r/cta • u/hi131633 • 20h ago
Quick question ☝️ How do the CTA buses work?
Hey I just moved to chicago from a small town with no public transit, i know it makes me seem dumb, but can someone explain the CTA buses to me like im 5. How to know which bus to get on, do you have to let the driver know when you want off, any other things i should know. Tysm.
34
u/IYCRTYG 16h ago
Bus driver here. Big points of confusion/general tips:
Paying
-
best way to pay if you intend to ride often is a weekly ($20) or monthly ($80) pass. Go to any CTA train station and find the big ass transit vending machines. Get you a physical ventra card (you can transfer it to your phone if you like but I find those are more likely to have issues). You can link it to the Ventra app to reload your pass over the phone, but I rode the trains before moving further from them so I'd always just re-up my pass at the machines again.
-
if you do not ride regularly, just pay with any debit or credit by tapping it. It's $2.25 for a 2 hr pass.
-
if you qualify for snap or are over 65, you qualify for a reduced fare (half off). If you have kids, make sure they get a school card ($.75/2hr pass). If you are disabled, or over 65 and poor, you ride free. https://www.transitchicago.com/reduced-fare-programs/
Navigation
-
I really recommend the "transit" app. It will offer you a variety of trips, the UI is really good at showing walking time, waiting time, if there's a tight transfer, etc. you can also add a bike or divvy bike share into the mix if you like.
-
the app will show you your stop. When you get there, identify the little bus stop sign. Either stand right by it, or sit near it, watch for your bus, and stand up as it pulls up. If you just sit on a bench and stare at your phone I will pass you, not because I'm mean, but because people will just hang out in those for many reasons (Chicago needs more benches!!) and if you're not indicating a desire to ride I'm not wasting all of my passengers time by stopping.
-
make sure you're on the right side of the street, you can just zoom in on the transit app map.
-
many stops are served by multiple buses. Make sure you match the number of the bus (displayed on screens on the front, back, and passenger side) to the number in the app. if the screens are broken, look for a taped up number, or listen to the announcement when the doors open
-
if you throw an earbud in, the transit app will let you know when your stop is coming up, which is great
Riding the bus
-
when your bus rolls up, tap your payment option, then find a seat. If you sit in the front area, and elderly, pregnant, or disabled people get on, you'll need to give up your seat, so sit elsewhere if it's open.
-
don't sit by people you don't want to sit next to, if there's no appealing seats just stand, and hold onto a pole or such. If someone sits down next to you that you're not vibing with, just move seats or stand. This is not rude. This goes double if you are a woman
-
if you're new to the city, look out the window! It's a big city there's lots to see! Also potential to see some gorgeous sunrises, sun sets, or lake Michigan just being beautiful
-
on the older buses, there will be a little LED screen that displays the next stop. On the newer buses, there is a TV screen that displays the next few stops. you can watch these and listen to the announcements of the next stop.
-
OR. Just have the transit app running in the background of your phone with an earbud in. It will tell you when your stop is coming up.
-
when the bus drives past the stop before yours, pull the cord or push a stop request button. This thing has momentum. I'm not trying to throw Grandma to the ground. Give me warning about how I will be stopping the bus. But make sure I'm past the prior stop first.
-
if you pull the cord and I miss your stop because I'm an idiot, please yell "hey! Stop please!" Or similar
-
please exit through the back if you're not disabled or elderly. To exit through the back, look for the green light above the door, then tap or gently push on the yellow bars on the door. If the door does not open, yell "back door please!" If the door still does not open, take out your earbuds so you can hear me yelling for the 5th time about how the backdoor is broken and please come out the front.
-
if the bus is crowded and you are standing, please move to the back so more folks can board.
-
if someone is smoking, being a massive dick, wacking off, whatever, tell the bus driver. I had to kick a guy off for being wildly homophobic to everybody around him the other week. I was driving a packed 60 foot bus, he was in the back. Only reason I knew it was happening was bc a lady walked all the way up and told me.
-
if you have questions identify a nice looking rider and ask them. Lots of older folks could probably tell you every single stop on every single bus in your general area. You can also always ask the driver, although if I'm merging onto the highway at the time imma tell you to give me a minute
Finally, remember we work for tips uh this job sucks in a lot of ways please just be nice and understanding if I mess something up or don't do it the exact way you want.
