RTG Day 5: How To Ride the Chicago "L"

Rediscovering the Groove, Day 5: Write A Tip Post

I have fond memories of riding the "L" every day when I lived in Chicago.  Now, on my occasional trips back to the Windy City for work and even less often visits for pleasure, I cherish each CTA train ride as a novelty and, at the same time, a familiar homecoming.  Here are a few tips on how to ride -- and appreciate -- the L:

1. When you enter the station, purchase or top up your transit card at a Transit Card vending machine.  As of March 2012, it costs $2.25 for a single-ride of any distance on the L.  (The fare was $1.50 when I lived here 10 years ago.)
2. Find a map, either on the wall or in a pamphlet, and figure out (a) where you are, (b) where you're going, and (c) the last station in the direction that you're traveling.
3. To enter the paid part of the station, approach the turnstile, insert your transit card into the card reader, then pull it out.  Look for the green "Enter" light, and push your way through the turnstile. Most turnstiles will also have a screen that indicates the remaining balance on your card.
4. Look for signs that indicate the last station in the direction that you're traveling, and proceed to that platform.  While some stations (e.g., in the Loop) are underground, most CTA trains are "ELevated," as the name suggests.  Either way, expect to navigate some stairs.
5. As you wait for the train, stand behind the bumpy blue strip at the platform's edge for safety.  
6. If there's a chill in the air (and it's between November 1 and March 31), seek shelter under the heat lamps on the platform.  You may meet some interesting characters as you join the huddle of shivering strangers.
7. Enjoy the performers while you wait.  Several underground stations in the Loop have designated areas for buskers.  They're required to get a permit from CTA, so presumably (and I've noticed that) they're pretty good.
8. When the train arrives, check the front and side placards to make sure that they indicate the last station on the route you want.
9. When the doors open, stand to the side and make way for folks exiting the train before boarding. 
10. Board the train carefully, and...mind the gap!

I always enjoy the communal nature of public transportation and often find inspiration from the experience.  Feel free to share your views and encounters on mass transit.