Green Line – Chicago & Oak Park

I live equally distant between the Harlem/​Lake and Ridgeland stop but I always walk from home to Ridgeland because it just makes sense to head a little east, plus the area is not as busy/​congested as Harlem/​Lake can get. I don’t understand others reviews saying it’s a bad line-it’s just as safe or dangerous as any other line. Be aware of your surroundings no matter where you’re at. I typically take the green, red, brown and blue lines. They’re all similar but I think blue is the dirtiest always having a urine smell both in the cars and most stations.

I usually take the Green line everyday to go to work. People always say this is the scariest line but really I’ve never run into problems or felt more in danger than I would be on any other line. My only problem is that it usually smells like weed when I get on, and often there is always someone trying to sell things (perfumes, candy, or asking for money). It runs through some tough areas but that doesn’t necessarily make it bad. I would say any stop going south of 35 Bronzville IIT is a stop you should take caution on and be more aware of your surrounding.

Everything was going fine for the first five minutes besides the smell, until some psychopathic girl sitting across from me stood up at a stop and starting yelling at me «why the f*ck you looking at me»…when I totally wasn’t, not to mention she was sitting directly across from me… SOOO if by some chance I glanced up she would have been in my direct line of sight. And I was wearing sunglasses… anyhow this occurrence had me questioning…“is this real life”?
My sister (lives in south loop and has been living in Chi since 01) told me that a lot of times ppl do that to create a diversion to steal a cell phone or whatever.
Anyway, I felt better because the next stop she stood up and started screaming at someone else the same thing. Obvi this is a place I don’t care for. I understand people need to utilize public transit but I’m not one of them.
Promptly got the f*ck off at my intended stop and had a cosmo.

People always tell me this is one of the most dangerous lines, but I’ve never run into any trouble. Just keep to yourself and avoid all eye contact, you’ll be fine. It’s a short 25 minute trip to downtown, so it’s worth the crazies in the car with you.

I have read mixed reviews about this line. Most being poor but what do you really expect when you ride the subway in the heart of a big city like Chicago? It was clean the times we used it. On time. Convenient. What else can I ask for? Sure you will get the occasional classless person but that’s par for the course. $ 2.25 price tag is avg among big cities too. No issues with this line but then again I only used it a couple of time.

I guess I’ve been lucky so far on the green line going all the way down to the cottage grove stop –because the only negative experience I’ve had so far on this line were when people would start singing on the train and ask for a donation afterwards. Ugh. Shut the fuck up! I was really enjoying my peaceful silence. This is why I should have remembered my iPod! And these smells I read of in the other reviews… meh not too bad. It smells about the same as the public transportation in Portland so I guess I was already expecting the scent in the air. Not too bad green line.

If there is a thin line between love & hate, that line is GREEN.
Good god, this is the most visually stimulating yet audibly stupefying train in the CTA’s set of death defying adventures in public transportation.
After spending a year (off & on) of boarding these elevated cars I can say they alternate between being a quick hop to help me get to N. Harlem and the makings of a bad cable reality show.
Hell, if «Pawn Stars» is really a show and people waste time watching Dog the Bounty Hunter (especially if Steven Seagal is on), you could get twice the entertainment value for just $ 2.25. That’s a deal, if you’re prepared to deal with guys selling each other bags of weed, the aroma of paper-​bagged beer at 10 on Sunday morning, fur-​coat clad Oak Parkers on the way to «The City» for a show openly comparing the comforts of their mansions & tons of tourists not sure if this city measures up to New York. If you miss NYC so much, just add your urine to the visitors’ collection in the connecting elevators handicapped and baby stroller parents have to ride at the Roosevelt Station. Sure, that could be said of many stops on the Red and Blue Lines, so back to what makes the Green so special.
That stretch between California and Ridgeland is a reminder that Chicago never quite recovered after setting itself on fire, ala Richard Pryor, after a shot rang high in the Memphis sky killing the Rev. Dr. King. When the conductor has to remind you to watch your surroundings (ie. your i-​Phone, your Coach bag), maybe talking loud about your mansion is saying nothing about your common sense.
Still, some of the stops do summon a natural beauty like Conservatory/​Central Park and a lovely loop actually over the (Chicago) river and through the old/​er meat packing district that make you wish Alicia Keys was singing, «Now you’re in Chicago.» to salute a Big Shoulders State of Mind.

