Public Transportation Chronicles

With Othello

By the time I get off work it is considered rush hour on for the CTA (Chicago Transportation Authority). I see school kids, college students, citizens going about their daily lives and workers. I take the train to and from work. So, since I get off work during the evening hours, by time I get on the platform to wait for the Kimball bound train at the Belmont Brown Line, the train is crowded! So, I wait, I wait and wait for the least crowded train. Here is why:

I refuse to squeeze myself on a crowded train. I want to get home and relax just like the next person, but I will wait. I have no problem waiting. I rather wait then to be real life belly to belly with another rider. You are probably wondering why I said “belly to belly with another rider” here is what happened.

One hot summer Chicago day I was on the train coming from work. Nothing new for me. The train was not overly crowded even though I had to stand. Standing is no big deal for me. At each stop the train made, more and more riders started to board the train. Then this happened, this guy just as big as me if not bigger decided to squeeze his big self on the already stuffed train and stand across from me right by the doors. I am like… Got damn man. Really? We both big as hell and you are going to get on too? It was not until I realized our bellies were touching that I really got upset. So, you have two big belly men standing across from each other touching bellies. It may have been ok with him. This is probably what he does. But this was not for me. That was too uncomfortable and weird for me. So, I got off the next stop and waited and waited for the next least crowded train.

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Stay tuned every Monday evening for a new public transit story. Trust me… there is always something happening on the CTA.

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