Typical CTA bus transfer issued in 1973. The same basic transfer rules applied which had been previously adopted by CSL. Rapid transit trains defied the standard distance and time formula existing on CSL and CTA. Thus, transfers issued at rapid transit stations included the date but no clock. At the top of these transfers was a space marked "STAMP HERE". Rapid transit stations had machines which would stamp the station and time on a transfer, and passengers getting off trains would be required to stamp the transfers before exiting through the turnstiles and boarding buses. And validity of the transfer was based on the stamped time and station. Bus transfers also had the "STAMP HERE" space above the clock, for passengers transfering from bus to rapid transit and back to bus.
In the early 1970's, there was a demonstration program developed in conjunction with the Illinois Central Railroad (now Metra Electric). Passengers could ride a bus on Jeffery Blvd. to the IC's Bryn Mawr station, ride an IC train downtown to Randolph Street station, and use the transfer again on the CTA downtown. And vice versa. Those IC stations were also equipped with transfer stamp machines.
2. Transfers between lines that meet are valid only at points of intersection, extension, convergence and divergence. In addition to these points, transfers are also valid between the points of convergence and divergence to or from rapid transit and bus routes operating on the same street and to or from express buses and local buses operating on the same street. Lines that do not meet but operate within one standard city block of each other are considered the same as lines that meet and the same transfer regulations apply.
3. Transfers between lines that do not meet or operate within one standard city block of each other are valid only at authorized locations by CTA.
4. Transfers are valid only for continuous rides over reasonably direct routes. Reverse riding is prohibited except upon satisfactory explanation to employee receiving the transfer.
5. Transfers are valid for rides of reasonable traveling time.
On bus routes:
Ten minutes traveling time is allowed per zone.
The starting zone and time of leaving the starting zone are punched on the transfer.
Traveling time is determined by the number of zones between the starting zone, or zone of alighting from rapid transit and the transfer point.
6. Bus transfers to be valid on the rapid transit may require payment of additional fare.
7. Bus transfer to be valid in the outer zone require payment of additional fare beyond the middle zone limit.
8. Bus transfers are valid on the rapid transit and back to the bus but not again on the rapid transit.
9. Rapid transit transfers are valid on the buses and back to the rapid transit but not again on the buses.
10. Transfers from the rapid transit to the bus are valid only if time stamped when leaving the rapid transit.
11. Transfers are valid on bus or rapid transit after an intermediate ride between designated stations on a suburban railroad, but only if time stamped when leaving the suburban railroad.
Penalty for fraudulent use
No person shall sell, barter, exchange, give away or offer for passage a transfer in violation of the ordinances and rules of the Authority or in such a manner as to deprive Chicago Transit Authority of the rates, fares and charges established by ordinance.
Violators are subject to a fine of not to exceed two hundred dollars ($200.00) for each offense.