Want To Get Around Chicago? Ride A Bike

I work from home so I haven't paid too much attention to the rising cost of getting around Chicago. I'll take the CTA to any daytime meetings I attend, but those aren't that frequent. For evening events, most of which are downtown, I'll park at my fairly central double-secret garage that's only $8 after 3pm.

Wednesday night I co-hosted an event at The Apple Store on Michigan Avenue. I was only going to be there for a couple of hours, so I hoped for metered parking and there were several spots open on Ohio Street. "Score!" I thought, until I put my first quarter in and the meter displayed "0:07". Seven minutes? For a quarter? Then I noticed the sign that said $2/hour and the meter was owned by Chicago Parking Meters, LLC.

I knew rates in the Loop were up to $3.50 an hour, but I didn't realize the entire city's meter system was going through the roof. I took a look at the City Council Journal Proceedings (p 13 - 19) that put these rates into effect and I'm frankly in shock. (All rates per hour.)

Loop:

• 2009 - $3.50
• 2010 - $4.25
• 2011 - $5.00
• 2012 - $5.75
• 2013 - $6.50

South Loop, Greek Town, West Loop, River North, Gold Coast, Old Town:

• 2009 - $2.00
• 2010 - $2.50
• 2011 - $3.00
• 2012 - $3.50
• 2013 - $4.00

Everywhere else:

• 2009 - $1.00
• 2010 - $1.25
• 2011 - $1.50
• 2012 - $1.75
• 2013 - $2.00

The hours are also increased, and no more free parking on Sundays (with a tiny tiny number of exceptions).

No problem, just take the CTA instead, right? It is cheaper, but those rates have increased also (effective Jan 1, 2009), to $2 for bus and $2.25 for rail, with $0.25 transfers. Staying longer than two hours? You get to pay the full fare again. With these rates, it is actually now more economical to carpool with a couple of other people and valet your car at night, or park in the Millennium Park Garage.

Or, just ride a bike.