Anyone ride less then ideal public transit to work?

[kdonnel]

I live in Metro Atlanta and public transit is not the greatest as the outskirts are not serviced by anything except express busses.

I start a new job soon that will come with a 40 mile commute and I am looking at my options.

There is an express bus that will involve a 15 minute ride to the bus, a 50 minute bus ride, a 10 minute train ride, and finally a 5 minute walk. Buying monthly passes it works out to around $7.60 a day and 80 minutes plus waiting time.

Driving will take from 50 - 100 minutes depending on traffic and use about 4 gallons of gas a day plus wear and tear on the car and I believe I will have to pay for parking at my new job so figure $10 a day for parking if I am lucky. So close to $20 a day including gas and parking.

What would you do?

Take the bus and get to veg out on the commute there and back but consistently add 30+ minutes to your commute in each direction or drive yourself?

I am getting up and taking the bus tomorrow morning just to see how it all works and see if the times on the schedule match up to reality in any way.

 

[tvguy]

Life long Californian here. I drive everywhere. Been on public transit once in my hometown in 62 years, and THAT was 57 years ago.
Most of my working life I have worked kind of odd hours when public transit is shutdown for at least one end of my commute, so not an option.
I have had a car since age 45 years, and a spare car in care of an emergency for the last 33 years.

 

[amcnj]

I think trying the bus to see how it works out is a good idea. Any chance of a carpooling option, that won’t add appreciably to the drive time?

 

[dclpluto]

I live in Metro Atlanta and public transit is not the greatest as the outskirts are not serviced by anything except express busses.

I start a new job soon that will come with a 40 mile commute and I am looking at my options.

There is an express bus that will involve a 15 minute ride to the bus, a 50 minute bus ride, a 10 minute train ride, and finally a 5 minute walk. Buying monthly passes it works out to around $7.60 a day and 80 minutes plus waiting time.

Driving will take from 50 - 100 minutes depending on traffic and use about 4 gallons of gas a day plus wear and tear on the car and I believe I will have to pay for parking at my new job so figure $10 a day for parking if I am lucky. So close to $20 a day including gas and parking.

What would you do?

Take the bus and get to veg out on the commute there and back but consistently add 30+ minutes to your commute in each direction or drive yourself?

I am getting up and taking the bus tomorrow morning just to see how it all works and see if the times on the schedule match up to reality in any way.

Either way it’ sounds like a nightmare. Good luck with your new job.

 

[lifesavacation]

Those are both really tough options. I don’t see a clear winner.

 

[kdonnel]

I think trying the bus to see how it works out is a good idea. Any chance of a carpooling option, that won’t add appreciably to the drive time?

There is another who was laid off at the same time who starts his new job a week before me. His new office is just a mile from my new office. He is coming from 25 miles further away and does pass by my house on his way so there is the option that we could commute together. But you have to have three in the car before the HOT lanes become free. I spent $18 coming home from my interview a couple weeks ago in HOT lane fees so we would still be looking at up to $40 a day in HOT lane fees if we wanted to shave some time off the trip.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Being familiar with the metro area and the challenges when it comes to various transportation options here, I’d vote car.

Not knowing exactly where you’ll be parking, I agree you may need some luck if it’s only $10 a day.

Another potential option is to do a combo. I have a friend who takes a similar public transportation setup to/from work on most days, but will drive on average 1’ish day a week. Mainly days when the weather is bad, he needs to go somewhere during the day, etc. When he doesn’t drive, he enjoys the extra time to catch up on emails, reading, etc. But the journey can still be taxing at times.

 

[bcla]

I’ve had a 45 mile commute before. There are many ways to make the trip, although the final few miles are always the hardest part. I rather liked heavy rail (food, beverages, and alcohol were allowed), but that was typically more expensive. Caltrain allows BYO alcohol, but Amtrak requires that it be purchased onboard. The time might have been longer than driving, but it was better than dealing with bumper to bumper traffic.

But less than desirable? Yep. For those familiar, I would take BART to Fremont, CA, take the VTA limited stop bus to the Great Mall in Milpitas, CA, and then VTA light rail to the office.

 

[kdonnel]

Not knowing exactly where you’ll be parking, I agree you may need some luck if it’s only $10 a day.

There is a deck at the building, I am thinking tenants get a discount or my employer may pay part. I have yet to find out much of anything about the benefits.

 

[morgan98]

I live in the Atlanta Metro and commute from the North Marietta/unincorporated Kennesaw area up I-75 to downtown Atlanta regularly.

With what you describe are you up I-85 or 400 being that you mention getting to the train? Anyway that car, bus and train thing would be way too much for me. I get up at 4:15, work out and beat traffic to get to my desk by 7:15 or so. Would working slightly altered hours ever be an option?

I also try to work from home one day a week on weeks I am not traveling to break it up a bit.

Our express lanes up 75 are relatively cheap. I could not stomach the toll rates up 85 on a regular basis.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

There is a deck at the building, I am thinking tenants get a discount or my employer may pay part. I have yet to find out much of anything about the benefits.

Good luck. Many companies in the urban rail-served areas have various transit benefits/subsidies. Or programs where you can pay for transportation expenses with pre-tax dollars, etc. Hopefully your new company has some of those options, it can certainly help in some circumstances.

 

[Skippy918]

I would inquire about remote work options. Maybe you can work something out where you come in the office once a week? I would also try and work on the bus or train so that can count towards your 8-9 hour working day.

 

[mousefan73]

I live in Metro Atlanta and public transit is not the greatest as the outskirts are not serviced by anything except express busses.

