Riding the bus in the dark makes us all happy

[K Frame]

I think MLB pitcher John Rocker pretty much nailed it on public transportation around 15 or 16 years ago . . . and of course, like so many people who spoke the truth, the intolerant doyens of political correctness demanded he be punished for it.

No, he nailed New York.

[BlueStarLizzard]

If I lived in D.C., New York, L.A. or any other huge city with mass transit available and notoriously crappy traffic, I'd use the mass transit.

However, since hell would be colder than an Antarctic winter before I would live in one of those places,  I am saved from the indignity of being forced in close proximity to my fellow humans to get from one place to another.

Better moving in a sardine can of the hopefully somewhat washed masses then stationary on the Beltway.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

A few years ago on my metro ride into DC I sat behind a rather success US Senator...

We BOTH had drivers to take us where we wanted to go... the train driver.

There are dozens of doc folk who qualify for drivers who ride metro. It's a quality of life issue. Ride in car 2 hour drive? Or metro 35 mins.

[wmenorr67]

Few times I used public trans was when I was stationed at Ft Devens, MA and would go into Boston for the weekend.  Was able to ride the train into Boston for $3.50 one way and then ride the subway for free on Military ID.  Great use of it and had no problems.  This was back in 1989.

Then when I had to go to DC back in 2010 for a class by the Navy Yard the group of us that went purchased week long passes for use on the Metro.  Once again no issues.

[K Frame]

"Then when I had to go to DC back in 2010 for a class by the Navy Yard the group of us that went purchased week long passes for use on the Metro.  Once again no issues."

Biggest problem with being at the Navy Yard is the neighborhood in which it's in. It's a lot better than it was 10 years ago because it's gentrifying as the new Nationals Park effect spreads outwards.

A friend of mine worked in the Navy Yard back in the early 1990s and parked in one of the structures outside the gates.

For a time there were mandatory armed escorts to the structure because of crime issues.

[KD5NRH]

There are dozens of doc folk who qualify for drivers who ride metro. It's a quality of life issue. Ride in car 2 hour drive? Or metro 35 mins.

Trains, sure, if they go where you need to be.  Buses?  Sit in the same traffic, made worse by stopping every block or two even if the light is green, and rarely taking anything resembling a practical route to where you need to be.

[wmenorr67]

"Then when I had to go to DC back in 2010 for a class by the Navy Yard the group of us that went purchased week long passes for use on the Metro.  Once again no issues."

Biggest problem with being at the Navy Yard is the neighborhood in which it's in. It's a lot better than it was 10 years ago because it's gentrifying as the new Nationals Park effect spreads outwards.

A friend of mine worked in the Navy Yard back in the early 1990s and parked in one of the structures outside the gates.

For a time there were mandatory armed escorts to the structure because of crime issues.

We weren't at the Navy Yard actual.  The building was the National Imagery build.  Locked up tighter than a frogs ass.  They were off the yard but were "part" of it.

[K Frame]

Trains, sure, if they go where you need to be.  Buses?  Sit in the same traffic, made worse by stopping every block or two even if the light is green, and rarely taking anything resembling a practical route to where you need to be.

I pick up a bus every morning in front of Castle Key's house. It takes me right to the metro station where I get my train.

I sometimes pick up another bus (if I'm feeling lazy and not up to walking) that takes me from the metro in DC right to my work site.

So.... yeah, the bus goes EXACTLY where I want it to go, and generally does it quickly and efficiently.

Today might be a different story, however, since the big Nuke Security summit is completely screwing up surface traffic in DC.

[MechAg94]

I pick up a bus every morning in front of Castle Key's house. It takes me right to the metro station where I get my train.

I sometimes pick up another bus (if I'm feeling lazy and not up to walking) that takes me from the metro in DC right to my work site.

So.... yeah, the bus goes EXACTLY where I want it to go, and generally does it quickly and efficiently.

Today might be a different story, however, since the big Nuke Security summit is completely screwing up surface traffic in DC.

I looked at that when I was working in Houston 10 years ago.  I would have to ride a commuter bus in to Downtown then catch another bus or series of buses out to where my work was 5 miles the other side of Downtown.  They do have HOV/bus lanes on the freeways in Houston, but they are not always a whole lot faster.  Lots of people did carpooling if they worked in the area which works if available and convenient.  If a bus/train option is available and works, that is great.  Houston is pretty spread out so it is hit or miss. 

[KD5NRH]

Houston is pretty spread out so it is hit or miss.

The solution is to compress Houston?  I like this already.

Get it all down to a size that will fit in a Flat Rate small box, and I'll chip in on the postage to some random third world country.

[K Frame]

I was wrong. I left the office near 5. Caught the bus, which deposited me at the metro 6 minutes later.

Walked down the steps, caught the train 3 minutes after I hit the platform.

15 minutes later I was cooled my heels for 10 minutes waiting for the bus that would deposit me back at my car, which took an additional 9 minutes.

Then I got into my car, and things went straight to hell.

Because I was leaving much later than normal, I couldn't take I-66, which turns into HOV 2 or 3 commuter lanes at 4 p.m.

That also pushes a lot of traffic off 66 and onto the surface streets.

So, 49 minutes and 10 miles later, I finally walked in my front door.

[K Frame]

Oh, on the plus side, I did get a 3% raise today, which from what I'm hearing is the standard corporate raise this year for high performers.

If you walk on water and raise dead projects to life, I think they'll go as high as 6%.

[MechAg94]

The solution is to compress Houston?  I like this already.

Get it all down to a size that will fit in a Flat Rate small box, and I'll chip in on the postage to some random third world country.

Maybe you should experiment with LA first. 

The best solution would be to convince corporate executives that they don't have to have a corporate office in the center of the damn town.

[roo_ster]

Maybe you should experiment with LA first. 

And you'll be able to save on postage after you get it all shrunk down.

[Sideways_8]

The solution is to compress Houston?  I like this already.

Get it all down to a size that will fit in a Flat Rate small box, and I'll chip in on the postage to some random third world country.

Houston isn't bad, unless your downtown trying to leave a Texans game in a 3/4 ton truck. Extended cab and long bed. Then, Houston sucks.

San Antonio seems to have a bus system. I guess it works okay. I prefer my work truck. $1.73 to take it home vs an 8 mile round trip of stop and go traffic. I'll take the work truck any day. Plus it's a newer model. Only 48,000 miles on it since August of 2014.

[KD5NRH]

The best solution would be to convince corporate executives that they don't have to have a corporate office in the center of the damn town.

Couldn't tell you the number of companies I watched go under because they were spending a fortune to have an office in the Dallas Galleria, that 95+% of their clients never went to anyway.  Then I worked for a successful one doing the same thing out of a repurposed server room on their primary client's site that they traded service for the rent on.

[MechAg94]

The company I work for used to be at the Houston Galleria (or a building attached).  IMO, the location added 15 minutes to everyone's commute at minimum as it was the center of a traffic choke point.  Many times it would add a lot more just trying to get out of the parking garage.  I worked there a couple years a while back.  They have moved since then.  The new location is also a busy area, but not near as bad.