📋 Assignment 04
Transit Guide

Getting Around Chicago

Navigate the Windy City like a local — from the iconic elevated 'L' train to bike share, water taxis, and everything in between.

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L Train Lines
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L Train Stations
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Divvy Stations
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Lakefront Trail
The L

Chicago's Elevated Train System

Eight color-coded lines serving 145 stations. The Loop's elevated tracks are a Chicago landmark — riding any line through downtown is an experience in itself.

CTA Fares

Same fare covers both L trains and CTA buses. Free transfer within 2 hours.

MethodSingle RideTransferDay Pass
Ventra Card$2.50$0.25$5.00
Ventra Ticket$3.00$0.25$10.00
Cash (bus only)$2.50No transfer—
Airport surcharge+$2.00 (O'Hare)—Included in pass
Bike Share

Divvy Bikes

Chicago's bike-share system with classic and electric bikes at 800+ docking stations. Perfect for the Lakefront Trail or short hops between neighborhoods.

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Classic Bikes
Available Now
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E-Bikes
Available Now
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Active Stations
City-wide
Fetching live data…
Divvy GBFS · Updated on page load
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Day Pass

$15/day covers unlimited 3-hour classic bike rides. Electric bikes cost $1 to unlock plus $0.17 per minute. Available in the Divvy app.

From $15 / day
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Divvy App

Find stations, check real-time availability, and unlock bikes directly from your phone. Apple Pay and Google Pay supported at docking stations.

Free App
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Lakefront Trail

18.5 miles of paved, largely flat trail along Lake Michigan. The best Divvy route in the city — ride from Museum Campus all the way to Evanston.

Free Trail
More Ways to Move

All Transit Options

Chicago's network goes beyond the L — buses cover every corner, water taxis cruise the river, and downtown is surprisingly walkable.

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CTA Bus

130+ routes covering every neighborhood. Uses the same Ventra card as the L train. Buses on Michigan Ave, State St, and Clark St run every 5–10 minutes during the day.

$2.50 / ride
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Chicago Water Taxi

Seasonal river and lakefront service April through October. Stops at Michigan Ave, Chinatown, the Riverwalk, and Goose Island. Great alternative to rush-hour traffic.

Apr – Oct · From $6
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Rideshare

Uber and Lyft are widely available. Expect surge pricing on game nights at Wrigley Field or Soldier Field. Use designated rideshare pickup zones to avoid fines.

Price varies
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Metra Commuter Rail

11 commuter rail lines connecting Chicago to the suburbs. Useful for day trips to Evanston, Oak Park, or the North Shore. Departs from Union Station and Ogilvie.

From $3.25
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Driving & Parking

Downtown parking is expensive ($20–$50/day). Use SpotHero or ParkChicago apps to pre-book. Avoid street parking during snow emergencies — cars get towed immediately.

$20–$50 downtown
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On Foot

Millennium Park, the Riverwalk, Navy Pier, and the Art Institute are all within a 15-minute walk of each other. The Loop is one of the most walkable downtown cores in the US.

Always free
Pro Tip

Get a Ventra Card

Ventra is Chicago's official transit card. One card works on both the L and all CTA buses — and you save $0.50 per round trip vs. paying cash.

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Ventra Card — $5 to get started

Available at every L station vending machine, Walgreens, and CVS. Tap-to-pay compatible — works with Apple Pay & Google Pay too.

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Get the card

Pick one up at any L station vending machine or convenience store for $5 (includes $2.50 in credit).

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Load value

Add $5, $10, or $20 at any station kiosk or online at ventrachicago.com. Balance never expires.

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Tap & ride

Tap at any L turnstile or bus farebox. $2.50 per ride, free transfers to bus or L within 2 hours.

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Track it

The free Ventra app shows your balance, trip history, and lets you add funds from anywhere.