chicago card and city parking question (restaurant, law, versus)

[Drover]

Originally Posted by jdiddy

1) Yes, you have to get a city sticker if either you're plates are registered to the city, or you license has a city address.

2) A Chicago Card can be used as either a pay-per-ride card, or a monthly unlimited. If its pay per ride, you link it up with a credit or checking account, and once your account falls below 10, it reloads it with an amount of your choosing. If you choose to reload in $20 increments, you are given a $2.00 bonus (the cost of one fare and one transfer) when it reloads.
If you choose the monthly unlimited, it will automatically deduct the cost of a monthly pass from your credit/checking account at the end of your 30 day period.

So if you use the CTA mainly for commute to/from work, around 10 times a week, this is the better way to go. If you plan on using it in addition to work, then the monthly pass is the way to go.

Either way, if you're going to use the CTA, get the chicago card. You save a quarter on each fare, which quickly adds up, and you won't find yourself hustling to reload your card at the station as you can hear your train pulling away.

One benefit to using the pay-per-ride plan on the Chicago Card is that you can use it for multiple riders. So if both you and your hubby (bf?) want to go somewhere, you just swipe it twice and you're both good to go. This would be the way to go if you two plan to use the CTA to get around town for weekend entertainment and what-not. And when you consider the fact that you get a 10% discount for every $20 you re-load, your fare is really only $1.58 per ride instead of the $2 cash fare for trains and $1.75 for buses.

Also, I'm not sure you're clear on the "parking permit" versus city sticker concept yet. You only need a parking permit if you live on a permit-zoned street. Anyone can park any time on a non-zoned street. However, if your car is registered to a Chicago address, you will need a city sticker for your windshield no matter where you plan to park. This sticker costs $75. If you park anywhere where a meter maid or CPD cruiser has access -- EVEN A PRIVATE PARKING LOT -- you risk getting a ticket.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by Mel2882

My roommate told me that to park anywhere in the city, you have to have a city sticker no matter if you are visiting, have out of state license plates, etc., unless you are parking on meter or in a garage. How are visitors supposed to just "know" this if it's not posted?

You only have to have a city sticker if your car is registered to a Chicago address. This is a different thing altogether from a street parking permit. You only need a street parking permit to park on a permit-zoned street. And if it's permit-zoned, you'll know: there's 3 or 4 signs on each block telling you it's zoned, what the zoning restrictions are (some allow non-permit parking during the day, some allow it during the night, some don't allow non-permit parking at all). People who live in permit zones or on permit streets get a stack of day passes to give out to visitors when they get their permit stickers. Otherwise, anyone can park on a non-zoned street any time.

[amy_cate]

VERY confusing!!

it's true though, how would someone know this? i'm still in the process of switching everything over so i still have ny plates. i know i'll pay the stupid late fee for the city parking permit, but am i likely to get ticketed? i am hoping since i have out of state plates and registration, i can buy some more time.

it's strange how something is easier in ny. you just have to worry about moving your car for alternate side parking, which is like 2 hrs a 1-2x a week. i guess they get your $ in other ways.

how do you know before you drive somewhere whether or not it's permit-zoned?? very confusing. like what if you are not visiting someone but going to a restaurant, etc. which areas are more likely to be residential zones??

thanks so much!!

[oakparkdude]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

VERY confusing!!

it's true though, how would someone know this? i'm still in the process of switching everything over so i still have ny plates. i know i'll pay the stupid late fee for the city parking permit, but am i likely to get ticketed? i am hoping since i have out of state plates and registration, i can buy some more time.

Until you change your plates/registration to reflect a Chicago address, you don't need to get the city sticker, so there shouldn't be any late fee. So you're fine with your out of state plates.

[Drover]

You won't get ticketed if you have NY plates. You can't get ticketed with NY plates. You have 30 days from the first day on your lease to get your city sticker without paying a late fee. BUT -- in order to avoid the late fee, you have to buy it directly from the city, and you have to go to one of the Department of Revenue offices to buy it. Info here. Otherwise, you have to pay a $40 late fee AND they won't pro-rate your purchase; and at that point you might as well buy it at a currency exchange.

[jdiddy]

Originally Posted by amy_cate

VERY confusing!!

it's true though, how would someone know this? i'm still in the process of switching everything over so i still have ny plates. i know i'll pay the stupid late fee for the city parking permit, but am i likely to get ticketed? i am hoping since i have out of state plates and registration, i can buy some more time.

it's strange how something is easier in ny. you just have to worry about moving your car for alternate side parking, which is like 2 hrs a 1-2x a week. i guess they get your $ in other ways.

how do you know before you drive somewhere whether or not it's permit-zoned?? very confusing. like what if you are not visiting someone but going to a restaurant, etc. which areas are more likely to be residential zones??

thanks so much!!

The closer to the lake, the higher the chance the neighborhood has permit parking. I think East of Ashland is where it typically starts, but someone else probably knows better since I rarely drive. However, a number of areas bordering the Kennedy also have permit parking as well. That's why I think public trans/cabs are generally easier to go for restaurants. And if you do drive, most restaurants offer valet for 8-10 bucks. Its worth it to me to pay that and save on the 20 minutes searching for parking and making the long trek back to the restaurant.

[jessiegirl_98]

As for permit parking, there are very clear signs posted, you really can't miss them!

[Manigault]

A city sticker is a license to have a car registered to an address in the city. A parking pass is a permit to park in a specific residential area. The parking permits really do not cover more than one area so if you are visiting a friend who lives near a major city attraction (sports stadiums or train stations) you may need to get a visitor's pass to park on the street in that area. The friend who lives in the area may have a supply of the visitor passes.

[Chicago60614]

Yeah, it's actually not TOO confusing.

If you register and live in the city with Illinois plates - you need to get a city sticker to cover your car for being in the city (anywhere in the city).

If you live in certain areas (near the train, near wrigley, very high density) you need to get permit stickers. They're marked with signs all over on the street (Zone 318 Only After 6pm, blah blah). This is to help the people who actually live there find parking easier, and not have it all taken by people going to the cubs game or parking to take the train downtown.

[amy_cate]

it's a little confusing to someone who's completely new to the area and didn't know anything about it. i was just asking because my block isn't residential zoned but i wanted a general idea for other areas in case i venture out by car and need to park.

ny is different - just need to move your car for street "cleaning" (or pushing around/redistributing garbage and dirt) 1-2x a week.

thanks for all the help all. think i have it down somewhat.