The digital screens on CTA bus stops usually display the arrival times for approaching buses and other innocuous, but helpful information for commuters. Recently, these displays have inadvertently started displaying somewhat disturbing messages, which hint at the CTA's plans for Midwest domination.
It all started last week when a Reddit user found a bus stop on Michigan Avenue that displayed the phrase, "Ohio will be eliminated." While some argued that the message was referring to the removal of a bus stop at the corner of Ohio Street and Michigan Avenue, others insisted that this announcement predicted doom for an entire state.
Photograph: Reddit/OnionDart
Over the weekend, a CTA bus stop display made another catastrophic proclamation, turning its attention to the lake that forms much of the northern border of the previously condemned state of Ohio. This might not be quite as destructive as the elimination of an entire state, but we doubt that our friends in Canada will be happy about the potential loss of Lake Erie…unless this is simply referring to a decommissioned bus stop on Erie Street.
Photograph: Reddit/j1mcamp
Yesterday, another menacing message was delivered via a CTA bus stop. Apparently the CTA has it out for the Great Lakes, because Huron is its next candidate for elimination. Is the CTA sucking up lakes to prepare for a Mad Max-style post-apocalyptic future in which fresh water is one of the only currencies, or are we simply being warned of a bus stop closure on Huron Street?
Photograph: Reddit/Southloopchi
We're not sure which state or body of water will succumb to the merciless CTA next, but one thing is certain: The CTA needs to come up with a slightly less ominous way of communicating its bus service alerts.