Recent Streetsblog CHICAGO posts about South Shore Line

The Mask Optional Car sign on the South Shore Line platform at Chicago's Millennium Station. Photo: John Greenfield

Idiocy or genius? The South Shore Line tries quarantining anti-maskers in a separate car

By John Greenfield | Sep 23, 2020 | No Comments

Is the commuter railroad's unique approach to dealing with COVID deniers on trains completely misguided, or so gosh darn irrational that it just might work?

A South Shore Line train in Michigan City, Indiana. Photo: Jeff Zoline

With ridership steeply dropping, Metra, Pace, and South Shore have pared down schedules

By Igor Studenkov | Mar 27, 2020 | No Comments

Times are tough for local transit systems but their doing their best to cope.

A South Shore Connect bus waits to pick up passengers on Monday afternoon at the Dune Park South Shore Line station. Photo: Igor Studenkov

Hoosier transit provider? A look at expanded transit options in northwest Indiana

By Igor Studenkov | Oct 15, 2019 | No Comments

Valparaiso’s South Shore Connect/Orange Line Route provides service from Valpo to the Dune Park station, while new shuttle take dunes visitors to various parts of the park.

A South Shore Line train crosses Avenue O at Brainard Avenue, on the border between Chicago and Burnham. Photo: Eric Allix Rogers

New Law Puts South Shore Line’s Governing Board Under Indiana Governor’s Full Control

By Igor Studenkov | May 16, 2019 | 11 Comments

Illinois already had little influence over South Shore Line policy, and this change takes power over the the railroad away from the Indiana counties it runs through.

Carrying bikes aboard a Metra train. Photo: Andrew St. Paul, Out Our Front Door

The Chicago Region’s Bike-Friendly Rail Service Makes Car-Free Camping a Breeze

By John Greenfield | Jun 8, 2017 | 4 Comments

Our wide-ranging and bicycle-friendly rail system offers multiple options for taking a train out to the exurbs and then pedaling a few miles to a forest preserve, natural area, or state park.

The South Shore Line Is Adding Weekday Bike Service. Will Anyone Use It?

By John Greenfield | Dec 28, 2016 | 1 Comment

The early-morning and late-afternoon weekday trains aren't going to be useful for most commutes or excursions, so it's likely these runs won’t see many bikes.

Why Is the South Shore’s Bike Program Getting Limited Use? It’s the Service.

By John Greenfield | Nov 11, 2016 | 19 Comments

In yesterday’s Tribune, an official from the South Shore Line commuter rail system, which runs from downtown Chicago to South Bend, Indiana, said that the line’s bikes-on-board program got less use than hoped for in its first season. “We were probably looking for more people to take advantage of it,” said John Parsons, the railroad’s […]

South Shore Line Launches Long-Awaited Bikes-on-Board Pilot Program

By Steven Vance | Apr 5, 2016 | No Comments

The South Shore Line, a commuter train service between Chicago and northern Indiana, started its weekend-only bikes-on-train pilot last Saturday. Alex Elich, a reporter with the WSBT radio station, demonstrated how to use the racks that hold the bike steady on the train. The Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District, the agency that runs the South Shore, […]

Once Again, the South Shore Line Is Standing in the Way of Bike Progress

By John Greenfield | Feb 11, 2016 | 3 Comments

Last August, the board of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District did the right thing by voting to dramatically reduce the wait until customers are allowed to bring bikes on South Shore Line trains. While NICTD had previously been talking about delaying the bikes-on-board pilot until 2021, they instead agreed to test the program this […]

2015 Was a Great Year for Chicago Transportation and Public Spaces

By John Greenfield | Dec 28, 2015 | No Comments

[The Chicago Reader recently launched a new weekly transportation column written by Streetsblog Chicago editor John Greenfield. This partnership will allow Streetsblog to extend the reach of our livable streets advocacy. We’ll be syndicating a portion of the column on the day it comes out online; you can read the remainder on the Reader’s website […]

The 6-Year Wait for Bikes on the South Shore Has Been Reduced to 9 Months

By Steven Vance | Aug 6, 2015 | 5 Comments

Last week, the board of the Northern Indiana Commuter Transit District voted to dramatically reduce the wait time for a bikes-on-board pilot for South Shore Line trains. A consultant had previously recommended delaying the trial until 2021, when new cars might be added to the system, allowing older cars to be modified to accommodate bikes. […]

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