If money is really tight, why doesn't he take the El?  It's not difficult to take the train in from O'Hare (or from Midway, for that matter) to McCormick.  I wouldn't exactly call the CTA staff friendly, but if questioned they will tell him how to get to McCormick from O'Hare via the El, and it will cost him less than $2 each way.  Also: no traffic, no worries about getting driven around the long way.  All he needs is something to read since it's kind of a long, boring trip.



dettu, former Chicago resident and El rider