Counting Cars for Charity

Every day, weather permitting, I walk at least to the local Metra station. Depending on the route I take and how I feel any particular day, the walk is anywhere between a mile and a half to three miles round trip.

Usually when I am at the station I count how many cars are in the lot. Imagine the melody of a Paul Simon song. “Counting the cars at my town’s Metra station.”

Usually when I am at the station I count how many cars are in the lot. Imagine the melody of a Paul Simon song. “Counting the cars at my town’s Metra station.”

Before the pandemic hit, the station parking lot was usually full but I didn’t start counting the cars until Covid shut down schools and business and made downtown Chicago a ghost town. On some weekends the cars would number in the single digits at most. A couple of weekends only one lonely car sat on the asphalt.

Over time things have started to pick up. The station master and I have a running conversation about when it might get back to pre pandemic levels in ridership. With more people buying tickets online or through an app, his ticket sales are not an indicator. Vehicles parked in the lot is more indicative.

Some trends are that Tuesday usually sees more cars than Monday. Wednesday usually has the most cars. Thursday is similar to Tuesday. Friday is usually the lowest numbers. Weekends so far are still abysmal, but that might pick up as summer months come and more people want to go to the city, God knows why, to see the Cubs probably lose.

I’m seeing some signs that more people are ready to use the trains again. My guess at normality is when 100 cars or more are consistent filling the spots at the station.

So, if you’re reading this, take a guess on the first day at least 100 cars will be parked in the Grayslake Tooterville Metra Station.

If you’re reading this on Facebook, comment with your guess. If you’re  reading this on Twitter, reply with your guess. 

For the person picking the right date on Facebook, I will donate $50 to the charity of their choice. Same for the person picking the right date on Twitter.

Pick dates May 17, 2022 - July 1, 2022. Please only one pick per person. If it happens, winner is the person who replied or commented first.

If no one picks the right date on either medium or if July 1 comes and the number isn’t reached, I will donate $100 to the Newport Festivals Foundation which is doing good work for music education and the musical arts.

Have some fun. Maybe make a little difference in the world.