Tips on Getting to School in the Winter

Everyone has seen different videos of people slipping on the ice around this time of year – whether it was one of your friends, a video on social media, or seeing it in person. We all laugh at others, but none of us want to be that person. There are some scientifically proven ways to avoid slipping on ice while walking: move slowly and steadily, take shorter steps, and when all else fails, waddle. Some scientists call it “walking like a penguin.

Maybe the best tool is our apps feature on our smartphones. Knowing bus and train times can help us reduce our wait times outside, and the driving features can help us locate the best routes if we are behind the wheel. However, that the apps works doesn't necessarily mean the CTA is.

With the snowy weather, comes the one thing that every Chicago city student hates: public transportation delays. To avoid being late for school, I advise planning on taking the bus or train 10-15 minutes before you regularly would. Both forms of public transportation offer wait times on their Ventra app, as well as through text messages to a number you can find at the bus station’s side.

“Last winter taking the Blue line for school took some planning. Too many times I was running to the station only to read the sign saying the train was stopped three stops back and there was a 30-minute wait," says a Wilbur Wright freshman.

Most importantly, layer up. Gloves, scarves, beanies, the whole get-up. You can never have too many layers on when it comes to a Chicago winter. With mask requirements, you get the extra layer of wind protection over your face so they have double the benefits.