CTA – Thorndale

I am surprised the station does not have an elevator. Every time I am at the station I see at least one poor soul trying to carry a stroller up or down the narrow and steep stairway. I know not at all stations are accessible or equipped with the best equipment, but an elevator should be standard for so many reasons.
The station on the first floor is open and bright. You can only enter and exit the station from the North side of Thorndale, which I think is interesting. Usually you can enter, or at least exit, from both sides of the street. The station and platform is never crowded when I take the train, but I think it would be safer and quicker if there were more exits. The platform above is standard. You wait on the «island» in between the northbound and southbound tracks. It is a relatively long platform and if you go toward the middle you can stand under the heat lamps, although the do not make you feel a ton warmer, but at least it provides some shelter from the elements.
The red line is definitely not a favorite of mine but this station needs some work to make it more accessible to ALL customers.

Guy tried to rob me. He was so fucked up I convinced him he was my drug dealer. Robbery averted, no thanks to CTA Security or CPD.

Thank you sir for holding the door for me!!! There was one particularly nice gentleman who stood in the train door because he saw me haul ass from the bottom of the staircase to make the train heading toward the loop. He wasn’t getting on the train, just holding it for me. I can’t say everyone is that pleasant at the station, usually, but I’ve never been bothered. There are usually a couple of dudes smoking weed somewhere in or near the station, cops hanging around making sure no one is doing anything illegal (and, well, failing), someone looking like they’re about to ask you for money, and possibly some cab drivers who like the delicious Ethiopian cuisine nearby. Now, I do not recommend using the Red Line alone in the evening, but if you’re getting off at the Thorndale stop, you’ll find CTA workers and at least some people traffic that make it feel safer than some other stops. Also, I’ve found ample street parking nearby on the residential streets.

This place is exactly what you expect of a north side redline stop. It features:
1) Wooden, poor painted doors
2) Seedy tile appearance and very small convenience store
3) A perfect view up and down thorndale where you can spot the regulars around the neighborhood
4) Tetanus, lots and lots of tetanus
I would watch out for the late night local scum bags that hang out here and at the park at the end of the street (@ Sheridan).

I get off here to go to the gym… it’s pretty much an open air drug market littered with screaming teenage bangers and Rickover kids trying to get home. Bryn Mawr or Granville even are safer.

My 400^th review. Yay!
So, my 400^th review is going to be about my home stop, Thorndale.
It’s not the fanciest stop. It’s in dire need of an upgrade. However, over the years it’s grown on me and I couldn’t imagine having another stop replace it. I’ve got a weird affection towards you, Thorndale.
It’s policed pretty heavily at night because there’s a group of kids that loiter around it, but other than that I have had nothing but good experiences here.
There’s rumors that they’re going to get rid of the Thorndale stop, blah blah blah. I hope they don’t. I would miss you too much, Thorny.
VIVA LA THORNDALE!