Agreed. Driving in Chicago is generally twice as fast as taking public transit within or near the loop. The difference grows when you have to go further.

You can get in a car and be almost anywhere interesting in 20 minutes without traffic, whereas you would need 5-10 minutes just to get to a CTA stop and wait for the bus/train.

Public transit is only ever faster than driving during rush hours in heavily trafficked areas.

Do you not have to park? Or are you assuming Uber?

Parking got quicker in Chicago since the metered fares went through the roof, but it can still easily dominate the total travel time, as leaving and entering large multi-floor parking structures downtown takes a really long time.

Outside of the loop proper, I haven't found parking to be all that terrible to find. In the loop, using SpotHero makes it much easier.

I call bullcrap. Drive to Lincoln Park zoo on a Saturday and find parking near the zoo that doesn't involve 25 min of circling around hoping you win the lottery.

Or visit a friend in Wicker Park by car and try to find street parking somewhere near their place.

You must just be really lucky or really skilled at parking.

It likely depends on the location and what you define as being "near." I've almost never had severe problems parking in Wicker Park, even during Wicker Park Fest. Same goes for other neighborhoods I frequent, like Bridgeport, Lake View, UIC. I'm also fine with walking a few blocks.

I don't have much experience with going to the zoo on Saturdays, but I have been to Lincoln Park during Chipotle Cultivate, and again, parking was a few blocks away on Clark.

Call it bullcrap if you like, that's been my experience.

Not sure where you live but I'm off the Kennedy and its absolutely true.

OK, so that's a conclusion you've reached from a sample size of one. Try commuting on one of the LSD buses and you'd come to the opposite conclusion.

I live downtown. The Kennedy is a nightmare but I just take Elston during rush hour.

That is my least favorite stretch of highway.