Transit trash talk
Will Guzzardi, who is hoping to dethrone state Rep. Toni Berrios (D-Chicago) by winning March’s Democratic primary election, on Thursday participated in an “Ask Me Anything” segment on the popular online forum Reddit. As the title suggests, Reddit users were given the opportunity to ask Guzzardi anything. The questions ranged from, “Why are there always so many attractive humans in [your] office?” to “What issue do you see as the highest priority in the 39th [District] right now?”
When asked how he would help provide affordable transportation in Chicago as a state lawmaker, Guzzardi said, “This one’s personal for me,” because he does not own a car and either rides his bike or takes public transportation. While on the topic of public transit, Guzzardi proclaimed, “Ventra sucks. They can pry my Chicago Card Plus out of my cold dead hand.”
Bar business
Crain’s Chicago Business published a feature story on the Chicago area’s best bars in which to conduct business deals, stating in the story, “Chatting over drinks can fast-track a business deal, but only if you know where to go.” On Crain’s list of the six best such bars in Chicagoland were Gage, Hubbard Inn, J. Alexander’s, Rebar, Sable Kitchen & Bar and University Club of Chicago Presidents’ Bar.
Really?
In its listicle from earlier this month on the rude habits of Chicago Transit Authority passengers, which is still circulating on social media, the blog Thrillist said that 1.6 million rides are taken on CTA vehicles each day. Due to the high volume of riders, it’s a safe bet that every CTA passenger at some point has observed some unruly behavior from a fellow commuter. According to Thrillist, “anyone using a cellphone as a boombox,” “the rush hour biker” and “the guy who makes the train his home office” are among “the 21 worst people on the CTA.”
Getting around
A new interactive map based on the 2012 American Community Survey 5-year estimates published on Transitized.com depicts the preferred transportation modes of Chicago commuters, by neighborhood. Travelers by foot dominated the Loop area, while neighborhoods near the Red Line North were predominately inhabited by public transit riders. Most Chicagoans tough, according to the map, drive to work alone.
-Tom Butala