One of the worst things about Chicago is the red line. I am sorry, have you ridden it lately?! Here is the deal – if you get on an “old car”, it will 9 times out of 10 smell like pee and/or a homeless person. If you get on a “new car”, you will be sandwiched next to the people next to you, if you are lucky enough to get a seat. This is followed by the people standing over you practically falling into your lap because the placement of the bars to hold is awkward as hell. If you are standing, well then you get motion sickness and fall into people’s laps.
But aside from all of that horror, there are the people on the red line. The pushing and shoving. The stealing seats from old people and cripples. The peeing in that secret section where the conductor would be standing.
Traveling on public transportation in Zurich is like flying first class on Virgin Atlantic compared to the red line. I mean, there is a bar and your own private bathroom, and…okay just kidding. But let me tell you, the CTA is one thing I do not miss from Chicago. Not only are the trams and trains clean in Zurich, the people are courteous (dear God, what a concept!) and *gasp* everything runs on time! So now I am not playing Russian roulette regarding my start time at work. I can actually say “I will be there at 8:30” and I will be there at 8:30! Well, if I wasn’t, then I’d be really rude by Swiss standards….
But I digress. You can just look at these two pictures and it’s clear that it’s like comparing a Rolls Royce to a Ford Pinto. I rest my case.
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