How To Survive The Commute In Chicago

A recent study has found that Chicago’s workers officially have the longest commute in the country. Online retailer Auto Accessories Garage analyzed data from the U.S. Census Bureau and found that the average commute in Chicago takes 32.4 minutes, three minutes longer than New York and 14 minutes longer than Omaha, which had the shortest time. If that comes as no surprise to you, maybe it’s time to mix up your daily routine by considering new ways to beat the rat race.

Bike

Chicago is a bike-friendly city, having invested heavily in infrastructure to encourage people to take two wheels rather than four. There are over 200 miles (322 kilometers) of on-street bike lanes and more than 13,000 bike racks in the city, and the Chicago Streets for Cycling Plan 2020 is aiming for a 645-mile (1,028-kilometer) network to be in place by 2020. Don’t have a bike and don’t want to invest in one? The Divvy scheme allows you to grab a bike and go whenever you want, and easily drop it off when you no longer need it.

Chicago Water Taxi

Public transport

While it may not necessarily shorten your commute, taking public transport can certainly make the time more productive. Reading a book, listening to an audiobook or podcast, or, if you must, catching up on work can all distract you from the amount of time you spend traveling from point A to point B. A Ventra card is the easiest and cheapest way to pay for CTA buses and the “L” train system.

Park & Ride

Not being near to an “L” or Metra stop doesn’t mean you should rule out taking the train, as driving to one and then catching a train can still be shorter than dealing with the rush hour traffic all the way into downtown. Parking at a CTA Park & Ride lot or Metra station is also cheaper than parking downtown, even with the added cost of the train. Find a list of all CTA Park & Ride lots here and Metra parking information here.

Walk

Combining a commute with exercise is certainly a bonus, with obvious physical health benefits alongside the improvement in mood that comes from not spending over an hour a day sitting in traffic jams. Of course, it may not be possible to replace your whole commute with walking, but if it’s just as fast to walk as it is to crawl through traffic for part of the trip, walking is better for you and the city. Worried about the weather? Familiarize yourself with the Chicago Pedway System.

Take a scenic route

If you are going to cycle or walk, do it in style. Enjoy a great start to your day or de-stress on the way home by enjoying the relaxing sights and sounds of scenic routes such as the Lakefront Trail, the 606, and the North Shore Channel Trail. As well as having great views, public art, and green space, these routes are also direct, fast and easy to navigate—there is no traffic and fewer pedestrians.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.