The CTA lends itself to all sorts of athletic pursuits:
Racing after buses in the pouring rain. Sprinting brashly up the stairs to catch the “L.” Chasing the Green or Red Line “L” after a Sox game is a sport in itself.
With all the rushing, bustling and stair climbing up to the platforms, it’s not far-fetched to think the CTA can be used as a tool against obesity. But near CTA stops and nestled in the “L” stations–in some cases steps from the turnstiles–are a number of threats to healthy eating. Whether it’s soda, cheese popcorn or a host of other sinful snacks, there are many chances to chow along the CTA.
“Going Public” has dubbed this phenomenon ” ‘L’ stop eating.”
The CTA practically contributes to the “stop eating” epidemic, leasing space to 76 concession stands located at 66 CTA rail stations throughout the system. In fact, on Friday, “Going Public” was face to face with temptation in the form of a freestanding display of Fritos, Cheetos and Lay’s placed a few feet from the turnstiles at the Grand subway stop.
Sure, there were Sun Chips available as well, but who would choose that over Flamin’ Hot Cheetos?
The battle of the bulge doesn’t end at Grand.
If you ride the Red to the South Side, the Line ends at 95th and the Dan Ryan. But the hot dogs begin at Jim’s Original, a stand conveniently located about a block or two from the east side of the terminal. Though not associated with the CTA, this spot–which offers Maxwell Street specials including Polish sausages, pork chop sandwiches and hamburgers–attracted a lot of riders on Saturday afternoon, and it’s likely worse on Tuesdays when this stand offers sandwiches for $1.50 between 3 and 5 p.m. They call it customer appreciation. “Going Public” calls it a one-way ticket to a treadmill.
But one of the worst waistline-expanding offenders is at the Clark and Lake stop.
There, at the nexus of the Green, Orange, Brown, Blue, Purple and Pink Line trains, riders are privy to a gigantic food court, The Great State Fare, inside the Thompson Center. This particular candidate for “stop eating” is menacing because of the sheer number of choices. Riders entering the station at the lower level must pass a gantlet of pizza, fried chicken, grilled steak sandwiches and hamburgers. Walk quickly, and don’t make eye contact with the vendors, or you’ll face a fattening fate.
You’re not even in the clear if you leap on the Blue Line headed toward O’Hare. If you get off at Belmont, you can’t help but spot RAM Candy Store. This CTA-sanctioned concession stand offers possible tooth decay in the form of old-school candies Chick-o-Stick, Now and Later and gooey caramel chews.
Even if you can’t resist buying bad food along the “L,” don’t heighten the risk by eating onboard the cars. Though the CTA leases space and profits from some of the snack vendors mentioned above, you still face a fine for eating or drinking on the “L” or bus. That may sound downright unfair, but on the upside, perhaps it can put an end to your ” ‘L’ stop eating.”
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kkyles@tribune.com
