At this point, there’d be a full-scale uprising if Chicagoans had to pay for public transportation on New Year’s Eve. Once again, the CTA is offering Miller Lite Free Rides on New Year’s Eve, in an effort to encourage folks not to drive drunk. From 10pm on December 31 to 4am on January 1, bus and El rides all across town will be totally complimentary.
The annual treat is sponsored by West Side beer distributor Chicago Beverage Systems and MillerCoors. The brewing goliath subsidizes NYE transit in Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, Milwaukee and Minneapolis and St. Paul, in addition to Chicago. This is Miller Lite’s 30th year of providing free transit rides nationwide. As part of its 2025 Global Goals, MillerCoors aims to launch new programs to prevent drunk driving in every major beer market—maybe that means we’ll see more free CTA nights in Chicago in the coming years?
If you’ve ever tried to hail an Uber on New Year’s Eve, you know that it's a difficult (and expensive) task. Instead of maxing out your credit card on a rideshare or waiting hours for a taxi, you might as well kick off 2018 with a free public transit ride.
Okay, so you know how you’ll get there. But what are you doing New Year’s Eve? Say goodbye to 2017 at one of these parties and concerts happening in Chicago.