Posted July 17 at 2:15 p.m.

Here that buzzing sound?

That's no swarm of bees, that's the result of news from the CTA that they might begin turning some Brown Line cars seatless during rush hour as part of an experiment that could start as early as a few months from now.  Riders are e-mailing me, outraged about this development which, according to a Trib article, is aimed at helping the agency save some dough and get more folks in the trains.

It's only fair to add that the cars will be marked, and riders have an option of going into the trains where they can rest their cabooses.  Then there's the fact that gas prices have gone up, ridership too is increasing, yadda yadda yadda.  Still, something about this idea strikes me as strange.  I know similar systems exist -- consider those gloved shovers cramming commuters into trains in Japan-- but with all this work to make trains longer, I didn't expect this particular piece of news.

I'm not the only one who is skeptical.  I got e-mails from some riders who are more than a bit perturbed by this public transit development.

The CTA and Ron Huberman have got to be kidding. North side riders have endured this painstaking, inconvenient expansion project for a year, in part to allow for longer trains on the Brown line to accommodate increased ridership. Now, that’s not enough of an inconvenience, their newest solution is to take away seats on the 2 cars they added??? If ridership is up 7% from last year at this time, use that increased revenue to get on par with other cites with public transportation, and buy cars with center-facing seats. Standing room only cars are unsafe, inconvenient, and certainly not customer friendly. CTA riders are not cattle to be herded onto a car in order to maximize profits for the poorly managed CTA.

Youch, here's another:

What is with the CTA? Not only is service consistently slow, inefficient, rude and all around terrible, but now they are REMOVING all the seats from the brown line during rush hour?!? I am to the point where I want to kick the CTA to the curb and start taking the metra or move to a city with better transit, not to mention lower sales tax. I am sick and tired of the CTA and the fact that government officials and consumers fail to be outraged by their mismanagement and waste of resources and money. It is about time we all stand up for ourselves and demand to be treated fairly and provided consistent, timely and proper service, the kind of service we deserve and pay for, especially considering Chicago has the most expensive public transit in the U.S. I have had enough of the CTAs half-truths and lies

Again, not all the seats, but you get his point.

Anybody think this seatless CTA concept is a good one?  Or come up with something better, if you can... 

This is just horrendous.
It's bad enough that they did all of these unnecessary renovations, tearing down stations and rebuilding platforms that are worse than they were before the project, now seat-less cars? This isn't Japan. Yes, ridership is up, but it's nowhere NEAR that bad that they'd need to stoop this low. I agree with a previous comment; we're not cattle. After working all day, especially to those people who have to stand all day at work, and probably walk quite a bit after they get off of the train, being able to sit for a few minutes is like heaven. We're not riding for free, so why are we being treated that way? Other cities may have less extensive transit systems, but they're better maintained, less expensive, and have a LOT better security.

Get with it CTA, as well as Ron Huberman. You're becoming a constant source of aggravation with your dumb new ideas.

Actually, to correct the 2nd person's rant, CTA isn't the most expensive public transit in the US. Philly and New York have more expensive single fares (though NYC's monthly passes are cheaper). NYC express buses (which are a bit more premium than CTA express routes like the #147) are $5 per ride.

Additionally, some rail systems like BART in the Bay Area and Metro in DC, which are more like hybrid subway-commuter rail systems, charge by distance, and some of the most expensive single fares can be over $5.

Also, though it's not the US, most Canadian transit systems are more expensive than those in the US (and the systems are nicer).

But the post is correct about the sales tax.

Jen: What exactly about the renovated stations is so bad? I don't see how brighter lighting, wider stairs, extra entrances and exits, elevators, and longer and wider platforms constitute "worse than before." Historical considerations aside, the new stations are an incredible improvement from their aging, 100-year old predecessors.

I'm not sure what I think about the seatless car idea. On one hand, it would be nice to actually get aboard a train loaded to the point where seats aren't going to be available and standing would be the only option anyway. On the other hand, this seems to be another indication that the CTA is focusing less on passenger comfort and safety and more on the bottom line. Overcrowded trains in evenings and on the weekends are perfect examples of this trend: longer trains could be run at these times to ensure everyone a seat and make it easier for people to board and leave the train, but the CTA seems content with crush-loading as the norm.

What has this society come to that everybody has to rush and fight for a seat on the CTA. Have we become such lazy Americans that no one can stand for more than five to 30 minutes?

If you are pregnant, disabled, overweight or just plain lazy there will be other cars that have seats to accommodate you. For the rest of us, what's the problem?

As I have said elsewhere, maybe I’m in the minority, but when it comes to the train during rush hour, I’d much rather stand. It’s a heck of a lot easier for me to get in and out of the train when I’m standing. If I’m seated, then I have to fight through the people crowded around my seat, then maneuver through the standing pole-huggers who are trying to let me by AND not shove their crotch in the face of someone seated. On a seatless car, all that funky crazy maneuvering is eliminated.

I also don’t see a lot in the way of other solutions. People want more room, but they don’t want aisle-widening cars. People want more trains and buses, but they don’t want to have to pay for them. You can’t have it both ways. This seems to be the only reasonable solution for now without upping the fares once again.

Raise the single fare price. This is a no brainer. There will be more pressure on the CTA about this issue in the coming months when more "people like me" demand better service to get to work on time while "those people" can't afford to ride all day just to pick pockets, preach, solicit and have a cool (or warm) place to sleep for the day. Make them cough up $75 to be a daily/nightly incessent trouble-maker rather than finding a few quarters everyday.

First of all I do love CTA transit. But in regards to the decision to go seatless I'm so against it. During rush hour its already too tight, you can barely breath and at times you feel violated. A few years back I told a guy you need to back up off me because any closer we would have been wearing the same pants. I got home I was so upset I didn't ride the train for months. To this day if I get on and have to stand I make it a habit to stand with my back against the rail when you first get on and put my backpack in front of me if the train gets crowded. I don't care to be packed on a train like a can of sardines, its more of a pick pocketers dream as well as your perverts. How is this better for all concern? (I have been through my share of times were I let the bus and train pass me up because its too crowded)

CTA claims due to the increase in ridership they would like to test the seatless cars. They'll start with one car and eventually it will increase. They advertise park your car and take public trans a huge increase in ridership is what they want and this is the best they can do.

Furthermore, everyones commute is not 5 or 10 minutes. I do not care to stand during my morning or evening commute trying to hold my balance, my bags and stand watch.

Ok, the lazy American comment from Rob really pissed me off.

You are completely wrong stating that Americans are becoming lazy because they have to stand for 30 minutes on a train---you're missing the entire point here. American's have become lazy in a different respect; we once lead the world in science, innovation, technology, and yes even public transportation.

Where is YOUR outrage for the laziness of the bureaucratic system that continually fails us?
Where is YOUR outrage for city buses that get an average of 2-3 MPG?
Where is YOUR outrage for a mass transit system that can't sustain itself?
Where is YOUR outrage for the removal of seats on trains for the sole purpose of profiteering?
Where is YOUR outrage for the dismissal of customer's rights?

If anything, you're the one who should be labeled as complacent and lazy. There is absolutely no need for the CTA to use it's lousy excuses to convince any of us that another denigration in service is required to provide more service...truly pathetic!

I think the SRO trains are a great idea. If you don't want to stand, then get on the seat-included cars...and stand anyway because they're so full.

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