to stop

what is it and or was it used for

reddit.com

u/Exhaust8354 — 1 day ago

▲ 54 r/cta

Buses at Ford City Terminal 5/20/26

Early Wednesday evening, I took these cool shots of buses at the soon-to-close Ford City Mall bus terminal. In the 3rd photo, a bus is seen below the crescent moon and planets Jupiter and Venus (two faint bright stars, look diagonally \).

Speaking of, there is a CTA office or whatever to the left of JCPenney at Ford City. The buses in the 2nd photo are facing it. What will become of it after the mall is permanently shuttered? I still haven't heard anything regarding any new developments surrounding the future of the 54B route. CTA has went ahead and claimed the property it seems. A not--in service bus was seen by the former Carson's (Cicero Avenue side). I've been here literally hundreds of times over the past 20 years and have never seen buses in those spots, JCPenney included, regardless of how congested the bus stop has been.

In the 1st photo from left to right: bus serving route 79, 67, 54B, 53 and 53. The last full day of business for Ford City Mall is June 21st (closure is noon June 22nd), so go get your last photos ASAP.

u/Baroness210 — 1 day ago

▲ 28 r/cta

Has anyone done the math on going around the loop vs switching between purple and brown lines?

I routinely take the purple line from Wilson to Merchandise Mart, then switch to Brown line bc I'm getting off at Quincy and don't want to go all the way around the loop. I know I see lots of other people doing a similar maneuver. Has anyone timed out how much time that saves on average? I'm curious if it's negligible with the time spent waiting for the brown line

reddit.com

u/Beginning-Town-2509 — 1 day ago

▲ 201 r/cta

Day 116 of eliminating L stations

Finally something else other than red and blue

u/Boss-fight601 — 4 days ago

▲ 50 r/cta

What would you say to the CTA President Nora Leerhsen?

I work near the CTA headquarters and often run into CTA President Nora Leerhsen on the sidewalk or getting off the train. I usually say hello and yesterday she remembered my name and I realized I have the unique opportunity to speak on behalf of the riders straight to the top. So, if you ran into the CTA President on the sidewalk, what would you tell her?

reddit.com

u/Feisty-Flatworm9711 — 4 days ago

▲ 168 r/cta

Tiger Line this morning

u/GeckoLogic — 4 days ago

▲ 107 r/cta

Bus-ception

Just sitting on the bus waiting for the bus driver to get to work. He’s late because his bus was delayed. I wonder if the bus driver’s bus was delayed because the bus driver’s bus driver’s bus was delayed.

How deep does this go?

u/Minimum_Device_6379 — 4 days ago

▲ 26 r/cta

How warm …

How warm does it need to before there is AC on the bus.
I’m on the 81 with abt a dozen others with sweat dripping off our faces!

reddit.com

u/O-parker — 4 days ago

▲ 10 r/cta

Curious

I’ve been on the cta three days a week and notice it’s much nicer and I see CPD everywhere now and I like it. I am so proud of how much better the cta has gotten.

reddit.com

u/NewAllTimeHigh — 4 days ago

▲ 16 r/cta

Wilson Ave closed

There's yellow police tape from Racine east to the police cars. No traffic allowed through either direction from Racine to Broadway.

The Montrose bus is rerouted to Lawrence for the next 4 hours. You can still access the Red Line on Wilson.

reddit.com

u/Dizzy_Emotion7381 — 3 days ago

▲ 210 r/cta

Day 115 of eliminating L stations

Holy crap, that was a close one

u/Boss-fight601 — 5 days ago

▲ 41 r/cta

What’s the most annoying thing to a CTA driver??

I’m wondering if any CTA drivers can tell me what is the most annoying aspect of dealing with riders?

For me, if I were a CTA driver, it would be passengers trying to chat to me whilst I’m driving. I’m watching this guy yap at the driver about politics, public schools, the governor, etc. “Did you see where (xyz) ??” I want to push him off the bus for the driver.

As a bartender, this is the type of thing that annoys me — yapping!! Don’t try to small talk me when I’m focused on something that’s not your face.

reddit.com

u/GuessAsleep9578 — 5 days ago