Chicago Transportation

There are so many different transportation options for getting from point a to point b in Chicago. It’s important to weigh what’s most important to you for different situations – time required or cost. The rise of on-demand transportation has made it more cost-effective to get places quickly, so I’ll summarize the differences between options.

Uber. Most Chicagoans have a love/hate relationship with Uber. We hate Uber when we have somewhere to be, or just want to go home, only to find that Uber has jacked up their pricing to an insane amount ($60 minimum to go half a mile? No thank you). We hate it so much that someone even made an app to find locations that help avoid the surge pricing. On the flip side, Uber is always the quickest to pick me up and very cost-effective when not on the surge.

Promo code: je0tr for $10-30 off first ride (depending on current promotion)

Lyft. Lyft is Uber’s unpopular little brother. I have found that there are never as many Lyft rides available as there are Uber rides. However, unlike Uber, Lyft rarely initiates surge pricing, so it’s a good alternative on days you know you’ll be paying double or more on Uber (think: any major holiday or event that involves drinking).

Promo code: MADDY360 for $20 towards first ride

Curb. Previously known as TaxiMagic, Curb is an on-demand service for catching a Cab. This will, on average, cost more than Uber, HOWEVER, they will never have surge pricing. Since Curb operates through a large network of cabs, you have a good shot of catching one during a crazy event or holiday.

Promo code: A09F86 for $10 towards first ride

Sidecar. Sidecar is an interesting spin on the aforementioned on-demand transportation solutions. There are two important differences that make this option pretty awesome:

1. Drivers “bid” on a ride based on the distance, so a person can see how much it will cost with different drivers before booking it
2. Shared rides are often available where a person literally shares a ride with someone else heading their direction – could cost as little as $3

A caveat – Sidecar is not as well-known or widely used as any of the other apps previously mentioned. On average, it will take longer to be picked up. Sharing is caring! Spread the word so more people use it and transportation options increase in Chicago.

Promo code: MADDY59 for $20 worth of credit

Divvy. For those not in the know (or perhaps blind, as the flashy Divvy hubs are on practically every block on busy Chicago streets), Divvy is a bike sharing service that has recently taken the city by storm. Sometimes it makes more sense than riding your own bike when a person needs a one-way transportation option to a relatively close place. Divvy costs about $75 annually, but a lot of Chicago employers will cover some of the cost (just ask). Additionally, Divvy runs specific promotions on the regular, so if you can afford to wait, be patient and stake out the best price.

CTA. You can’t live in Chicago and not use the CTA. There’s almost always an efficient way to get from point a to point by using a mix of trains and buses. For $2.25 a ride (or $100 unlimited each month), it’s definitely cheaper than any on-demand transportation. If  you decided to sell your old car, a car removal company will pay and remove your car on the same day!

The best thing you can do is make a plan ahead of time so you don’t end up wasting money at the last minute.

Any awesome transportation solutions I missed? Sound off in the comments.