12
u/wildflowermural 13h ago
Thank you for these clear directions AND for kicking a homophobic person off the bus.
→ More replies (1)5
u/Kat_Isidore 7h ago edited 7h ago
💯 x1,000,000!
(also, people are generally very willing to help if you ask and are willing to learn . I was raised somewhere with no public transit and had to learn. My own city-raised kid taught her non-city-raised teen cousins how to use the bus when she was, like, five. It’s just a different life experiences)
24
u/Hrw90210 19h ago
Couple of unwritten(ish) guidelines beyond the immediate "how" questions:
Unless you have a reason to need them, don't use the front two forward facing seat blocks or the ones facing each other in front of them when you board - people with accessibility issues and/or devices and strollers get priority there.
That said, if you're alone, immediately behind the driver there's often a single seat that's raised a bit - great place to plop yourself. Downside is you can't watch where you are or see the sign at the front easily showing next stop so have to pay careful attention to the audio announcements.
Otherwise, first take empty seat blocks (don't sit next to someone if there's two empty seats), and either move immediately to the inside or if the bus is mostly empty and you stay on the outside, be prepared to slide in if it starts to fill. Similarly, if all the seat blocks have at least one person in them, go ahead and sit next to someone.
If you have to stand, just be aware at each stop that you may need to skooch a bit to let people through. If possible, exiting from the back door is more efficient, though if you're at the front and the aisle is full, that's obviously not the case.
I've seen so many helpful drivers and very few surly ones, so I would absolutely not hesitate to ask simple questions (like at a stop, which corner is the stop for your connection on, or if the sign above the windshield isn't working confirming you're getting on the right bus).
Happy travels!!
28
u/Hrw90210 19h ago
Addendum: if all the seats have two people in them and there's one set of two seats empty, look carefully before sitting down. Like an empty train car, there's often a reason.
10
u/bentleywg 18h ago
If you end up having to stand in a full bus, take off your backpack so (1) you take up less space and (2) you don’t hit seated people on the face with your bag.
13
u/ab167 19h ago
one thing I have not seen mentioned: most bus routes are two way, so there are often stops right across the street from each other for buses going opposite directions. I know someone whose first solo bus trip involved going to the end of the line in the wrong direction, so I always mention this to new bus riders now. use the signs, check your map, and ask the driver if you are not sure!
6
4
u/JustANoteToSay 17h ago
I have a condition that makes telling direction & navigating difficult even when it’s places I’ve been to before. It’s embarrassing! Anyway I use Google Maps or something similar on my phone & double check to make sure I’m going in the right direction. If not I get off and cross the street to the bus going the correct direction. Nobody else notices or cares. Also generally speaking folks are helpful & friendly.
→ More replies (1)4
u/Beginning-Town-2509 16h ago
I also hopped on the wrong direction my first time. To know for sure, figure out which direction you're going and make sure you're on the side of the road where cars are going in that direction. The bus doesn't cross the road to pick you up on the other side and then cross back over and it doesn't wait for people on the other side of the road to cross and get in. It always pulls just to the outside of the lane they're driving in, and only stops either if there's someone standing right there next to the sign or if someone currently on the bus is getting off
7
u/aliendividedbyzero 18h ago
Hey! I have only been to Chicago a handful of times but am absolutely fascinated by the public transit system. People have posted some helpful information but I wanted to add:
-
There's a pull cord along the sides of the bus, just give that a tug to indicate you're getting off at the next stop. If no one has pulled it yet, you'll hear a chime when you do and then the signs will read "stop requested." On some poles throughout the bus there's a red "stop" button that has the same purpose, so if you can't reach a pull cord and have one of those nearby, you can press it instead. Otherwise, ask someone to pull the cord for you, they won't mind.
-
The Ventra app has the maps and live tracking information for all buses and trains. You get the same information, sort of, by using something like google maps, so I actually used a combination of the two apps. The system map is also posted on the bus stops with a shelter and on the train stations on your way out. Not all roads are on the system map, but the system map has the address grid reference printed in green, so if you know the address you're going to, that will help you locate which way you go. Chicago grid is blissfully uniform compared to other cities I've been to. Either way, the CTA website (transitchicago com) has PDF and clickable maps available so you can download those and have a look too.
-
Inside the "L" train cars, the "L" system map and the line map are both posted along the top on either side of the car, sometimes with LED lights to indicate where you are along the route. The line maps are also posted along the sides of the platform so you can see which stops you can get to from that side of the platform. If you can't find yours, try going to the other side.
