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| Home - City Guide - Chicago - Getting Around | ||
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Getting Around Public Transport The Chicago Transit Authority (CTA; tel: (312) 836 7000 or 4949; website: www.transitchicago.com) operates trains and buses. The trains are referred to as the 'El', meaning the capital letter 'L' for the Loop, where the elevated rail creates a circle around the main downtown business and shopping district. The seven train lines are identified and named by a different colour. The standard fare on the bus or train is US$1.50, exact fare only, with a day pass costing only US$5 and offering 24-hour unlimited access. There are also passes for two days (US$9), three days (US$12) and five days (US$18). There is a transfer charge of 30 cents between routes whether train or bus. Metra (tel: (312) 322 6777, weekdays 0800-1700, or 836 7000, evenings and weekends; website: www.metrarail.com) is a commuter rail system serving the suburbs and surrounding cities with 12 lines. Individual fares start at US$1.75 and a weekend pass costs US$5. Pedways In the central downtown, there is an underground system of Pedways (pedestrian walkways or 'subways' to the British), which are especially useful for escaping the weather and crowded streets. From the network, which links over 40 blocks of streets, there is access to many buildings, stations and shops in the Loop. Maps are available from hotels and around the various points of the system. Taxis These are easy to hail on the streets, especially in the Loop and Wrigleyville, with initial charges varying from US$1.50 to US$4, depending upon location and time of day. Each mile then costs US$1.50 and each additional passenger US$0.50. A tip of 10-15% is usually expected. The main companies are: American United Cab Co (tel: (773) 327 6161); Flash Cab Co (tel: (773) 878 8500); Jiffy Cab Co (tel: (773) 487 9000) and Yellow Cabs (tel: (312) 225 7440). Limousines Luxury services are available from four main companies: American Limo (tel: (708) 920 8888; website: www.americanlimousine.com); Amm's Limo (tel: (773) 792 1126); Smart Cars (tel: (312) 433 7627) and O'Hare-Midway Limousine Service (tel: (312) 558 1111). Stretch limousines are always best booked in advance. Prices vary according to the size of the limousine, but start from US$60 per hour. Driving in the City For those intent on a relaxing stay in Chicago, this is not at all recommended. The traffic is hectic during rush hours (0700-0930 and 1600-1900). Visitors may be confused by one-way street systems and no left turns in downtown areas, with some blocks closed to traffic completely. Local drivers are impatient with those who do not know where they are going. It is best to leave the car behind and get into the main areas by train, bus or taxi and continue on foot. For those intent on driving, the city streets are largely on a grid pattern, the central point of which is the crossroads at Madison Avenue and State Street, in the Loop district. From here, the naming of a street as north or south or as west or east is taken. Street parking meters take coins above US$0.10 (a dime), with US$0.25 (a quarter) being the most useful coin. Major attractions may have limited parking but, in general, downtown parking is difficult and not cheap, especially from 1 December to 1 April, when the confusing Snow Parking regulations apply, even if there is no snow. Car Hire The major US car hire companies are all available: Alamo (tel: (800) 327 9633, toll free in the USA and Canada); Avis (tel: (773) 6944 5600 or (800) 230 4898); Budget (tel: (800) 527 0700); Dollar (tel: (800) 800 4000); Hertz (tel: (773) 686 7272 or (800) 654 3131) and National (tel: (773) 694 4640 or (800) 227 7368). The minimum age for hiring a car varies from 21 to 25 years of age. Rates start from US$165 per week. Bicycle Hire For visitors, cycling on the streets is to be as discouraged as driving, however, the one place where bicycles are enjoyable and specifically catered for is on the lakefront cycleways (see the Sport section). Bike Chicago, at the Navy Pier (tel: (800) 915 BIKE or 2453, toll free in the USA and Canada), has a good range of bicycles for hire. Rates vary between US$10 and US$35 per day, including helmet, lock and map. They can also arrange cycling tours. |
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