How to use Public Transportation in Chicago | CTA - L Train & Buses

Everything you need to know about using Chicago's public transportation system. CTA Elevated 'L' Train & Buses.
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Videographer: Shamie Barrett (Insta: @ShamieBarrett)

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Hi my name is Caira Button and I am a 27 year old who makes videos about tips, tricks, and organization for small space living. I love the minimalist, feminine, clean vibe. I have kept the decor pretty neutral adding a bit of mid century modern & LOTS of plants. I hope my advice is able to help you in your journey!

[yiffytimes]

One bit of advice from a local. Leave your phone somewhere else other than your hands. Phones have been known to get stolen out of someone's hands. West and south sides on the L can be kind of tricky safety wise. So be careful, take a bus going south when heading that way.

[travellyoung]

I have some tips too using the Cta (bus)
1. Have your fare ready
2. Please read the destination signs that’s bright orange in front of the bus( it tells you what route you’re on and where the bus is going)
3. Is operator’s do not carry change( exact fair please)
4. Please pay attention too where you want to get off at. The bus is a heavy moving vehicle and cannot stop on a dime so if you ring the bell for your stop last minute you’re going to be getting off at the next stop.
5. Please stand behind the yellow line and not by the operator.
6. Please do not block the front door. Us operators use that door to look down side streets for approaching vehicles.
7. Please use headphones while listening to audio on your phone. It’s a distraction.
8. Plan out your trip!!!! Bus operators are not google maps, we don’t live in the area that we are driving and wouldn’t know what address you’re looking for.
9. Please don’t put your face around the shield or put your phones in our face while we’re driving!!!
10. The bus stop is actually 80ft and not just at the sign or shelter. If the operators open the doors because it’s another bus in front walk to the bus, if you wait for the bus to pull up too you you’ll get left.
11. Don’t WAVE AT THE BUS(especially down town. That can signal a cab to drive in front of the bus) we can see you and probably saw you at the bus stop a few streets down.

[meriahmakes]

Very informative and concise! I’m sure many visitors and new Chicagoans will find this helpful!

[cosmicviewer]

Thanks for this. I'll be visiting Chicago for the first time really soon, and when I visit large and medium-sized cities, I always use transit, as opposed to renting a car, so this is super helpful.

[maxine.v]

lol I remember figuring out the cta when I was like fourteen and accidentally going the wrong way but it's super easy to switch over if you are going the wrong way

[pinebirdherbs]

Visiting for 2 weeks in late February and your videos have me SO stoked!!

[robwilson]

Thank you for doing your video! However, my 6 year old son who loves to ride the train, noticed that you didn't mention the purple line. Which runs Monday -Friday to the Loop and Saturday and Sunday to Howard it's a fun Express to take!
Just wanted to let you and your subscribers know!

[UrUrbanRockstar]

Thank you for finally doing this video!

[robertpreston]

When people visit the city the part they love the most is the trains and busses! I just had a friend visit from Florida and he loves so many things. But he could not get enough of the trains

[martinsmith]

Wow, makes me want to move to Chicago. Thank you, it was very clear and very informative

[hereforthevideoessays]

Thank you for making this so that I can share with friends visiting this city!

[baileyring]

Thank you so much! My sister and I are traveling to Chicago next week and I'm so excited to use what I learned! :)

[lizpeterson]

This is super informational! Wish I would have had a video like this when I first moved to Chicago.

[kBB_]

Thank you for the info, very helpful.

I myself love the convenience and privacy of a car..public transit stresses me out but to each their own. 😊

[mic]

It is not only system which runs above ground, much of NYC runs elevated even called subway, just like L called L when a subway or surface level

[rsullivan]

She is so sweet and informative!
However, I was born and raised in this city (almost 40 years) and I will warn you about the things she didn’t. She was spot on with most things and Yes public trans is extremely easy to reach almost anywhere in the city and can’t beat the price BUT that comes at a cost.
If she hasn’t noticed the things I’m about to mention then she is not riding the CTA. Bet.

I grew up riding the trains and bus so I’m a Public Trans vet but switched to driving for the last 15 years or so. I was in a car accident a few months ago and decided to just get by on Ubers and the CTA until I purchased a new car and holy 💩 are the trains disgusting now. You will be LUCKY to get on a Blue or Red line train that
1. doesn’t have a homeless person/people sleeping across the seats and on the platforms.
2. Doesn’t reek of human excrement or other odors
3. smoking either cigarettes or weed
YES SMOKING ON THE ACTUAL TRAIN!
4. Playing loud rap music on a speaker or phone

One guy was shadow boxing with the train door and screaming obscenities to it. While there were small children riding!


The red line (or as OG Chicagoans call it, The “blood” line) is the worst. The North/Clybourn station is like walking straight down to hell. Don’t let that beautiful Apple Store upstairs fool you.
Avoid it.

I’ve never been directly a victim of a crime but witnessed a man master bating on the blue line, a girl threatened to stab me on the green line (she was mentally ill) and a woman (talking to her own demons) actually did stab a rider in the stomach right in front of my mom.

3 weeks ago, 2 very high men got on the Irving Park bus, 1 dropped his baggy of drugs on the floor, had snot all over his face and couldn’t even sit up straight. Very disturbing.

I’ve emailed CTA and reported these things and they basically say they are working to offer more programs to help the homeless community but will NEVER approach them to address breaking the “rules” of riding.

2 weeks ago, I got on at the Chicago Red line stop to take up north after leaving an appointment by the Water Tower and there was a man, sitting in the middle of the train car smoking weed. I grabbed my daughter and jumped off just before the doors closed. Paid $26 for an Uber home and bought a car the next day.

I should hope to never get back on a CTA train.

Also, Just Uber to the airport. It’s about $30 but worth not having to breathe in vile smells all the way to O’Hare on that gross Blue line.

Sorry CTA, but you know damn well I’m right 🙂

Good luck all!

[jaycastro]

Going to share this with my clients the next time they ask how the CTA works

[edwardleecaliforniausa]

Good morning happy Wednesday morning and I just wanted to say that I loved your holiday trip vlogs because you are sweetheart and you are amazing Supporter

[catmama]

Great video and would love to visit Chicago someday

[osagiee.guobadia-secondytc]

You are a good expert on buses and trains on the Chicago Transportation Authority. 👍😀 Similar to MTA in parts of New York when it comes to the Transportation of buses and trains.