Best alternatives to driving in Chicago

Sick of construction on the Dan Ryan? Spending hours of each week behind the wheel? Shelling out hundreds of dollars each month on fuel? There's plenty of alternatives to getting around our city that are cheaper, healthier and, in many cases, faster/more reliable than the personal auto. Here are your Green Living Examiner's favorites:

1. BIKING

This one tops the list as the most physically beneficial, affordable and self-reliant mode of urban transport out there. Best of all, Chicago boasts one of the strongest bike communities in the country. Here are a few resources to make your ride smoother:

Shops

The greater Chicagoland area has approximately 163 bike shops, which means if you blow a flat, there's a good chance you can walk to the nearest mechanic. A full list of shops and co-ops in Chicago and the suburbs can be found here.

Maps, Guides and Resources

Chicago Bike Map: This searchable neighborhood map shows the safest bike routes and location of bike shops. It's so handy, you'll want to pick up a hard copy at West Town Bikes or your friendly neighborhood shop.

The Chicagoland Bicycle Federation: the CBF website is a treasure trove of guides, tips and tricks for safe bike commuting in the city, including info on how to register your bike and up-to-date lakefront trail weather reports.

Bike Winter: In the cold winter months it takes a lot of layers and plenty of solidarity to keep warm. Chicago BikeWinter has plenty of tips to keep you safe and warm during the inclement weather and a calendar of events between now and spring.

2. CHICAGO TRANSIT AUTHORITY

Sure, the CTA has it's share of problems--delays, bi-monthly funding panics, "slow zones"--but it's still one of the biggest public transit systems in the country, providing round-the-clock service in some areas and freeing hundreds of thousands of Chicagoans from car ownership. Monthly passes are still just $75 (a heck of a lot less than gas) and daily/3-day/weekly passes are available for your out-of-town guests. The Chicago Card touch-passes can be recharged at stations or linked directly to a credit card or bank account and refilled automatically. The best new feature has to be the bustracker function for cell phones, which takes the guess work out of timing your bus commute.

3. METRA

Pristine and reliable, the Metra has both the old-world charm of gruff conductors and the Euro-charm of condoned alcohol consumption. It's also hands-down the fastest way to leap long lines of traffic in a single bound. Regular commuters can buy monthly or ten-ride passes at a discount.

4. CAR SHARING

Sometimes you just need a car--to haul your band gear, visit your cousin in Watseka, what have you--but that doesn't mean you need to own one. Car sharing is gaining popularity in the U.S. for those folks who just need a car once in a while. Services like I-Go and Zipcar allow members to rent cars and SUVs on an hourly basis. Vehicles are parked at designated spaces across the city, usually close to "L" stops. Most of the I-Go fleet is hybrid, so fuel consumption is held at a minimum and I-Go even pops for the gas.