When Stuck in Chicago's Congested Streets, These Commuters Find Silver Linings
For many Chicagoans, getting stuck in traffic is a daily grind. The city consistently ranks as one of the worst for vehicle congestion nationwide, but some drivers have learned to make the most of their commute time.
Roger Deschner, a local resident, shares his strategies for navigating Chicago's notoriously congested roads. He starts by planning his route using Google Maps and avoiding notorious bottlenecks like Chicago Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. To pass the time, he listens to music or radio traffic reports on WBEZ or WBBM, keeping him informed about any road closures or accidents.
Others have found ways to shift their focus away from frustration and toward the city's many attractions. Jordan Mainzer, for example, finds solace in local sports broadcasts and popular music stations like 93.1 WXRT. Roger Deschner takes it a step further, using his commute time as an opportunity to connect with friends over long conversations during a recent play outing.
When asked about Chicago's expressways that need the most improvement, opinions were varied. Aaron Grace suggested removing inner lanes from the Dan Ryan and Ike expressways to make room for additional tracks on the Blue Line, while David Novak highlighted the Eisenhower Expressway as one of the city's busiest routes. For Reginald Holliday, the Bishop Ford is a prime example of an expressway in dire need of more lanes, particularly during rainy weather.
In a surprising twist, James R. Anderson proposes eliminating the Ike and Eisenhower Expressways altogether, redeveloping the land into residential areas that once existed before their construction. This proposal resonated with Greg Lydon, who advocates for widening I-55 and improving the Blue Line's speed on its Forest Park leg.
For many Chicagoans, getting stuck in traffic is a daily grind. The city consistently ranks as one of the worst for vehicle congestion nationwide, but some drivers have learned to make the most of their commute time.
Roger Deschner, a local resident, shares his strategies for navigating Chicago's notoriously congested roads. He starts by planning his route using Google Maps and avoiding notorious bottlenecks like Chicago Avenue and DuSable Lake Shore Drive. To pass the time, he listens to music or radio traffic reports on WBEZ or WBBM, keeping him informed about any road closures or accidents.
Others have found ways to shift their focus away from frustration and toward the city's many attractions. Jordan Mainzer, for example, finds solace in local sports broadcasts and popular music stations like 93.1 WXRT. Roger Deschner takes it a step further, using his commute time as an opportunity to connect with friends over long conversations during a recent play outing.
When asked about Chicago's expressways that need the most improvement, opinions were varied. Aaron Grace suggested removing inner lanes from the Dan Ryan and Ike expressways to make room for additional tracks on the Blue Line, while David Novak highlighted the Eisenhower Expressway as one of the city's busiest routes. For Reginald Holliday, the Bishop Ford is a prime example of an expressway in dire need of more lanes, particularly during rainy weather.
In a surprising twist, James R. Anderson proposes eliminating the Ike and Eisenhower Expressways altogether, redeveloping the land into residential areas that once existed before their construction. This proposal resonated with Greg Lydon, who advocates for widening I-55 and improving the Blue Line's speed on its Forest Park leg.
Congested streets are just an excuse to become a chatty Cathy, right? I mean, I guess it's nice that some people have found ways to "make the most" of their time stuck in traffic... by making friends with strangers on the radio 
. And good luck with that, folks! Trying to fit more people onto already overcrowded expressways is just going to be a recipe for disaster 
. Can't we just get some decent traffic management around here? 
I've had my fair share of stuck traffic situations too, but instead of getting annoyed, I usually try listening to podcasts or audiobooks on the topic of urban planning... it's actually pretty fascinating! 
i live here too and yeah, it can be super frustrating but like you said, u can make the most of it 
meanwhile, others might be using their commute time to catch up on some podcasts or even long conversations with friends 
like roger deschner mentioned in the article
you gotta listen to 93.1 WXRT while stuck in traffic? Like, what's the point of that?