What’s The Best Intercampus Commute?

SHUTTLE:

Taking Loyola’s intercampus shuttle to The Water Tower Campus is the easiest, fastest and safest way to make the commute. 

First and foremost, it’s free of charge — a student simply has to show their Loyola ID and they get a one-way ride. There’s also indoor waiting stations at both campuses to help stay warm during the long Chicago winters. 

The app TripShot tracks when the next shuttle is leaving each campus so students can plan their trip accordingly with minimal wait times. 

There’s also a sense of safety on the shuttle because only Loyola students are allowed to use it. Since the L is a public space, there can be strangers who can make riders feel uncomfortable — or even unsafe. The Chicago Transit Authority has a violent crime rate that’s above pre pandemic levels, according to the Chicago Tribune making riding the train a potentially dangerous situation for students. 

With the train, there’s also always a chance of delays or stoppages, meaning students who take the Red Line run a higher risk of missing class. Considering the shuttle’s only purpose is to take students back and forth between the Lake Shore and Water Tower Campuses, there’s a much smaller chance of a delay. 

The shuttle also drops students off directly on each campus, meaning students don’t have to walk long to reach their desired building — especially useful during bouts of bad weather. 

More so, if one has motion sickness, it can be terrible to commute with constant stopping on the train. 

One in three people struggle with motion sickness, according to MedlinePlus. Knowing the shuttle is a 30-minute ride with no bumpy stops or random smells is heaven to a person who struggles with motion sickness — and a far cry from the situation awaiting riders on the Red Line. 

Motion sickness is also more common in women than in men, according to UC Davis Health. Considering Loyola’s student body is made up of 68% women, according to Loyola Undergraduate Admissions, there’s a large population of Loyola likely to benefit from the shuttle’s more comfortable commute. 

Not only is the shuttle cleaner, it also has much more comfortable seats, and there’s a chance you can run into friends on the way to class. The shuttle is also much more consistent, allowing students to know exactly the experience they’ll get from the moment they step on the shuttle. 

The shuttle is a safer, cleaner and more comfortable option for Loyola students to commute to and from The Water Tower and Lake Shore campuses. The shuttle is sure to give you a smooth and swift ride.

CTA:

When choosing how to get to your downtown classes, remember the L is about as fast as the shuttle, is more sustainable, isn’t bogged down by traffic and — most importantly — involves its passengers in the life force of the city, exposing them to Chicago’s mass of individuals and their unique ways of life.

The Red Line is much more reliable than the shuttle because it runs a strict schedule less affected by traffic and rush hour than the shuttle. It takes about the same amount of time to get from the Loyola stop to the Chicago stop every time, except in the off chance of a delay. The shuttle can be slowed down by unpredictable construction and traffic, making CTA the more dependable way to get to class on time. 

This is especially true during severe weather and rush hour traffic, which hinder the shuttle more severely than the L. The Loyola website even recommends students take the train in these scenarios because the shuttle isn’t as well equipped as the train. 

Taking public transit is also better for the environment. America produces 1.8 million tons of microplastic from tires each year, according to the Ocean Blue Project. Though the Loyola shuttle runs on biofuel, which is more efficient than regular gas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy, it still has tires.

While the Red Line is already more efficient, reliable and practical than the shuttle, it’s also superior because it brings people together. Taking the train allows students to meet other Chicagoans and become closer to the city — as opposed to being taxied around exclusively with other Loyola students. 

By taking the shuttle, students are missing an opportunity to lurch across the city with commuting compatriots. The L allows students to interact with new people, collectively groan at delays and be a part of something greater. Instead of being partitioned away on the shuttle, students should ride the train and open themselves up to the city. 

Notice the book being read across from you, watch people and buildings passing you by and decipher the conversations bouncing around the train car. Observing your fellow Chicagoans will make your trip more interesting than the one you’d have on the shuttle, where you’re surrounded by the same people you see every day on your walk to class.

Stepping outside of Loyola’s community will create connections with people of diverse backgrounds and expand students’ knowledge of Chicago. 

There’s more life on the train. There are experiences to be had while rumbling and creaking across the city. The Red Line takes students on a vibrant excursion through Chicago, while the shuttle can only offer a dull trip. Next time you need to get to the Water Tower Campus, don’t discount the train.