Chicago USA: Public Transportation - Experience Chicago Without A Car

ABBEY: We're used to take public transport in Singapore so we took up the challenge of riding trains and buses going Downtown Chicago. As a tourist, we opted to buy a day-pass for 10USD. Unlimited train and bus rides for a day. By doing this, we were able to go to the museums like Adler, the Navy Pier, 360 Chicago, Willis Tower, Chicago Riverwalk, Magnificent Mile and a lot more. 

I cannot help comparing the trains of Singapore and Chicago. Not an insult but for Chicago Transit Authority to improve the system or service. 

The trains are just plain dirty; floor, windows, and seats. They have smell too. I even observed that there are people literally "living" inside the train. Safety and health issues. 

The buses on the other hand are clean. Touch the door and it will open just like magic.

Chicago USA: Public Transportation - Bus

Chicago USA: Public Transportation - Train Station 

Chicago USA: Public Transportation - Train Coach

WILL: It will be our fist time to roam around without relatives. No guides. Kuya just dropped us off at Harlem station and we are all by ourselves. Ha! 

Our fist time to buy a Ventra ticket, we had a hard time because the machine is asking for our postal code number and we do not know how to key-in. The officer saw us and indicated to press "0" for international. And voila! Tickets came out from the machine. It costs USD10 for unlimited one day ride (per person) for trains and bus. 

I am quite shocked to see how their trains and their stations are. The inside of the train is dirty. I am wondering if they are sweeping or mopping the floors. Drinking and eating is not allowed but some passengers were doing it. I saw a passenger that her leg is up on the other seat. Imagine, all the dirt of her shoes will be at that train chair. :( There is a beggar in a station asking for alms. Orange Station was guarded by policemen with heavy arms. I am wondering what is there about that line. 

The busses are tidier. The bus drivers were welcoming and polite. 

Overall, now I know many people are buying cars. Haha! But how about people who cannot afford or just do not want the stress of having their own car? 

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Chicago Transit Authority - CTA Buses & Train Service

(W) http://www.transitchicago.com/howto/

1-Day Ticket: $10

Good for unlimited rides for 24 hours.

Sengkang LRT Line

ABBEY: I used to ride this line in my first year at Singapore. We used to stay at Fernvale. Its is divided into two;east and west Sengkang. Be sure to know which color of the train will be arriving before hopping in else you will have to go back to Sengkang interchange and ride the correct one; just like what happened to me :)

WILL: Well, this is the first LRT line I had ridden when I went back here in Singapore, Sengkang LRT. Here at Sengkang was the first house were Abbey stayed. 
This is quite confusing for me until now. That we live in other place, we sometimes ride this line for checkups and when we go to the Sengkang sports complex for some swim. 

Green Line MRT

ABBEY: 

This the line I'm using when I'm picking up my wife from her office. 

Here also is my way to our church and airport.

Only few places I had visited like Chinese and Japanese garden, City Hall, Raffles Place to name them.

WILL: Green line MRT. This is the only line for Singapore Airport. Also, I used this MRT to go to our office, the Singapore's Business District... Tanjong Pagar. It also serves people who will go to the Singapore Convention Center, Jurong and the Chinese & Japanese Garden. ;) 

Circle Line

ABBEY: When I got here in SG, Circle line was not yet opened. It served the public in the year 2010. The rail transit gives ease for the commuter to connect the other 3 lines. With this line, anyone can roam around the island easily. As I've seen in NatGeo, as the whole line is fully automatic, it can fix the defective train and get back to service in only an hour. Of course, even if its fully-auto, this can be still override by humans, when the system goes out of control. When this railway completes, this will be the biggest automatic subway system in the world.

WILL: Yellow or circle line is the newest MRT here in Singapore. Actually some of the station is not yet operational. Every station different architectural designs. The best or me is the bras basah station. Glass ceiling and a very long escalators. Unusual indeed. I wonder what will be the other stations looks like. 

MRT Purple Line ( North - East ) Singapore

Abbey:
This is my line simula pagdating ko ng Singapore. My employer provided my first week of stay sa isang hotel near Farrer Station. Then 3 days after, I found a room in Sengkang. When my housemates' HDB contract ended, we moved to Punggol which we are residing currently. Our house is a 15-minute from Punggol MRT station. Kaya talagang may excersise ako before and after work.


I can say na ito yung 2nd sa pinakamabangong MRT line. Huwag ka nga lang may makakasabay na may anghit :) It only cost S$1.86 for the whole line fare. All stations of the line are underground. Pero hindi naman nakakabore yung byahe, kasi may mga ads in LCD screens, sa tunnel ng mga stations and even sa windows.

Will: Well, I didn't much appreciate their train on the first time when I took my ride in it, I have a stopover here in Singapore. It was the Green Line. But when Abbey moved in to Punggol, I was astounded to see the Punggol terminal station. I can compare it on Philippine's international airport. 


There is seat for elderly and disabled that they always sure to leave it vacant. People are very courteous. They respect each other's right of way. Very safe. They keep on reminding the public that the safety and cleanliness lies on the hands of people riding it, which is very true! So nice trains!