Purchase your Chicago Transit Authority 30-day pass. This can be done at the Authority's online store, in which case it will take up to 10 days to arrive at your home, or in person at CTA Headquarters. Retail outlets across the Chicago area also sell CTA passes. However, they do not all sell every pass available, so the Authority recommends you check with the store in advance.
Plan the first journey you are going to make with your 30-day pass. Use the journey planner on the CTA website. If you key in your point of departure and your point of arrival, the planner will give you the most direct route, using buses, trains or a combination of the two.
Walk to the bus stop or train station at which you are starting your journey. If traveling by train, dip your pass into the turnstile and make your way to the platform. If the first stage of your journey is by bus, dip your pass into the farecard machine as you board the vehicle.
Dip your pass into the farecard machine on the next bus you take, if transferring from one bus route to another. Dip your pass into the station turnstile, if transferring from bus to train to complete your journey.
