Kennedy construction fuels new traffic patterns and habits in Chicago

• CTA ridership from O'Hare is also up by about 1,450 rides a week, suggesting that some are skipping cabs and rideshares.
• That's probably wise. Our editor's recent Lyft ride from O'Hare to Lincoln Park took so long that the app reached out to her asking if everything was OK.

Between the lines: "Though the construction work is not the sole reason behind the ridership increase, there are strong indications there is a corollary to increased CTA ridership," CTA spokesperson Maddie Kilgannon tells Axios.

What's more: This week brings yet another lane closing on the Kennedy near the Diversey exit.

What they're saying: Readers told us about some new strategies to avoid the construction traffic.

• Reader Maggie B. has "started taking Pulaski, Cicero, or Sacramento straight north to stay moving," while Audrey W. "[sucks] up the smell and [enjoys] the Blue Line."
• "It took one attempt at driving to Streeterville from my house in Edgebrook for me to say, 'never again,'" Dan H. wrote to us in an email. "Now I enjoy a peaceful Metra train ride and a beautiful walk along the river from Union Station. In fact, I’m relaxing on the train as I write this."

Yes, but: Many say new efficient routes are too good to share.

• "I probably wouldn't share a really great route with friends or family," Christian L. said. "Why would I give everyone a chance to ruin something that works?"