I start a new job soon that will come with a 40 mile commute and I am looking at my options.

There is an express bus that will involve a 15 minute ride to the bus, a 50 minute bus ride, a 10 minute train ride, and finally a 5 minute walk. Buying monthly passes it works out to around $7.60 a day and 80 minutes plus waiting time.

Driving will take from 50 - 100 minutes depending on traffic and use about 4 gallons of gas a day plus wear and tear on the car and I believe I will have to pay for parking at my new job so figure $10 a day for parking if I am lucky. So close to $20 a day including gas and parking.

What would you do?

Take the bus and get to veg out on the commute there and back but consistently add 30+ minutes to your commute in each direction or drive yourself?

I am getting up and taking the bus tomorrow morning just to see how it all works and see if the times on the schedule match up to reality in any way.

I have probably the worst commute ever. 35 minute drive to train. Regional train 1:20 and then about 30 min Transfer subway to airport then bus/ or walk to office. Just under 3 hrs. I leave my house at 6:25 and get in the office Just after nine. I live 90 miles from work and do this 2/3 times a week. Rest off days or home office. I could drive and shave off about 45 min IF and a big IF there are no traffic issues.

i prefer the longer commute with many forms of public transportation. I can chill,sleep, eat, work ( some time I count as work time. ) This way is also cheaper for me too. I also feel safer. Statistically safer. I am actually a fan of public transport and letting others do the driving. Now and then I will drive if I need more flexibility. Also I feel it keeps me in shape. I get about 1500-2000 steps in each way. Walking to/ from stations, standing etc. door to door in a car would be bad for my mental Co and physical health bb

 

[kdonnel]

I would inquire about remote work options. Maybe you can work something out where you come in the office once a week? I would also try and work on the bus or train so that can count towards your 8-9 hour working day.

I will be able to WFH 1-2 days a week once I have proven myself.

 

[amcnj]

There is another who was laid off at the same time who starts his new job a week before me. His new office is just a mile from my new office. He is coming from 25 miles further away and does pass by my house on his way so there is the option that we could commute together. But you have to have three in the car before the HOT lanes become free. I spent $18 coming home from my interview a couple weeks ago in HOT lane fees so we would still be looking at up to $40 a day in HOT lane fees if we wanted to shave some time off the trip.

I drove 50 miles each way (one hour) for 13 years, and 67 miles (1.5 hours) each way for 18 years. There were no viable mass transit options, but fortunately there was not a lot of traffic. Of course there was an occasional weather, accident or construction issue, oh and several forest fires over the years too.

I was able to carpool many of those years with 1-3 other people. Carpooling can have its own issues. It mostly went well, but I experienced sporadic issues with someone having to stay late, car problems, etc. I turned down some potential carpoolers as their work location would have added an extra fifteen minutes to my day. And I only had the gas cost to deal with, not tolls or parking or lane fees.

Good luck experimenting and finding what works best for you and your family. At least you do have the potential for some work from home days too. That was something else I was not able to do.

 

[kaytieeldr]

I would move closer to work. Okay, I personally wouldn't (and I'm not actually suggesting it), but I used to work with someone who did.

Is there anywhere to park near the long bus, or along its route? Maybe do a combination of driving and transit?

Also, if you're planning a test run, it should be as close to your normal commute times as possible. The Ride at 7 and 5:30 is going to be different from, and not necessarily indicated, by the ride at 11 and 1.

 

[cluvsdisney]

This would be a no brainer for me. I would drive to work. There is no way I would drive to a bus to a train then walk and also waste over an hour a day waiting for connections.

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

I haven't been to downtown Atlanta with parking but I think $10 is way too low, so you're probably at closer to $20-25/day parking. I'd still drive. You're going to be at the same time probably with waiting as driving to bus to train to walking. Plus what if you don't get a seat on either bus or train, do you want to be standing that long? I'm all about public transportation and when I lived elsewhere I would take a bus to work which was longer then driving to save on the parking. I enjoyed reading on the bus and being dropped off right infront of my office. But the bus was empty where it picked me up so I knew I'd get a seat. Heading home I might have to stand for about 5 mins then seats would open up. Plus it was just one bus straight from the stop 3 blocks from home to work so I didn't have to drive to a bus stop. Good luck!

 

[morgan98]

I haven't been to downtown Atlanta with parking but I think $10 is way too low, so you're probably at closer to $20-25/day parking. I'd still drive. You're going to be at the same time probably with waiting as driving to bus to train to walking. Plus what if you don't get a seat on either bus or train, do you want to be standing that long? I'm all about public transportation and when I lived elsewhere I would take a bus to work which was longer then driving to save on the parking. I enjoyed reading on the bus and being dropped off right infront of my office. But the bus was empty where it picked me up so I knew I'd get a seat. Heading home I might have to stand for about 5 mins then seats would open up. Plus it was just one bus straight from the stop 3 blocks from home to work so I didn't have to drive to a bus stop. Good luck!

I work in downtown Atlanta. My monthly parking is $125 a month (it was just raised) and my employer is generous enough to offset some of it. The garage has an early bird rate in by 9am that is $8/day. Until a few years ago it was as low as $95, but development has really picked up in the past couple of years.

 

[skyblue17]

I think it depends on your priorities. Taking public transit would mean you have time to read, listen to music, relax. Driving requires focus, attention, can be frustrating if there is traffic, etc.

I would probably do a little of both in your situation, so long as there is no clear benefit to committing to one over the other. Consider yourself lucky that you have the option of both!