If this were any other station, it would be getting much higher marks. Unfortunately, given its…read morelocation, it has a fatal flaw. More on that later. Addison is accessible, has ample digital signage, and is easy to navigate. It is also wider than average for an 'L' station and is relatively clean, especially given how many people pass through. This amount of foot traffic is, however, its undoing. When there's a Cubs game or another event at Wrigley, Addison proves to be ill-equipped for the sheer volume of people. Yes, there is staff present to help manage crowds, but a packed platform is suboptimal for multiple reasons, especially safety. I appreciate that due to the CTA's setup, one cannot simply wish a wider station into existence. It may be possible, but it would be extraordinarily capital-intensive. That said, CTA-Addison gets the job done very well outside of Wrigley events, and passably during them.

I boarded the redline at Addison for year and years to get downtown for my previous job, so this…read morereview is long overdue. This train stop is very well kept, and I'm sure it's location to Wrigley Field has a lot to do with that. There are two escalators (granted -- one is usually down), an elevator, and a HUGE platform so there is plenty of space to spread out. There is a woman who works here every morning who is as sweet as can be and always greets us regulars with a smile. The redline is not always the safest of trains, but it sure can get you downtown faster than the brown! If you're in town exploring the city or going to a Cubs game, nothing is more convenient than hopping off at Addison as the stop just steps from the field. If you live in the neighborhood, this can definitely be a downside. On game nights, the streets are flooded with fans and vendors. The trains from downtown back up to Wrigley are packed with fans going to the games in addition to the regulars heading home from work. It can definitely add some extra time getting home, which is something to keep in mind during the summer months. Overall, I always feel safe at this stop, the employees are friendly, it's well maintained, and the trains are *usually* on time!

Hopping on a CTA #81 (Lawrence) bus used to be my daily commute to/from work when I lived in Albany…read morePark. This particular route runs 24/7, and many TSAs and ORD workers catch this one. Yes, together in the same bus we were like a large, happy family. At around 10pm, working professionals coming from ORD and Rosemont would get on the blue line train. As many of us were getting discharged at the Jefferson Park stop, we had the last exercise of the day: running all the way to #81 and hoping everyone of us had a seat (unlikely...because this one is always crowed during that time). Eastbound #81 begins at Jefferson Park Transportation Center. Immediately there's the first point of interest: - Copernicus Center: the annual north side Polish Fest on Labor Day weekend is hosted here. They have different activities going on throughout the year. Let's get back on the bus and continue our journey, or you may remain in the neighborhood and get a new tattoo at Chitown Tattoo, off Leclaire and I-90. I've heard many good reviews on their work. As we are heading east, we will be passing Mayfair and Albany Park. Albany Park is known to be one of the most diverse neighborhoods in Chicago. There are a few hole-in-the-wall places that actually were gems in my opinion: - Fish N' Go (cash-only): ask Nick, the owner, if there are oysters available. My parents used to surprise me with their delicious fried oysters after a long day of work. - Lawrence Fish Market (cash-only): affordable prices on quality sashimi, sushi, and maki rolls. Put their number on your speed dial and call ahead. - Markellos (cash-only): lights are on 24/7. I guarantee that you will never go hungry cruising through Albany Park. Ladies and gentlemen, now you've arrived at the CTA Kimball Brown Line station. That's probably what I'm missing the most living in Albany Park. The brown line provides an easy access to the Chicago Loop. From there it connects to other transportation options to the south/ southwest side of neighborhoods. By the way, "Hot Dog Station" on Kimball by Kimball Brown Line station is a good place to grab a quick bite. I don't know or can't recall the owner's name, but he resembles "Aiden" from Sex and the City. Wow, this review is becoming very long, and I should wrap it up ASAP. "Ravenswood" is the next neighborhood. It overlaps with Lincoln Square, near CTA Western Brown Line station. Many people love to hang out here during summer for the farmer's market on select Thursday evenings, trendy bars, and cool small businesses. Metra Union Pacific/North Line has a stop at Ravenswood. This particular Metra routine starts at Chicago-Ogilvie Transportation Center (OTC) and goes to all the way up north in Kenosha, Wisconsin. Attention passengers...we are approaching to Uptown. "Little Vietnam" is within the Uptown neighborhood. Many Vietnamese or other Asian-themed restaurants, bakeries, and businesses are nearby. If you ever wanna see some skimpily-dressed young men and women, come to "Aragon Ballroom" across from CTA Lawrence Red Line station. I almost got hurt by random glass bottles flying over my head while I was waiting for the bus on a late Saturday night. The CTA #81 (Lawrence) bus tour is officially coming to the end. Now it's time to take a quality break at the beautiful, magnificent Lakeshore Path.

