How bad is traffic in Chicago at 2 A.M.?

I was going to add, fuel up in Indiana, no reason to stop anywhere near Chicago. One could do the ‘travel oasis’ if needed.
 
In Chicago...there are more predators looking for victims around 2am.

In Tifton, everyone is asleep. So there's that.

Or not.
 
mandm said:
Chicago recently removed or reduced the fuel tax so the prices compare with nearby areas typically. It used to be considerably higher, I would always fuel up at the airport and typically save a buck a gallon.

Don’t be silly, of course you won’t be shot at. Have you seen the prices of bullets?

However, you can expect a brick thrown thru your windshield. Those are free to throw with the same amount of fun.
Click to expand...
You think they actually buy the ammo
 
Crime in Tifton includes things like plinking stop signs with a .22
Crime in Chicago includes things like plinking little girls in the head while they are on their porch swing with a 9mm.

Ok. It's been a long time since I have been in Tifton. My grandparents from there both died in the late '60s so I haven't been back, except to drive through.
 
JOhnH said:
Crime in Tifton includes things like plinking stop signs with a .22
Crime in Chicago includes things like plinking little girls in the head while they are on their porch swing with a 9mm.
.
Click to expand...
Which is why property crimes are reported separately from violent crimes so that these things aren't directly compared.
 
Last edited:
Traffic at 2am is no where near as bad as 2pm.
 
Like above, after 11pm, traffic should be clear. Barring any overnight construction, which can happen. Stay on the toll roads, use the oasis if you need a break or fuel, and you should be good. Dont get into any road rage situations and you should be fine.
 
kmacht said:
Do you really think you are going to be a crime victim driving on a major interstate through Chicago at night? How do you think that could possibly happen? Do you think there are gangs lined along the highway waiting to stop you and steal your car? This whole thread and question is ridiculous. The highway through Chicago is no different or any more dangerous than any other highway in the US.
Click to expand...

I can't speak to Chicago, but you can get shot for just driving down the interstate in New Orleans. Last year cops were looking for two teenage girls in connection to a social media video of them driving down the interstate firing handguns out the windows. Interesting part, the media already had the girls mugshots, obviously not their first offense.

https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/...ting/289-b59a01b7-a13a-44ab-9767-a17c7f455ca5
 
Based upon this thread, I must be freaking Superman. I lived in chicago (Damen and Waveland) and used to frequent (sometimes too much) Tai's till 4 and survived after 2am. I still have cubs season tickets and take the L to and from games when I'm in town. Btw, I don't pack heat or wear kevlar. As someone else pointed out, neighborhoods vary but, the L can be a melting pot of the city.

The world in real life is much different from what you read about. For instance, I would recommend spending a night in chicago. Amazing food and music scene plus some great museums, check out the Museum of Science and Industry among others. During the day, the Architectural boat tour is pretty cool. People talk about Chicago deep dish but, my favorite take on pizza is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder.
 
Last edited:
NoBShere said:
Based upon this thread, I must be freaking Superman. I lived in chicago (Damen and Waveland) and used to frequent (sometimes too much) Tai's till 4 and survived after 2am. I still have cubs season tickets and take the L to and from games when I'm in town. Btw, I don't pack heat or wear kevlar. As someone else pointed out, neighborhoods vary but, the L can be a melting pot of the city.

The world in real life is much different from what you read about. For instance, I would recommend spending a night in chicago. Amazing food and music scene plus some great museums, check out the Museum of Science and Industry among others. People talk about Chicago deep dish but, my favorite take on pizza is Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder.
Click to expand...
I agree, it's a great city. Things are just really bad now. I don't drive to my office in the loop anymore because the rash of carjackings are hitting those parking garages now. Risk of getting attacked on the CTA is not as high as carjackings. Just as in aviation, it's all about risk management.

Also Roscoe Village is a really nice area! I used to hang out at The Reveler (Damen/Roscoe) all the time!
 
Came back from a Chicago week long trip last night. We survived. Our wallets didn't though. Wife's all happy about the trip, so that's what matters in the end. I was pretty bummed out about not taking the lawnmower, but the icing and conv sigmets made sure we weren't gonna get in nor get out anywhere near our departure and arrival days. It did remind me how useless these things are for transportation (underpowered non-fiki) in the winter up there, I've been spoiled by warm destinations all these years.

On the safety aspect, it was pretty unassuming for me anyways. Lived in big cities before. Only item of note one night was I did have one sketchy guy (seemed mentally ill or a drug addict so probably harmless, but can't take a chance to give people the benefit of the doubt with my most precious cargo in tow) get a bit too close to my child so had to square off on him at a light, moved the fam right along and all was well, but it was a bit tense there for a minute or two. Police presence was decent though (Magnificent mile/Northwestern Medical/med school/John Hancock tower areas). Temps were nippy so the homeless were pretty much burrowed at the ground vents and minding their own business (aka not freeze to death). We did take the opportunity to uber out of the tourist area (daytime) for some errands, and again, it's pretty unassuming living; financially stretched people making due in the communities they call home. No different than most of America. Not my cup of tea (struggling to be close to some icon one can't afford anyways), but to each their own. Was glad to support their livelihoods with my tourist dollars fwtiw.

