What CTA sin would you like to see punished? In Tuesday’s “Going Public,” columnist Kyra Kyles, a.k.a. Judge GP, outlined four of what she dubbed Seven CTA Sins, including blocking train doors and littering. Riders e-mailed even more mass transit breaches of morality.
Want to pile on or comment on other riders’ rules? Visit Kyra at redeyechicago.com/ctablog, where she is at your daily CTA service, posting gripes, following transit news, making observations and answering questions.
Candy commandment
Thou shalt not peddle penny candy for $1 on the Red Line.
Steve Hodges, 32, Auburn-Gresham
Thou shalt move it on back
Dear Judge GP,
Here’s your next CTA commandment:
On packed rush-hour buses (in my case the southbound No.135-Clarendon/LaSalle Express during the morning rush), please play Spike Lee and “Do the Right Thing”: Move all the way to the back of the bus. By selfishly, lackadaisically moving back part of the way, you are wasting prime space that would be filled by riders waiting all the way south as far as Belmont. Riders are not all stopping downtown. I, for one, have to transfer to the Blue Line, then walk over a mile from the Cicero stop to my office. Missing a bus because folks could not move all the way back could cost me 20 to 30 minutes.
Consider this your good deed for the day.
Eric Samuels, 28, Lakeview
Don’t be a blast-phemer
Thou shalt not blast your music from your headphones so extremely loud, where other passengers have to endure exactly what type of music you are listening to.
You should show some consideration for your fellow passengers. That is why they are called “headphones.” They are for your enjoyment only, and the entire bus should not have to be disrupted by your annoying music.
Thou shalt not carry extremely large purses or school bags on your shoulders while walking through the bus. The bags/purses should be put directly in front of you while walking through the bus. In addition to this, other passengers should not have to play “duck and weave” when you are trying to walk through these extremely narrow aisles and risk being hit in the face with large bags or purses. Show some … common sense and compassion.
Rita Agnew, Southeast Side
CTA Samaritan
Thank you to the Good Samaritan who stayed with me on the Brown Line Tuesday morning after I fainted. I was so frightened, but your kind words and compassion kept me calm while waiting for the ambulance.
Living in a big city can make you cynical, but this morning reaffirmed that there are good people everywhere. Thank you so much — your kindness will not be forgotten!
Erin Reed, 27, Lincoln Park
Express yourself
Yesterday [March 24], I boarded a No.4-Cottage Grove bus only to discover several blocks later that it was an X4-Cottage Grove Express bus.
The driver should have announced this as she picked up riders at each stop. There is a difference in how many blocks a person has to walk if they ride an X4 opposed to a regular No. 4. I used the four extra blocks as exercise, but it would be nice if the drivers were a little bit nicer and let the riders know this in advance.
Joyce Bonner, 49, Bronzeville
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goingpublic&tribune.com