The magic #81 Lawrence bus is open 24/7/365, is as clutch and critical as it gets. It starts by…read moreLake Shore Drive and flows through Uptown to pick you up from The Green Mill, Uptown Lounge, Kinetic Playground, The Aragon, The Riv, WIld Pug, or Crew. It goes on west in quick fashion, passing by El Quijote for late night eats, passes by Crafty Beaver and also Golden Nugget. If you need to hop on the Metra, the #81 Lawrence can drop you off at Lawrence and Ravenswood to hop on over. A giant Chase branch exists there that used to be BankOne that used to be First Chicago. Keep going west and you'll find Wendy's, CVS on Damen and Lawrence, El Taco Loco for late night snackery and Walgreen's open until Midnight. Not going to Lincoln Square? That's all right, the #81 will take you on over past Harvest Time for groceries, past by Restaurant Sarajevo, Greek bakeries and a world of small businesses. If it's late and you still haven't stopped try some George's Kebob by Kedzie and the new Mediterranean joint on the corner. Want something less ethic? How bout some Huddle House diner food that's open 24/7? The Filipino grocery is nearby, Popeye's Chicken, Subway, Donut Doctor and a world of $5 hair salons. Want some late night high carb fare? How bout some 24/7 Markello's Bakery? You can take the bus all the way to Jefferson Park, but I am getting off here, see you.

Loyola Red Line station - I love that you have a heating area when it's cold. I love that you are…read morenear the University. I love that you have a Dunkin Donuts. I love that you have a Mickey D's express (well, that's gone now). I love that there is a CVS right nearby. You're just so darn convenient. I love that the bus line that stops right in front will take me right to my door! YOU ROCK! Public transportation is cheaper, more green and relatively more efficient than automobile transport. It is also inconvenient at times and the clientele can be challenging. But, you know what? I'll take it ANY day over sitting on LA's freeways or taking the buses and few trains there. Ya'll are spoiled. There, I said it. Yeah, you Chicagoans .... oughta try living in LA and getting around without a car. Yea, it can be done to a certain degree. But who the hell would want to? You think these trains are bad? At least you have them. I live in an area of the city where every day, I have so many options on how to get where I'm going, it's like a game to figure out which is best. Often, I can just catch the first bus available out of 3 and get to my destination just that quick. Or I can take the train, the bus. The train or the bus. I got so I hardly went anywhere in LA because of the traffic. I pretty much started staying in my neighborhood. Guess what that is? Isolating. Boring. But every time I got into my car to go somewhere, I'd get so aggravated, it just wasn't worth it. Red Line, I love how you connect with other El trains. You're so well designed! I just gotta say -- I also love that you connect with the Blue Line, because the fact that I can get to O'Hare Airport for so little is just ---- the most awesome thing ever!

Like the improvements and the new smoother turn or 'angle for the dangle'…read more the neighborhood gots lot more going on as well.

This is another one of my favorite Metra stops I can easily drive to . I've been coming to this…read moreMetra stop for years . It's normally pretty clean and if you have anything that needs to be taken care of with safety the conductors take care of it .

They are doing upgrades all around the station. A bit dusty now but should look great when they are…read moredone. The station house itself is well taken care of, it is on the south side of the tracks. Which makes sense as that is where commuters wait to catch the train into the city and their jobs. Nobody hangs around once they get off the train. And more importantly the announcement system is clear. I'm constantly taking different train routes and CTA routes so it is nice to know when a train is arriving and when delayed.

I hate you you hooker bus! Three opposite-direction bound…read morebuses will pass by while you stand there fuming waiting for your own. Before you flip out and punch everything in the neck because this is making you late, you ask someone else at the bus stop to please, PLEASE light a cigarette so that the bus will come. And when that cigarette is lit, TWO if not THREE freakin' buses in a pack will come.

The Halsted Bus is the main artery of my transportation crux when I'm not riding my bike or taking…read morethe auto-gyro. Tis' quick, quaint, and quiet, in fact, I found a winning lottery ticket for 20 bucks on the seat yesterday. I cashed it in and got engaged to the woman behind the counter because all we could do was talk about how much we love the #8 bus.

Lately I have been within my own head, trying to get out. There are no doors or windows. Or at…read moreleast none that I can see. The light is oh so low. Dim. Emerging from a tunnel. Entering a tunnel. Altogether launching into unknownness with my eyes hurting from the glare. Friends and colleagues keep talking at me, pressing their words against me, pulling their ideas out of their pockets and dangling them before me. I can't quite make them out. This blur. This dimness. This muted world feels like a sleeping hand grasping door knobs. Commuting in a circle behind my eyes, pacing, I await the knowledge of light; the first glimpse. Just lately, this dimness has closed around me and held me like a pool of warm spring water. Honestly, the comings and goings of us all are just so damn hypnotic. It pushes at the eyes like drum flashes of light till we dance away into a numbness of sorts. If you get a chance, balance your gaze out the window of a moving bus and fix your eyes on the air just 6 inches beyond the glass. Don't focus, don't grab a look at any particular thing, just let it float there and wait for your sight to disappear. Not for your eyes to close, but for your thought about your sight to disassociate and relax. There. Right there. Can you see it? Beyond focus? The eyes do you see, the mind sees. The eyes are the tool, like true bus is a tool, or your shoes. The mind sees, 6 inches past the window, a dimness so understandable and delightful; a messy underbelly of life where interpersonal politics matter little. It might be blinding, but it is oh so glorious once we release ourselves from the prison of expectation. Pull the cord and get off.

#120 Ogilvie/Wacker Express…read more Why does this bus get one star? It is a waste of money. The CTA should combine routes #120, #121, #122, and #123 into a single, efficient route that (miraculously) wastes fewer resources than the four individual, pointless routes. Also, hooray for the CTA: supervisors consistently tell tourists that all four go to Navy Pier at all times of the day. Fail.