Comments | little_details: Getting From East St Louis to Chicago on $20

tone_milazzo in little_details

Getting From East St Louis to Chicago on $20

Jul 28, 2006 10:05

Character is a 13 year old boy ( Read more... )

usa: illinois, usa: missouri, ~travel: ground & rail, usa: public transportation

Comments 12

madcaptenor July 28 2006, 22:25:42 UTC

I would imagine that there are ways to get from Chicago to St. Louis, and then from St. Louis to East St. Louis. you might want to try that.

madcaptenor July 28 2006, 22:28:18 UTC

in particular, Metro is the public transit in that area; I haven't poked around in there but it appears to serve both St. Louis and East St. Louis.

purkledragon July 28 2006, 22:29:53 UTC

You would go to St. Louis and then cross the river back into IL.

yanagi_wa July 28 2006, 22:45:14 UTC

I live close to SL. There's no train station in ESL, it's in University City, or close. The bus station is down town. ESL is 'off the beaten track' when it comes to that sort of thing. Sorry I couldn't be more help.

rinna_delenn July 28 2006, 23:21:08 UTC

Contact Greyhound. Just because there doesn't seem to be a terminal in the East St Louis area doesn't mean there isn't one. Only the major ones are listed on the maps I have.

When you talk to them, you don't have to let them know the information is for a fictional teenager.

tone_milazzo July 28 2006, 23:26:48 UTC

That's a good idea, thanks!

reannon July 29 2006, 00:03:35 UTC

Living right here on the Illinois side of St. Louis, I can tell you that the easiest and cheapest way for a teenager to get around is Metrolink. There are a couple stations in and near East St. Louis. It will NOT take him to the train station in downtown St. Louis, but I'd wager there's a bus transfer that could ( ... )

tone_milazzo July 29 2006, 00:23:48 UTC

I think you may have written yourself into a bit of a corner here, particularly with the money. If you give us more details, we might be able to help you write your way out. Good luck!

Actually, it occurred to me while reading your post that he's going to have to hitchhike, turning a two paragraph description into a whole side adventure!

Thanks for the help!

reannon July 29 2006, 05:17:21 UTC

If it helps any, the road from St. Louis to Chicago is long, boring, cornfields and boring. I did mention boring? The biggest road hazard is falling asleep behind the wheel. Except when you pass through Springfield and Bloomington, there's a whole lotta nothin' between here and there. I bet his best bet would be a long-haul truck driver, and I happen to know one who is also a writer: valarltd. She drives all through the midwest and mid-south on a weekly basis.

Good luck!