Thanks Susi D. (see below) for your honest and appreciative comments on an old friend: the Green Line.
I live one half block away from the Central stop and at night I can hear Lady Green exclaim over and over, «Attention customers, an inbound train from the Loop will be arriving shortly…» Her voice is so soothing.
Look, it’s public transportation so you’re going to have to sit with the public on this line. Deal with it. Approach it with a sense of humor and it’s all good. Approach it with the attitude that you are better than any of the characters you come across on this line and you will have the miserable ride you deserve.
FACTS: This is a fast and reliable line. You are as safe on this line as any other. They use the same cars on this line as any other.
Did you know that on off peak hours you can put your bike on the train? I love this opportunity in the summer when a bike ride along the lake is on the day’s agenda. I don’t have to pay ridiculous amounts to live close to the lake or the loop and still enjoy all those two thing have to offer when my reliable friend and neighbor, the Green Line, is always there for me.

I would have had nothing unpleasant to say about the Green Line had I not stepped firmly with both feet in a pile of puke when I got off the Green Line this morning at 63^rd & Cottage Grove, on my way to the U of C for a symposium.
At least it was sufficiently wet outside that I was able to get enough of the puke out of the grooves of my shoe soles before I had to sit with colleagues for an entire day.

3 stars for the comedy show on the train yep. Ok going towards the city from harlem isn’t to funny in the mornings until you hit central then things start heating up. You’ll hear an odd conversation while someones on their phone. Then you hit California an old man comes on and trys to sell you stolen gloves during the Winter. Ohh my stop State and Lake. Comming home as I wait on the platform I wonder if my trains going to be crowded? And it was I find a seat next to this yuppie gentleman and these 2 girls are sharing pictures off the internet of guys that got out of jail and they were looking for them on the train. Asking the guys sitting around them what gang do you roll with? The yuppie guy next to me starts laughing like what a joke. Then the same girls make fun of this lady for wearing a certain color and says she’s probably part of a gang. I’m like wow. Yuppie guy gets off the train. This older lady gets on at california and has a cane and a bag of fried chicken and my seat was the only available next to me she asks to sit I go sure. She sits dammm that chicken was giving me a head ach with all the BO around me. Conservatory comming here comes the drug addict white panhandler that says he needs to buy a sandwhich at the shelter, asked if I had a couple dollars.
My reply: I say no, cause if its a shelter its free sorry.
He says: iggnant white bitch.
I reply your as white as me get a job.
The guy across from me says dammm girl you serious you aint scurrred.
My reply: not of a crackhead.
The guy across: Most white girls would be scuurred to say something like that. That’s HOT.
My reply: Not me I speak what’s right.
Central guys stop
The guy across: can I get you# this my stop?
My reply: No sorry.
The guy across: hell naw… PEACE
Next stop Harlem AVE
2 ghetto girls finding their jailbirds
I stand up to get out to my stop the one girl gets up first to go wait by the door. Then me. Then her friend so were standing there till the train stops. One of them asks me a question. Do you know where to catch the harlem bus I said down the stairs infront of the station. Her friend standing in the back says excuse me so before the train stops she can be by her friend I wasn’t gonna move were all getting off at the same time and same stop what’s the point I ignored her. Her reply dumb bitch. So one train ride home I was called bitch 3times. Wow!!! Other than that service is reliable. I suggest don’t take the train after 8 your in for more surprises…

I must agree… the green line rules because it is bizarre and occasionally terrifying! Once, a pregnant teenager tried to pick a fight with me because she thought I was talkin sh*t about her to my husband. Really I was just giggling because I thought it was cool she was a pregnant and wearing a t-​shirt that said «hottie». i really thought it was cool. but instead she got mad and said she wanted to slap the freckles off my face. Then another time, when a guy asked me for money to buy a sandwich at a shelter (do you have to BUY food at shelters? call me naïve but i figured food at a shelter would be free?) and i said i didn’t have any money (incidentally, i did not have money. i was on my way to a party and all i could scavenge in my house to bring to share at the party was 3 mis-​matched beers! how sad is that?), he called me a white bitch… and he was white too so I’m not sure why he needed to point out my whiteness. ANYways, another time as i was gazing out the window on my way to work, i saw one man beating up another man in an alley. and my sister-​in-​law says she’s seen people peeing on there and even a guy (ahem) taking matters into his own hands if you know what i’m saying. and i think you do.
but i’ll tell you, that train was almost never late and it usually didn’t break down. so it took me everywhere i needed to go quickly and with lots of drama.
gotta love the green.

