CTA in Chicago - Safety?

Its fine. Yeah, you have some infinitesimal chance of there being a real issue. But have any of you scaredy cats bothered figuring out the road accident rate in the US lately? I'd be very, very surprised if driving ANYWHERE is safer than taking a subway.

I have 3 subway tickets on me at all times because the systems work so well, Washington DC, New Yorks and Chicago. Well, 4, but thats because I live near Philadelphia.

CTA is fine at midnight. Go into the car with the operator if it scares you.

Ed

Wow, I didn't expect this many replies and debates for my simple question. Thank you very much, you all have been very helpful. We may take the shuttle just to be on the safe side. But it's good to know that the majority here think the train is pretty safe, so we may take that if we're feeling a little adventurous.

Have a nice time, dregar.

I admire that, #19.

Oh, and sorry for implying that you might do that, #19. I must have been in a punky mood that day. I pissed off Willy too.

ticotim says "A taxi is obviously safer". Are you sure about that? Auto accident rates are higher than train accident rates aren't they? There seems to be a near consensus that being shot or whatever on the train is a very low probability, so maybe the chance of being hurt in a motor vehicle accident outweighs that?

I'm just asking because I really don't know, but the taxi being safer sure doesn't seem obvious to me.

#23
No worries

I'd take the Blue Line in. I wouldn't even think twice about it, and I would recommend it to others.

I've done it many, many, many times, and I took it all the way to Pilsen, where I lived, then walked from Damen (where the El is) to Blue Island where my apartment was.

I did this daily from Evanston, so I had to change trains (or even catch the bus!) downtown late at night, usually right around midnight-ish.

No problems if you
a) ride in the fromt car with the conductor
b) aren't 80 years old and carrying cameras around your necks
c) getting off the train at the stops along the eisenhower.

Well, I go to and from Ohare weekly for business flights, and take a taxi or car service, before 6am and after 11pm.

I take the train into the city when the taxi line is too long, and the traffic is rush hour.

I ride the El to Midway often, and to Downtown.

In the 15 years I have gone to the airport in a taxi, never a issue accident wise, on the train, I have witnessed fights, arrests, police searches, search dogs, and 4 times the train breakdown....so you tell me.,...the CTA sucks in many regards, as well all know...

#29
Well I'll see your $20, and raise you $50.

-I've had a cab run out of gas and missed my flight (ok, it was Havana, Cuba)
-I've been in a cab that blew a tire on 90 coming back from the airport. It was a disaster.
-I knew two girls who took a cab from the airport and after the cab driver flipped off the guy in front of him, he got out and shot the driver in the head at point blank range 3 times. He didn't even look at them. (Ok, that was in Bogota, Colombia)
-Riding in a train is 15 times safer than riding in an automobile. This is on average. The most common accident or cause of death is to be in a car or killed by a 19 year old male driver, who has been drinking and is speeding, within an hour after midnight. So if you are driving after midnight, your risk increases substantially. Fridays and Saturdays increase your risk even more.
-Riding in a bus is 91 times safer than an auto.