For anyone who’s been behind the wheel here, it’s not exactly shocking that Chicago ranked among the worst cities – 93rd out of 100 big cities across the country – to be a driver, according to a new study from WalletHub, a personal finance website.
WalletHub cited costs with owning a car such as gas prices, traffic and road conditions like traffic delays, safety including fatal car crashes, and driver and car wellness such as the number of car washes as metrics that factored into the list.
Chicago scored among the highest in car maintenance costs and parking rates. It also did worse than average when it came to traffic delays, gas prices, car theft rates, accident likelihood, and the number of auto repair shops, car dealerships and car washes per capita.
Here’s a short list of what else Chicagoans might hate about driving a car in city other than getting stuck in rush-hour traffic or being at a standstill because road construction. Thank goodness some of us can avoid it by riding the CTA or a bike.
1. Parking meters. The privatization of the city’s parking meters in 2008 for 75 years for $1.15 billion upfront is widely agreed upon as a being a bad deal. Meanwhile, the parking meter rates seem to go up every year.
2. Potholes. Sometimes, it feels like you’re driving on an obstacle course to avoid hitting one and blowing out your tire.
3. Snow. It sucks to scrape ice off your windows and dig your car out of snow. And then once you’re out, good luck finding a cleared unclaimed spot on the street when you get home.
4. Street sweeping. Drivers have to be on the lookout for the temporary orange signs that pop up on their block or risk getting a $60 ticket.
5. City stickers. We know the city needs revenue but it’s just one more fee tacked on to car owners. Better put one in your windshield or you can get hit with a $200 ticket plus a $60 late fee.
6. Parking tickets. Nothing has the power to make you instantly irate than getting a $50 parking ticket, especially when it’s a few minutes after the meter expired.
7. Red light and speed cameras. One flash goes off and you know you’re busted – and out $100.