The green line is probably one of the more reliable of the El lines as far as being on time and not shutting down due to construction BUT it has its faults.
1. Without fail their is someone obnoxious either talking on speakerphone, eating an entire meal, making rude comments and jokes about other riders to their friends as loud as possible.
2. It smells more often than not
3.seats are often dirty and I dare you to wear white and actually sit down
4. too many young people during the school year (during after school time) and not enough law enforcement presence to keep them from trying to run the train
BUT really what are you going to do? If you have to take the green line then go for it but just not too late at night… very questionable.

I love the Green Line. I love the sheer craziness of seeing an Oak Park yuppie sitting next to a homeless man. I love that it is always there when I need it. I love that people start wacked-​out conversations with me on this train. I love that people get told to shut up when they are forcing the rest of us to listen to their crappy cell phone conversation.
The smell is bad in the summer — but better than the bathroom smell of the red and blue. And, fewer beligerent drunks than the orange. I’ve never had a problem on this train and rode it from 1998 – 2005 daily to downtown.

When I lived at Ashland & Lake this was my ride. Watch out for chicken bones, half empty soda bottles, filled pampers and other miscellaneous garbage that might be lurking at your feet. The pee-​pee body odor fast food smell is always pleasant. Expect a fight to break out in the evening after the rush. I’ve been pushed around a couple of times and punched in the back by a less than charming young man when I refused to give him my phone number. Eh, no major problems. It gets you places. I guess.

Not sure why I even bother to review the green line — as if people who ride it have other choices — Metra will only get you from Oak Park to the Clinton station, and doesn’t run nearly as frequently as the El. Not even close. Anyway, since I rode the green line today for the 212^th and 213^th time, I feel the need to write something about it.
Two years ago today, I would’ve given it one star. No, no. Half a star. But it’s improved dramatically since then. For example, today, instead of the usual short-​order-​kitchen-​meets-​truck-​stop-​toilet, I smelled a slight, almost refreshing, scent of BO in the air. That’s all. I was utterly surprised — perhaps even disappointed… okay who am I kidding.
Then there’s the usual mid-​journey inter-​car foot traffic, except it wasn’t as heavy today. In fact, I was in for a treat on my ride home. This guy casually walked through the emergency door from the other car, only to be followed by a 6’4″, 280 lb cop complete with sidearms and handcuffs. Yup, that poor dude got busted right in my car. Wow, I feel so safe.
Green line. Not just a train ride. It’s a journey of many emotions.
Besides all that, it’s always been on time. It’s fast. I even saw posted signs that said eating, drinking, and smoking not allowed. And I’ve never — not even once — had to use the intercom to speak to the operator! Tho’ that’s usually the first thing I look for when I board, just in case.
–update 2÷3÷08−−
Knocked one star off ‘cos during my ride downtown last Thursday morning an inside glass window fell off a partition, flew across half the car and hit my right knee GoodFellas style before it landed on the floor. It really hurt! Do I smell lawsuit?

When I hear the word green, images of a fresh and clean environment come to mind.
Not so much for the «Green» Line. Due to my office recently relocating, it forced me to change my route home, hence riding the «Green» Line. At first I welcomed you with open arms and convinced myself that you are just another new experience.
A month later, and I cringe at the thought of stepping into one of your trains.
Here’s a recap of the odors I experienced this week. I’ll call it «The Green Line Specials.»
Monday: Fried Food Surprise
Tuesday: Urine Sample Platter
Wednesday: Mom’s Moldy Basement Dish
Thursday: TBD
Friday: Wet Dog Soup
I’ve literally had to take «The Thinker’s» pose to cover my nose from the reekness that is the Green Line.
Oh what is in store for me later…

No you’re not being overly paranoid if you decide to sit in the driver car. It’s probably a good bet, especially after hours. Pretty much half the dumb girls at my university (in River Forest) had their purses snatched on here because they made the mistake of not holding onto them. It’ll get you where you need to go, but not pleasantly.

The Green Line is scary at night and smells like pee. A lot of bums sleep on it compared to the other lines. I get panhandled every other time that I ride it to Oak Park. After 11PM I sit in the first car by the driver just in case some shadyness goes down. Then I get to look out the front window and it seems like a spaceship and the stations are spaceports. So, other than being scary and gross, it is exciting to ride.

It doesn’t take me home. But it gets me from work to all the Unilocal Elite events.