CTA monthly passes go from $86 to $100

This is an insane hike!  As someone who works for a non-profit, this is an outrageous expense for me.  In winter months I find it unbearable to ride my bike to work, but it appears riding a bike is quickly becoming the more reasonable way to travel, despite comfort. 

Is it just me, or is Chicago becoming way too expensive to live comfortably in?  I just had to downsize to a studio because I could no longer afford my 1 bedroom. 

Ah, inflation....

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Permalink Reply by Kate on November 30, 2012 at 7:33am

Megan, I plan to do the same thing! I did this over the past year and it worked out very well, but I just moved and my commute now is an additional 4.5 miles so I'd hesitated to continue and switched over to the monthly. With this fare hike though, it will be quite an adjustment come spring, but very worth it in my opinion! 

Megan Backes said:

I bike 2-3 time a week to work spring - fall and rarely in the winter.  I've been getting the unlimited pass ride using pre-taxed funds from my paycheck each month, so even though I don't use it as much when it is warmer, it was close to being a wash on expenses when compared to paying per ride. 

With the cost of the unlimted pass going up, but not the cost per ride, I'm going to switch over to the Chicago Card Plus in the spring and have a lower amount taken out each month.  Like others suggested, the money will collect over the warm months, and I'll dip into it more in the cold ones. 

In the end, I will probably be spending less on public transit than I do now, and I'll have extra encouragement to bike more and stay healthy!  I hope this encourages more biking among others too.

Permalink Reply by Joe Schmoe on November 30, 2012 at 7:44am

Jaysus. I take CTA as little as possible. Thanks to (apparently) global warming, there seem to be less than 60 commutes a year I can't take via bicycle.  $270/year, + as many down-town and across-town rides, I probably spend $500.  Or 2 mos worth of (crappy) car payments. Add in maybe $300/year in bike maintenance.  Come one. 

Permalink Reply by Megan B on November 30, 2012 at 8:02am

I know what you mean about distance, Kate.  My commute by bike is 9 miles, and I'm walking distance to the CTA, which is why I only bike a few days a week and in nicer weather, but changing to a pay-per-ride pass will motivate me to bike a little more.
 
Kate said:

Megan, I plan to do the same thing! I did this over the past year and it worked out very well, but I just moved and my commute now is an additional 4.5 miles so I'd hesitated to continue and switched over to the monthly. With this fare hike though, it will be quite an adjustment come spring, but very worth it in my opinion! 

Megan Backes said:

I bike 2-3 time a week to work spring - fall and rarely in the winter.  I've been getting the unlimited pass ride using pre-taxed funds from my paycheck each month, so even though I don't use it as much when it is warmer, it was close to being a wash on expenses when compared to paying per ride. 

With the cost of the unlimted pass going up, but not the cost per ride, I'm going to switch over to the Chicago Card Plus in the spring and have a lower amount taken out each month.  Like others suggested, the money will collect over the warm months, and I'll dip into it more in the cold ones. 

In the end, I will probably be spending less on public transit than I do now, and I'll have extra encouragement to bike more and stay healthy!  I hope this encourages more biking among others too.

Permalink Reply by daWillinChi on December 21, 2012 at 9:54am

Here's the official email from CTA:

Dear Chicago Card Plus Customer:

We want to briefly share with you some information about CTA’s upcoming fare changes and how they will impact you.

Effective January 14, 2013, CTA fares will change.  Please visit www.transitchicago.com/assets/1/media_relations_documents/Pass_Incr... to learn more about the new fare structure.

If you use your Chicago Care Plus as a pay-per-use customer, there will not be any changes to your fare.

If your Chicago Card Plus is set up as an unlimited-use 30-day pass, CTA will honor the $86 pass price for those setting up a new pass prior to January 14, 2013. Effective January 14, 2013 all 30-day passes will be charged the new price of $100.  Please log into your account at www.chicago-card.com to view your pass information.

Permalink Reply by Lanterne Rouge on December 21, 2012 at 11:13am

Yep. I switched my wife to a Chicago Card Plus w/ a pay-per-use plan. At least we don't have to run out to the grocery store to buy paper monthly passes any more. I wish I would have switched to the CCP sooner.

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