Do you use public transportation regularly?

[marmar]

I'd personally love to use mass transit, but I live in the public transit-deprived (courtesy of the auto companies) Detroit metropolitan area. But even here, in carland, there is talk of light rail along Woodward Avenue and a train linking Detroit-Metro Airport-Ann Arbor.
Anyway, I'm curious to know how many DUers are public transit regulars. :think:

[taterguy]

1. My bicycle takes less time

So that would be a big fat no.

ps The last time I was the Detroit area I asked if there was a bus from the train station to the airport. People laughed and told me to take a cab.

[swag]

6. Yeah, more freedom and schedule control with the bicycle,

though I tend to bitch out and take the bus when it gets all rainy.

We do have a wonderful bus system where I live, but it can get a little smelly, what with all the over-perfumed and over-cologned people.

[TheUniverse]

2. I have never in my life used public transportation.

[LisaM]

5. Why not?

Not available, or against it?

[TheUniverse]

11. I live in a small town and hardly ever leave it.

[Squatch]

3. Does I-95 count?

It's publicly funded and sure as hell is mass transit in the AM

[etherealtruth]

22. I think one actually has to move ...

... in order for it to be classified as a transit system.

If memory serves me correctly, 95 is simply a long parking lot.

[LisaM]

4. If I don't use transit, I carpool or walk

For the most part. I drive to the grocery store, KMart, and Target, and those are just about the only times I am in the car by myself.

Seattle has better transit than Detroit though it's not great, and last year, with bus re-routing and downtown construction, I figure it took about 50 extra hours out of my year to ride the bus than get home some other way. We do not have light rail. The bus system is pretty bad in a lot of ways, but at least we have it.

[swag]

10. I always hear Seattlites disparage their bus system, and I'm always surprised.

Are buses late, or are the routes just crappy? What's going on?

Oh, and hi, neighbor. Let me know when you're in town again and we'll chug some more beers.

[LisaM]

23. All of the above!

And vice versa, I'm sure.

[TahitiNut]

18. ".... better transit than Detroit"

We live in a nation of constantly-lowered standards. :rofl:

Hell ... the Mojave Desert has better public transit than Detroit! :silly:

[Roon]

34. Denver has the best mass transit system in the country

You can get anywhere by bus/lightrail here.

[LeftyMom]

7. The transit system in Sacramento doubles as mobile shelter for the homeless and smells like pee

so I don't use it. I do use BART and MUNI when I'm in the Bay Area.

[underpants]

8. Everyday

[Coyote_Bandit]

9. Used to

lived in a large metropolitan area. Unlimited public transit 24/7 for about $150 annually. And you could go anywhere. THere were stops at libraries and stores and malls and office locations and airports and schools and colleges and parks and all the various sports and recreation arenas.

Then I moved. Miss it.

[recoveringrepublican]

12. Other-I live in an area were it WOULD be viable, but it stinks

I live in north Pinellas county Florida. Just west of Tampa. My friends in St. Pete (south Pinellas) say the bus service is great, up north is a different story. No bus comes early enough to get me to work. Between getting my kids to and from school and work I also don't have the time right now to spend double the time getting to and from. I DO ride my bike to the grocery store and other areas around town.

[etherealtruth]

13. What public transportation?

I live in metro Detroit as well ... public transportation is close to nonexistent here.

My daily commute includes almost the entirety of 696 and a little on 96. I would love a rail system that ran parallel to 696!

[marmar]

14. Yeah, I used to have to deal with the 696/275/96 mixing bowl every day.....

I truly understood the meaning of "road rage."

[TahitiNut]

20. 696 ... today's "gasoline alley"

Suicide run ... the commute of the quick or the dead. Insane. (And I've driven the LA Freeways, too.)

[CTyankee]

15. I'm retired. Hubby takes the bus every day to and from work.

He works for the city and there were no available parking places when he was hired. We live in city limits and have 2 bus lines to choose from to get to downtown, so he has great options. Of course, this is liberal New Haven...

[KamaAina]

19. He better be sure he's back by 6:10

as I recall, most of the lines on what we used to call "Connecticut Tran-shit" shut down around then, the major exceptions being the B, D, and a portion of the J.