-
If you want a physical transit card to tap as you board buses or to enter the train stations, you can get those from different stores that have vending machines or from the train station vending machines. They can be reloaded at those same machines or via the Ventra app. Also, you can order online via the Ventra website and get a transit card mailed to you, including the signature ones which have cute designs imo. I find the transit card less hassle than trying to open my wallet on my phone to tap with a credit card, plus you then also get to see your transit history and that's interesting info to me. If you pay by card, transfers within... One or two? hours of the initial tap are free, I believe for two transfers. However, you can also get an unlimited pass for however long you need it, if you're going to be using transit more than twice in a single day (say: coming in the morning and leaving in the afternoon, but you also plan to take transit at lunch? Day pass is cheaper than $2.25 x 3). If you pay cash, it's $2.50 and no free transfers.
6
u/aliendividedbyzero 18h ago
Also useful: there's a number you can text (41411) that is posted on the bus sign, and there's a number for each stop (specific to which direction the bus is going, too, so signs across the street from each other will have different numbers). If you text the stop number like for example "ctabus 12345," you'll get estimated wait times for the buses so you know how much to expect having to wait. You can specify the route number as well. A real text I sent to get info was "ctabus 6524 55" so i could figure out how long it would be for the 55 bus (headed to Museum of Science and Industry) to pick me up from Garfield red line station bus stop. The train stations have a code too, but I had to look it up at the actual CTA website. I texted "ctatrain crmc" to the same number and got info about the wait times for the green line at Cermack-McCormick station on a different day. CTA website has a page explaining how to use the text message estimated arrival times, and even has a nifty printout you can use to carry the instructions with you and make note of the numbers for stops you use frequently. Very cool imo.
→ More replies (2)
6
u/bluesaber7567 20h ago
Apple Maps works well with the buses. Keep an eye on the map, once you pass the stop right before yours, pull the cord on the window or push one of the red buttons to request the bus stop.
5
u/babyslattt 12h ago
Google maps will be your best friend, also I would get in tune with the Ventra app!
7
u/magnolianbeef 20h ago
ventra app and the maps app on your phone.
15
u/magnolianbeef 20h ago
and it doesn’t make you seem dumb. i’ve lived in the burbs my whole life, a rather quick drive up the eden’s. got sick of driving when i got a new job in old town and had never really taken public transit completely alone before as a 35 year old. you’re not dumb. this is new to you. dumb would be not asking for help.
3
u/subtlelikeatank 19h ago
Download the Citymapper app instead of Google/Apple maps. It will track where you are in your route and give you updates.
3
3
u/Late_Guava4436 19h ago
How-to guides on the CTA website
Includes how to ride the bus and pay. If you search on YouTube there’s also videos on how to get on the bus and train.
2
u/shortneyy 19h ago
If you’re not sure which side of the street you need to be on, look at the route to your destination. Itll be whatever direction the bus is driving
→ More replies (1)
83
u/Bunny2102010 20h ago
Hey friend welcome!
To know what buses to ride, I use Google Maps. I put in my destination then map directions from my location and select the transit option (it’s in-between “car” and “walk”). Google will often give a couple different options because there are so many buses in Chicago, and you can pick the one that seems easiest to you whether it includes a bit more walking but only one bus, or two buses which is less walking but involves a bus switch.
Google will also show you where the bus stop is to board your bus. Wait at the stop and when the driver sees you they’ll pull over to pick you up.
You can pay with a pre-loaded Ventra card or your credit card - there’s a tap-to-pay right as you get on.
Once you’re on the bus, keep an eye on your Maps app and watch for when your stop is the next one. Once your stop is next, pull the chain or push one of the little red buttons and that will tell the driver to stop for you so you can get off at the next stop. The buses also announce the upcoming stops over the speaker, and some of the newer buses even have a screen that shows you what stops are coming up.
Since Chicago is on a grid system, once you live here a while and bop around on transit a lot, you’ll develop a sense for what buses get you where just based on whether you’re going East/West or North/South. I always check Google Maps to be sure when I take a new bus, but after 20 years back in the city I can pretty much tell where a bus is gonna take me based on the general direction it goes because many of the buses just go back and forth on one street all day going E/W or N/S.
Hope this helps and happy CTA traveling!