Evidently, someone just pushed the button so hard it fell in. Or the button is being repaired.

Or, the assistant is IN THERE

Posted by: lm at May 24, 2007 01:25 AM

This is only a small example of the large problems that the transportation systems in the Chicago area just suck. It's not just the CTA.

The token mass transit system is good at getting you to or from downtown Chicago, and nowhere else, meaning that most commuters in the area must drive, and it almost seems that the expressways are designed to cause traffic jams. There are numerous stretches where there are three or more on ramps between off ramps, meaning that if you find yourself in a traffic jam, you have to stay in it for miles as more and more cars try to cram onto the already crowded road. Many major interchanges are missing expected ramps, meaning that there is more than one place in the system where it is necessary to use two parts of a partial cloverleaf to effectively make a convoluted U-turn just to get to a ramp that gets off where you want. And to top it all off, they do construction on all of the main routes at the same time, meaning it's impossible to avoid construction delays.

If you get fed up with all of this and decide to walk, you're screwed, too. Sidewalks and crosswalks are inconsistent outside of downtown. In fact there is an intersection near my place that has crosswalk signals, but lacks painted crosswalks, and just to rub salt in the wound, one corner has a guardrail running around it that you have to step over. It has to be seen to be believed. In fact, if I can remember to, I'll take a picture of it and submit it here myself.

Oh, yes, the CTA's customer service is spotty, but that's only a small part of how much transportation in Chicago is broken.

Posted by: bkofford at May 24, 2007 01:34 AM

They should change the message too: *Apply* for customer assistant. ;-)

Posted by: Zephyr at May 24, 2007 12:06 PM

Wow. Broken. Verdict: Broken.

Posted by: Maxaxle at May 29, 2007 07:10 PM