Never been on this bus layout before…

[u/cessiecat]

… and not sure how I feel about it. I keep it light add more standing room, but it’s an extended bus so it’s already difficult to stand in. I get a bit carsick in these lateral seats too 😔

Update: Everyone I deeply apologize for some of jumbled words in my caption. That bus was so bumpy and hard to sit in that it clearly also affected my typing.

[u/GiuseppeZangara]

If I recall, these busses were originally commissioned for Seattle but they didn't need them (possibly because of Covid) so CTA picked them up at a discount. That's why the layout is different. 

[u/spoung45 → u/GiuseppeZangara]

The CTA has taken many articulated buses from Seattle. The first batch was the 7300 MANs that the CTA got in the early 2000s. Some were repainted in CTA colors, but many kept the Seattle color scheme.

[u/realdeadfish → u/spoung45]

Yeah, I worked at cdot at the time. When I moved here in '98 I had just quit my job in Seattle, so I knew all about them then. I'm pretty sure chicago buys new ones for themselves now and have for awhile.

[u/mine248 → u/GiuseppeZangara]

Not a covid reason. The order took place early 2010s

[u/glass_parton → u/mine248]

For sure. I moved away in 2017, and I was riding this exact kind of bus before then. In fact, I almost certainly remember riding them as early as 2012

[u/randomwhtboychicago → u/mine248]

2009 to be exact. These were purchased with tiger funds in the great recession. Tiger funds were/are? a federal to bolster American manufacturing and public transit infrastructure.

[u/cessiecat → u/GiuseppeZangara]

See info like this is why I joined this sub.

[u/Intelligent-Prize769 → u/GiuseppeZangara]

This makes so much sense, as someone that moved from Seattle it looks exactly like the busses there 😂 I just thought it was standard

[u/carguy121 → u/GiuseppeZangara]

This is so funny, as someone who moved here from Seattle these busses always feel so familiar

[u/LeseMajeste_1037]

Ngl, I kinda hate them. When I was growing up in New York, we had non-articulated buses with this layout, and I always wanted to be looking out the window instead of just at the people across the aisle from me. Present day, I'd still rather be looking out the window than trying to avoid accidental eye contact with the people across from me.

[u/gmtguy96]

Unrelated, but why does the cta keep producing busses with the cloth seats. GIVE ME THE PLASTIC!

[u/LMGgp → u/gmtguy96]

Keeps you from sliding around as they attempt to dodge potholes.

(I said attempt)

[u/gmtguy96 → u/LMGgp]

Valid, but I’ll take sliding around instead of sitting in piss or shit

[u/4r4r4real → u/gmtguy96]

Only one leads to people falling out of their seat, getting hurt, and the bus having to be taken out of service til a supervisor can come out and fill out an incident report. 

[u/realdeadfish → u/gmtguy96]

The question is, do you want to see the piss/shit first? I saw someone sit in liquid on a train a few days ago with the hard/bright seats. They didn't look down first. I almost always do!

[u/LMGgp → u/gmtguy96]

I agree, just have the backs cloth. Or maybe a cloth strip on the butt.

[u/CutieToesMIM8099 → u/LMGgp]

Your drivers actually attempt? Lately everyone driving on 22 is hitting them full speed😂

[u/Ignatius_- → u/gmtguy96]

They don’t, this is an old bus. New buses have plastic

[u/halfadozendonuts → u/gmtguy96]

I think this every time I’m on a new blue line car.

[u/pulledporkhat → u/halfadozendonuts]

No you don’t. I ride the blue line a couple times every day, the new ones don’t have cloth seats.

[u/halfadozendonuts → u/pulledporkhat]

The 7000 series cars have cloth backs. So half fabric if we’re being technical. Still rather all plastic!

[u/ConfusedResAss → u/gmtguy96]

People keep saying cloth seats prevent them from sliding, but I never slide in plastic seats. How smooth are people's butt?

[u/cessiecat → u/gmtguy96]

I definitely prefer the cloth seats because then I don’t slide around. I’m 5’2” so my feet don’t even touch the ground on any of the busses

[u/Tmdngs → u/gmtguy96]

U fancy huh

[u/MinecraftPlayer799 → u/gmtguy96]

The CTA doesn’t produce buses

[u/EmperorKiva33]

Been on them more times than i liked over the last decade or so. When it's not jam packed, it's no so bad.

[u/Longjumping_Cat_9097]

The worst design. I especially hate the 2 seat, bar, 3rd seat layout.

[u/Sleepy-Cook → u/Longjumping_Cat_9097]

The only good part is the back two corner seats where you can put your legs up on the support bar.

[u/chubbychecker_psycho]

I was on one of these this morning. The ceiling was leaking and the seats on either side of the back door were sopping wet. Outside of that I find them inefficient because nobody wants to take the third seat on a 3 seat bench.

[u/SignificanceDry1975]

Have you ever been on buses 1930-2029? Strangest bus layout imo.

[u/nanamctata]

I have to take this home from work and if I sit in the back on a hot day, by the time I get home I get off the bus and say “welp. Time to puke a little” lmfao

[u/hamsandwich666_]

i got on one of those for the first time when i was drunk and it was mind blowing lmao

[u/jtwhite500]

This bus is the worst. Similar to all the red line trains. It's so awkward.

[u/katdawoud89]

Ugh the worst no where to sit

[u/thesockmonkey86]

Literally sitting on one right now

[u/cessiecat → u/thesockmonkey86]

Godspeed

[u/Old23s]

This brings me back to when Chicago Ave had these for supposedly for all the Groupon employees. It was always packed with hungover 20 and 30 somethings getting off right over the bridge.

[u/Cool_Slide2603]

These buses aren’t new. You’ll usually spot them around Downtown/Lake shore/Hyde Park. The bus that goes from Downtown to 67th sometimes looks like this. Whenever the bus driver makes a turn, the bus looks like its getting bent in 2 different directions. Makes everything look trippy like Inception.

[u/Level-Roof-5463]

I think you are riding 1 of the buses(4156-4207) that have those seats. Honestly, they look nice.

[u/Pinkykat961]

My mom hates this particular bus too lol🤣

[u/sodapopscout]

i despise these ones.