Hancock Students Struggle Catching 165 Bus on 65th Street Afterschool
By Joey Berens for The Signature
October 23, 2024
Students have been racing after school to catch the 165 bus. Often, the bus arrives across the street around 3:17, only two minutes after the bell rings on B-days.
This has left many students unable to get on in time. After that first bus leaves, another doesn’t arrive until around 3:43, almost 30 minutes later.
Due to this, students are either forced to wait for the later bus or walk to another bus stop. The majority of people who are able to get on the bus are those whose homeroom is near the exit, and those who are willing to do anything to make it.
Many students have been jaywalking across the street, sometimes while the bus is already there.
Some students cannot afford missing the bus due to responsibilities after school. The Signature conducted interviews with a few students who regularly take the bus. One of them was Mateo Lopez, a senior, who often has to go to work directly after school. This means that he cannot miss the first bus. “I’m all the way on the third floor, so I have to literally run from the third floor to the first floor to catch the bus. And sometimes I have to jaywalk,” he mentioned in an interview. Multiple students who take the bus have said that they needed to be at work after school.
Others have different responsibilities, sometimes involving family, like Naomi Carrillo, another senior. When asked if she had to be anywhere directly after school, she replied, “I have to go pick up my little sister from her school. She has autism so I can’t leave her alone for too long.” Her sister gets out of school at 3:30, so waiting for the second bus is not an option. Due to this, she has to make it to the first bus.
Many students mentioned having strict parents who need them home by certain times. This limits how long they are able to afford waiting. Carrillo also mentioned that the bus would be better off coming at about 3:20. Some students shared their opinion of that time, but others felt it was still too early and suggested 3:25.
On September 20, 2024, the Signature emailed the alderman of the 13th ward, Marty Quinn, as well as the CTA. Alderman Quinn responded shortly after saying he shared the concerns through email with the CTA.
The CTA has yet to respond to our inquiry which we submitted through a response form, as well as emailed to their media response team.
When Dr. Harper, Hancock’s principal, was informed about the bus situation, she promptly requested a meeting with the CTA transportation managers to address and resolve the issue.
There is still only one bus at a time on the route.
The Signature is now awaiting a resolution and will provide updates as soon as more information becomes available.