This is all rank partisan virtue signaling anyways. I find Mexico a lot more objectionable, yet Anglo snowbirds pretzel themselves in knots on how it's all the victims' fault if they get filet'd south of the border. See, when it's their precious 20:1 USD exchange rate frolicking spot, then it's somehow different. Meh. Chicago may be a lot of things, but you aren't getting boxed in the middle of the day on a public freeway, and snatched from your shot up vehicle with long tac rifles watching a loved one bleed out next to you, like those poor souls from South Carolina in Tamaulipas, while the central government just goes "dayum, that sux..." and the de facto rebel state government sends you thoughts and prayers about some mistaken identity drivel. Digressing.
 
kaiser said:
I agree, it's a great city. Things are just really bad now. I don't drive to my office in the loop anymore because the rash of carjackings are hitting those parking garages now. Risk of getting attacked on the CTA is not as high as carjackings. Just as in aviation, it's all about risk management.

Also Roscoe Village is a really nice area! I used to hang out at The Reveler (Damen/Roscoe) all the time!
Click to expand...

I don't live there anymore and only visit. From my admittedly limited perspective, It seems to me that the biggest difference is that the media has changed and not so much the city.
 
hindsight2020 said:
Came back from a Chicago week long trip last night. We survived. Our wallets didn't though. Wife's all happy about the trip, so that's what matters in the end. I was pretty bummed out about not taking the lawnmower, but the icing and conv sigmets made sure we weren't gonna get in nor get out anywhere near our departure and arrival days. It did remind me how useless these things are for transportation (underpowered non-fiki) in the winter up there, I've been spoiled by warm destinations all these years.

On the safety aspect, it was pretty unassuming for me anyways. Lived in big cities before. Only item of note one night was I did have one sketchy guy (seemed mentally ill or a drug addict so probably harmless, but can't take a chance to give people the benefit of the doubt with my most precious cargo in tow) get a bit too close to my child so had to square off on him at a light, moved the fam right along and all was well, but it was a bit tense there for a minute or two. Police presence was decent though (Magnificent mile/Northwestern Medical/med school/John Hancock tower areas). Temps were nippy so the homeless were pretty much burrowed at the ground vents and minding their own business (aka not freeze to death). We did take the opportunity to uber out of the tourist area (daytime) for some errands, and again, it's pretty unassuming living; financially stretched people making due in the communities they call home. No different than most of America. Not my cup of tea (struggling to be close to some icon one can't afford anyways), but to each their own. Was glad to support their livelihoods with my tourist dollars fwtiw.

This is all rank partisan virtue signaling anyways. I find Mexico a lot more objectionable, yet Anglo snowbirds pretzel themselves in knots on how it's all the victims' fault if they get filet'd south of the border. See, when it's their precious 20:1 USD exchange rate frolicking spot, then it's somehow different. Meh. Chicago may be a lot of things, but you aren't getting boxed in the middle of the day on a public freeway, and snatched from your shot up vehicle with long tac rifles watching a loved one bleed out next to you, like those poor souls from South Carolina in Tamaulipas, while the central government just goes "dayum, that sux..." and the de facto rebel state government sends you thoughts and prayers about some mistaken identity drivel. Digressing.
Click to expand...

Are you saying it was expensive or your wallets were stolen? this crowd is going to read your wallets were stolen, lol.
 
NoBShere said:
Are you saying it was expensive or your wallets were stolen? this crowd is going to read your wallets were stolen, lol.
Click to expand...
LOL touché sir, touché! :D

Meant it was expensive. I don't think some of the premiums were worth it (lived in NW IN for a while, Chicago is not new to me), but the wife thought so. So it was worth it lol :D

In fairness, the most expensive part by a good clip, was in fact the airfare when I couldn't deliver Chicago via lawnmower, and had to cough up tickets for a 24 hour departure. That was all on me for being a bonehead regarding spam can travel expectations, so I was happy to pay the penalty for overpromising. The rented tube was a PITA, but it cut through that weather like butter, which is all that mama cared about.
 
If you aren’t a doper, dealer, or gang member, and you can keep yourself in check when drinking, the chances that you’ll be the victim of a violent crime or practically nil - even in places publicized for high crime.
 
I figure whatever question asked has been answered but if you intend on doing the speed limit, stay in the right lane or… keep up with the flow. At 2 AM you won’t find many people going 45/55 as posted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top