By Jim Sterne
News Editor
Jean Fletcher and LaVerne Hickey, of the 3900 block of N. Ravenswood Ave., have worked for many national and international causes such as civil and human rights. Last week they focused on a local issue by sending a letter and a petition to Mayor Richard M. Daley signed by business owners, workers and residents who use CTA’s Lincoln Ave. #11 bus. More than 200 signatures were collected in two days.
The petition demands the return of bus service to a longer route to the Loop, as well as extended hours. The #11 bus ends its route at North Ave. "with a tremendous loss to stores and businesses serving customers after dusk" the petition states.
Labor day was chosen for the “People Who Care" petition campaign to reinstate the Lincoln Ave. #11 bus service to downtown Chicago with the former night-owl schedule serving thousands of offices and businesses and their workers along the eight mile route. "This is just the beginning. We are getting a lot of support and continue to collect signatures — we just want the mayor to know what we are doing," said Fletcher.
Hickey said the short hours and short route hurt democracy. "Most public meetings are scheduled for 7 p.m. Maybe you can get to a public meeting at the alderman's office but what about getting home?" The current bus service is listed as "early morning" through "early evening."
A call to the CTA clarified the times as from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. "But people don't know that when they are standing at the bus stop." said Fletcher. "It used to be 'owl service' then 'after dusk' and now 'early morning and early evening.' People get fed up because they are always changing the times and the routes — nothing is consistent and you better be consistent when you're trying to get to work on time."
“This began as a Labor Day drive for signatures,” said Hickey, “then it just mushroomed.” Everyone they talked to along Lincoln Ave. wanted the #11 bus to continue and expand.
Hickey and Fletcher are old enough to remember the local trolley car days that ended over 50 years ago. “Lincoln Ave. is one of the creative vital 'spoke' streets that Chicago planners saw would take workers and shoppers from the central area out to where they live. And it worked for years…until the arrival of Frank Kruesi," the letter states.
The letter says that Kruesi confuses CTA priorities by doing everything for profit at the expense of service. According to Hickey and Fletcher, priorities should favor the workers as well as shoppers.
The letter says that current bus routes foster a suburbanization of the city, creating enclaves sealed off from adjacent areas, which prevent an Open City concept where transportation routes link the whole city.
“[When the #11 bus is discussed] emotions run from sheer comedy to tragedy; tragedy especially if you are the rider who is late for work, or the vulnerable lone person waiting at a stop wondering what exactly early afternoon or early evening means to the CTA. One needs to be a meteorologist to predict if and when the #11 bus will arrive — if at all.”
“I don’t understand,” said Fletcher. “Mayor Daley wants fewer cars on the streets, less pollution and congestion, then he cuts CTA service. I got rid of my ’74 Gremlin over 10 years ago and rely on public transportation.”
The letter goes on to state that stores and offices are open and public events take place after “early evening." “If you are serious about reducing parking and pollution problems, it is essential that public transportation meet the needs of everyone.”
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