This was a major factor in my eventually abandoning the Elm City (by most other standards, one of the finest of smaller cities) for NYC.

edit: I believe the G ran 'til about 9, come to think. :hi:

[CTyankee]

24. Yep, he does! Or he gets a ride from another city worker who does have parking.

Actually, he prefers it this way. He absolutely hates driving in traffic, he likes the camaraderie he has built up with the drivers and the other regular passengers and he likes to relax on the way to work.

I have some very well off friends who live in the very upscale East Rock neighborhood who can walk to their offices downtown. Those who can, bike around downtown. So East Rock is very accessible, but only for those with enough money to live there! And you also get the privilege of visiting the wonderful little coffee shops and the little gourmet markets that feature great take out meals! I love it that you can go into the Italian markets and get a fill up on your olive oil (bring your own bottle)from big tin cannisters.

We live in Westville, not far from the Yale Golf Course. Where did you live when you were in New Haven?

[KamaAina]

29. On the way out to East Rock

on much less fancy, not to mention busy (feeder to I-91) Trumbull St. The idea was that, in decent weather :rofl: , I could and did actually walk over to Yale Medical, or even to the train station (other part-time job was in Stratford, Mom was in Norwalk). Just try that in the Sunbelt!

[CTyankee]

30. I know Trumbull St. well, having worked several years right around the corner at

Planned Parenthood of CT on Whitney Avenue. You had a bit of a schlep over to Yale and to the train station, but nice in good weather.

So are you a doc, nurse or PA?

[KamaAina]

31. At the time I was a data analyst at the Child Study Center

we worked on the worldwide field trial that eventually got Asperger syndrome included in the DSM-IV diagnostic manual.

Aside: Presumptive Dem nominee :sarcasm: Hillary Clinton worked at Child Study when she met a certain law student from Arkansas.

[CTyankee]

39. Yes, I heard that, to my dismay, she had called Planned Parenthood and asked if there were

any volunteer slots available. She was rather coldly turned away, unfortunately, and went to Child Study afterwards. PPC has always had a rather arrogant attitude towards a lot of the community, preferring to insulate itself within its own prochoice conceits. I am NOT talking here about the clinical staff, who are saints, but about the admin folks. I was one of them for awhile (Development- major gifts) but I grew disillusioned and was glad to retire when I reached age 65.

[CRF450]

16. I never have, nor do I want to.

Besides, my summer job requires me to drive alot, and my winter one, I just drive to and from work. I dont really want to use public transportation anyways, I enjoy driving.

[bicentennial_baby]

17. 5x a week, 2x a day.

Yep.

[Duncan Grant]

21. I ride light rail at least 5 days a week.

In my part of the city we have a great public transit system (even though we like to complain about it).

[Phillycat]

25. Me too.

[Nutmegger]

26. Yes all the time.

I have low tolerance for finding parking spaces. It's so nice just to hop off the bus and not worry about anything.

The only time when I use a car is for errands, when a bus is too inconvenient with regards to their schedule.

[The2ndWheel]

27. Rarely

Just the left leg and right leg. One day before I die I'm hoping to just walk the Earth like Jules from Pulp Fiction.

[Le Taz Hot]

28. Fresno has a great transit system.

Passes for the general public are only $35.00 a month for unlimited rides.

Disabled and Seniors 62-64 ride for 35 cents or they can get a monthly bus pass for just $10.00 with unlimited rides.

Seniors 65 and over ride free 7 days a week.

[Roon]

32. Looks like somebody, forgot about us

standing on the corner, waiting for a bus.....

[Roon]

33. I take the bus everywhere I go

I have a Video Ipod and watch the Simpsons while I am waiting and riding. Makes the bus ride bearable.

[LSK]

35. I used it when I went to school in downtown Chicago, but now I live and work in the burbs

And my commute to work is a 4 mile drive. I don't even know the bus routes around here.

[baldguy]

36. Not a viable option

Like 90% of the US.

[MrCoffee]

37. light-rail along the Dream Cruise route?

i feel like i'm taking crazy pills!

:rofl:

[Coexist]

38. they don't have it where I live.