LOCAL TRANSPORTATION IN CHICAGO
The most popular question from steppers about traveling to Chicago is, do I need a car? My answer every time is an equivocal, “Yes!” In Chicago, there is so much to do. To make the most of the time on your weekend or however long your visit is, having reliable access to your own transportation is important. There are at least two to three stepper sets or parties most days and they may not be near enough to each other for affordable rideshare. Chicago is rich in transportation options. You can rent a car, take the bus, take the train, rideshare, or even carpool with other steppers. It’s almost a city that never sleeps and even public transportation runs very late.
“HEY! DIDN”T I JUST SEE YOU AT THE 50?” SHE SAID AS I WALKED INTO THE BLUE NOTE.
The distance from the Blue Note to the 50 Yard Line is 20 miles and is at least a thirty-dollar ride by Uber on a good night with no surges. When I am in Chicago I want to be able to move quickly from stepper set to stepper set to make the most of my time on the dance floor. Many steppers set hop to dance for a couple of hours at one set and then move to another set to dance some more. Having personal transportation is beneficial, convenient, and way more cost-effective than trying to rideshare from the Southside to the Westside on any given day of the week.
Rideshare with Uber or Lyft
If you are still thinking about rideshare options consider some of the things I have learned from my experiences in Chicago relying on rideshare alone:
- Uber/Lyft can become expensive. The fare surges can drain your travel budget quickly and occur just around the after-work hours when steppers are ready to hit the dance floor
- Taking Uber/Lyft in any city comes with risk. Steppers party late and usually are leaving the set to return home after 10 p.m. at night and even sometimes at 2 a.m. in the morning. Traveling by rideshare very late no matter where you are is a risk. Uber shares on its website how they strive to keep riders and drivers safe and also read Lyft’s page on safety for riders and drivers. You have choices.
- Hopping from set to set can be 10 miles or more each trip just traveling from the Southside to the Westside.
Public Transportation by Bus or Train
Chicago has a vast public transportation network compared to some cities by bus and/or train. Find out more about Chicago Transit Authority(CTA) on their website. It is easy to navigate the CTA using the Google Maps App on a mobile phone to find the exact bus and train routes to get from Point A to Point B. If you plan to spend all your visit in the city, buy a 3-day or 7-day CTA pass to get you everywhere you want to by train and bus.
Car Rentals and Turo
Most times I arrange to have my own ride in Chicago. If I am not moving around with Chicago friends, I rent a car. I’ve seen that most rental car companies offer lower rates at O’Hare than at Midway airport. But, it is more convenient to fly into Midway – the airport on the Southside. Go figure! If you haven’t heard about Turo, check out the app and website for an alternative to commercial rental car services.
Know Before Driving in Chicago
Stay alert! Be smart! Have local Chicago stepper friends and connections help you navigate different areas of the city. If you choose to drive in Chicago, here are some basics to learn and know about parking and tolls.
Parking
If driving in Chicago, brush up on your parallel parking skills for street parking. Read all parking signs for reserved parking, street sweeping schedules, snow plowing, and resident permit parking. They are EVERYWHERE it seems. Learn more about parking online at the City of Chicago. Check the end of the streets for these warnings and avoid parking violations. Observe the street signs and they mean all of them. Parking violations can result in your vehicle being ticketed, booted, or even towed. They will give you a ticket for parking on a crosswalk. Available street parking on the Southside is limited due to crowding. You can spend 15-30 minutes or more driving around to find a spot after leaving the steppers set late at night.
Tolls
There are toll roads in Illinois that may save you a couple of highway miles here and there. I will tell you though that a few locals I have driven around with take the local roads and get to places just as fast. If you fly into O’Hare there is a $1 toll just to get out of the airport. Sigh! Most rental car companies offer toll passes, and I think they are expensive. You have an option that can save you the toll pass usage fees that rental companies charge. In Illinois, you can go online and pay-by-plate using a vehicle lookup within a certain number of days. Learn more about that option online at Illinois Tollway.
Towing and Tickets
If your car has been towed by the city, you can search for your vehicle by license plate on Chicago Police. Towing can cost you $200 or more to retrieve a vehicle. Parking tickets can be paid online.
Downtown
There is a lot to explore in downtown Chicago. If you’re going downtown, parking can be expensive. When checking out the downtown sights in Chicago, you can take the train or Uber/Lyft and move around during the daytime. It saves a grip on $25 parking fees. I never get there early enough to catch a street parking spot.
Potholes
Watch out for potholes. There are a lot of street repairs needed throughout Chicago. The changing weather tears up the streets. Drive cautiously.
Neighborhoods in Chicago
Here is a neighborhood map of Chicago. Frommer’s gives a great breakout and description of the neighborhoods in Chicago. Visit Frommers to learn more about how the locals view and understand the city.
- Learn about the Chicago neighborhoods and areas
- Know where you are for awareness and safety
- Know Chicago the way that locals know the city
