Metra/CTA safe? (Chicago, Time: home, buying, taxis)

[1ceing0ntheCake]

I'm a stay at home mom and live in the far west suburbs. I want to take kids to city on the train, but not sure how safe it is. I'd be sure to avoid rush times.
Id like to feel comfortable going without my husband.

I'd be coming from Big Timer station

[chirack]

Metra very safe. CTA a tad less so but still within reason(i.e. there is a 99.2% chance nothing much will happen on a CTA bus). So long as you travel in the day and keep aware of your suroundings you should be fine. The bigger danger will be waiting/walking to the CTA bus or train rather than on it.

[1ceing0ntheCake]

I would do the bus. I have a vehicle to drive. But hate waiting in traffic to get in and out, then trying to find parking, when we are going to have to walk a few blocks any ways from the parking lot/garage.

Is the CTA just the buses? I thought CTA included the loop (the L)? Correct my misuse of transit. :-)

[chirack]

Originally Posted by 1ceing0ntheCake

Is the CTA just the buses? I thought CTA included the loop (the L)? Correct my misuse of transit. :-)

It is both. The best way downtown is via trainsit and your kids will love the trip. If you feel really unsafe you can hop a cab, but honestly thousands of people take the CTA everyday and only a few problems happen. It is sort of like the fear people have of flying but not of driving(when one is much safer than the other).

[Hatchetman]

Metra is totally safe. Buy your departure tickets when you arrive downtown to avoid long lines. Get to train 15 minutes early to find seats next to each other.

[CUBS07]

I live along the Big Timber Metra Line it's very very safe all the way downtown. When you get off and head towards the lake there will be a ton of people just like you walking in the same direction. It's the same heading back to the trains. I would avoid the Buses takes too long. The red line is fine and the elevated stops are also fine but once you get there everything is in walking distance. State and Mich has a ton of foot traffic.

[emathias]

As others have said, it's as safe or safer than driving in the big picture.

Once you're at the terminal, I agree that it's usually just as fast for an adult to walk to State Street or most parts of the Loop proper as it is to try and take a bus. Having kids may slow you down a bit (or speed you up depending on the kids!)

Anyway, if it's cold or inclement or you just want to avoid walking, taxis in Chicago are relatively inexpensive compared to most other large cities and for moving around downtown for a small group (3-4 people), they're probably the same price as buying everyone bus rides anyway.

[CUBS07]

Forgot to Mention you can take a water Taxi to Mich ave or Navy Pier for about $7

[chet everett]

Originally Posted by CUBS07

Forgot to Mention you can take a water Taxi to Mich ave or Navy Pier for about $7

I thought the water taxi service was something that only ran during pleasant weather...

I agree that Loop / near Loop CTA service is the way good vs buses which are generally not much faster than walking. I suppose if the kids are under 5 or so and walking is a hassle / will tire them out a bus might make sense BUT taxi fare is generally the same or cheaper for groups of 4 or more...

[Vlajos]

Originally Posted by chet everett

I thought the water taxi service was something that only ran during pleasant weather...

I agree that Loop / near Loop CTA service is the way good vs buses which are generally not much faster than walking. I suppose if the kids are under 5 or so and walking is a hassle / will tire them out a bus might make sense BUT taxi fare is generally the same or cheaper for groups of 4 or more...

I'm almost certain you are right, water taxis won't be out right now.