September 10th, 2007 10:38 am

I don’t know if this is an actual “protest” but I looked out the window at work (I’m on the third floor) and I see hundreds of people, mostly in wheelchairs, coming from the corner of Washington and LaSalle, moving North on LaSalle and then turning east on Randolph. There was also a mixture of those on canes or walkers and those being led by dogs.

They blocked traffic for almost 45 minutes and at one point, even with traffic directed, it was backed up over 6 blocks. It appears to be very organized, but I looked on Tribune’s website and didn’t see anything.

If I had to guess, they’re going to Chicago City Hall (that big slanted building in the picture with all the glass) to protest the upcoming CTA tragedy in which over 20 bus routes will be eliminated, fares will increase and almost 1,000 people will lost their jobs.

It never occurred to me that such a cut in service would affect those who are disabled. While their fares won’t increase, cutting bus routes, which leads to the overloading of other buses and trains, will deeply affect those that don’t have the luxury of simply walking a little farther or taking other modes of transportation.

The CTA is just as guilty though as the state. Every year the CTA threatens layoffs, increased fairs and service cuts unless the state gives them money. Every year, at the last minute, the state comes through. Yet, the CTA has nothing to show for this. Service still sucks, it’s still slow and over-crowded and fares are among the nation’s highest. Seems like this time the CTA has finally pissed off the state to the point the government is telling the CTA to go eff themselves.

Awesome.

Oh, and yes: I fought with the notion of making some very bad jokes about how they’re not really “marching” in a protest they’re “scooting,” but I figured I’d save the jokes for those of you who have no soul.

Pictures after the jump.

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