(no subject)

[stormdog]

My email to the CTA via their website contact form. It's a start. If I don't hear back, I'll try calling. I'm very curious about whether and how photography is addressed in employee training.

Speaking of which, if you know anyone who works for the CTA who'd be willing to talk to me about training and the company culture in relation to photography, I'd be very interested in talking to them. I'll promise anonymity if that would help.

Hello!

Yesterday (September the 15th around 7 o' clock), I was approached by a CTA employee on the platform of the Howard El station.

He warned me that he saw me taking photographs and that I could "go to jail for terrorism" for taking photographs of the station and tracks. He said that if I wanted to take any photographs, I needed to talk to someone with the CTA to get a permit and an escort. Being familiar with the CTA photography policy (http://www.transitchicago.com/business/photopolicy.aspx) I let him know that, to my understanding, a permit is required only for commercial photography or for bulky equipment. The employee told me that I was wrong, expressed annoyance at my implication that he "didn't know his job" and said "Don't say I didn't warn you."

I'm writing for two purposes.

First, I want to let you know that you have employees who are advising members of the general public incorrectly that the CTA prohibits use of cameras in public areas of CTA property. (As noted on the policy page, "The general public is permitted to use hand-held cameras to take photographs, capture digital images, and videotape within public areas of CTA stations and transit vehicles for personal, non-commercial use".)

Secondly, I'm very curious about what kind of instruction is given to public-facing CTA employees in regard to members of the public using cameras. Is this addressed in training? I'd be very interested in knowing whether the official policy is covered in employee training.

Thanks very much for your time!

Chris Allen