I always thought the buses would be packed and late, but the 61C showed up on time and had empty seats the whole 25 minute ride. Has anyone else given up on driving and found the bus is actually better now?
I crossed 10,000 miles going over a pothole on Broad Street in Philly around 7:15 AM. That's a lot of mornings smelling like exhaust and dodging doors. Has anyone else noticed their odometer flipping a big number and felt weirdly proud about it?
Crossed 50k miles on my car just during my work commute since 2021, and that doesn't count detours or weekends. Anyone else ever add up what your regular route costs you in gas and wear over time?
I got a new TAP card in LA last month and didn't realize you have to tap it just right on the bus reader. The driver kept saying "try again" and after 3 failed taps it flagged my card as suspicious. Now they charged me a $12 replacement fee and I can't get my old balance back. Anyone else get hit with hidden fees from finicky card readers?
Been taking the 63 local from downtown to the suburbs for like 2 years now. 45 minutes every single day. Yesterday my bus was late so I jumped on the 63X express that runs on the highway. Got to my stop in 22 minutes. Same fare too. I feel kind of dumb for not trying it sooner honestly. Has anyone else found a route that cuts their commute way down?
Some older guy told me he's been riding the same line for 40 years and still finds something new to notice every day, and I realized I've been zoning out on my phone the whole time ignoring this whole city. Has anyone else ever had a random stranger just drop a perspective on you like that?
I see it every morning at Central Station in Boston, people just planted on the left while the rest of us are trying to walk up. Is it just cluelessness or do some people think it's fine to block the fast lane?
I ride the 42 bus downtown every morning and always kept my bag on the seat next to me during rush hour. Last Tuesday this older lady gets on, looks at my bag, and says "you know that's why people have to stand, right?" in a flat voice. Took me a second but she was right. Now I keep it on my lap or under my legs. Has anyone else had a stranger call them out on something small like that?
Used to carry everything on my back in a Jansport for my 12 mile round trip commute in Portland. After 6 months I had constant shoulder pain that wouldn't quit. Last winter I finally bought a $40 pannier bag for my rear rack and it changed everything. Now my weight sits on the bike frame instead of my spine and I don't dread hills anymore. Anyone else make the switch and notice a big difference?
I live about 6 miles from my office in Portland and usually take the #4 bus, but today I grabbed my old Schwinn and pedaled in because the weather was nice. It took me 45 minutes versus the usual 25 on the bus, and I showed up sweaty with a backpack full of wrinkled shirts. Has anyone else tried switching modes and regretted it or found a way to make it work better?
I was on the 7:15 AM express from Round Rock to downtown Austin when the engine started smoking near the Braker Lane exit. The driver pulled over and told us we'd be waiting at least an hour for a replacement. Has anyone else had a bus die on them in a sketchy spot and had to figure out what to do?
I swore off Uber Pool for over a year after getting stuck with someone's smelly takeout in the backseat. But last Tuesday it saved me $11 on a 45 minute trip across Austin, and the driver even let me pick the music since I was the only one who said hi.
I usually take the local but decided to try express thinking it'd be faster, but the driver skipped three stops without warning because nobody pulled the cord. By the time I realized, I was 10 blocks past where I needed to be and had to walk back in the rain. Has anyone else gotten burned by express routes skipping stops like that?
I used to take the 7:12 from Oakwood station but now I ride my bike to the next town over where I catch the express at 7:30 instead. Anyone else tweak their route after switching to two wheels?
I read a post yesterday complaining about teenagers blasting music from their phones on the morning commute. But honestly, after 15 years riding this exact route from Oakville to downtown, I find those beats kind of wake me up better than my coffee. Has anyone else come to appreciate the energy it brings to an otherwise dead silent ride?
My usual morning driver retired last month and the new one blasts pop music and chats with passengers, which is way different from the silent, serious ride I had for 2 years. Does a driver's style actually affect how you feel about your commute, or am I just being picky?
I tried reading one of those new electronic boards at the 5th and Main stop yesterday and the glare was so bad I just guessed when the 42 was coming. The old paper schedules tucked behind plexiglass never had that problem, and you could trace the route with your finger. Anyone else miss those things?
Swiped my card this morning on the 42 route in Denver and it took my money but the screen said 'failed' so the driver just stared at me while I stood there like an idiot. Anyone else have these card readers glitch out on them or is it just my luck?
Old guy at Union Station said to walk to the far end of the platform to get a less crowded car. Tried it last week and got a seat every time on the 8:15 express.
My friend Jamal swore up and down that the express bus from the Park & Ride on Route 9 would save me 20 minutes each way. I argued that paying double the fare for express wasn't worth it and the local bus was fine. After three weeks of tracking my timestamps on Google Maps, he was dead right - I was saving about 18 minutes in the morning and 15 minutes coming home. But here's the thing, the express bus runs every 45 minutes compared to every 15 for the local, so if I miss it I'm stuck waiting way longer. Has anyone else had a coworker give them transit advice that actually checked out or totally backfired?
Used to sit in the same traffic jam on Highway 99 for almost a year before I tried cutting through the industrial park near the train yard. Now I roll in with time to grab coffee before my first drop. Anyone else find a hidden route that totally changed their commute?
My bus broke down on the highway 3 miles from my exit and I sat there for an extra 45 minutes with no AC. The driver tried to call for backup but the radio wasn't working. Anyone else have a commute where everything just went wrong at once?
So I've been taking the 7:15 bus from my stop for like 2 years now. It gets me to work at 7:55, I clock in at 8, no big deal. But lately it's been showing up 5 to 10 minutes late almost every day. Last week I was late 3 times and my boss gave me a talking to. This morning the 7:15 was a no-show by 7:22 so I decided to gamble on the 7:45 instead. Figured I'd just call and explain. Well the 7:45 showed up at 7:44, ran smooth, and I got there at 8:05. Walked in and my boss was standing right there with a pink slip for the guy who was supposed to be on my shift. Apparently they overstaffed today and were looking for reasons to cut people. Now I'm waiting to hear if I still have a job. Has anyone else had a crazy chain reaction like this from just picking a different bus or train?
Last Tuesday I was riding the 7 bus downtown and got totally sucked into a true crime podcast about a bank heist. I had my earbuds in and was zoning out so hard that I completely missed my stop at 5th and Pine. Ended up having to walk 20 minutes back in the rain to get to my appointment. I've been riding that same route for 3 years and never messed up like that before. I learned that I need to set a phone alarm or keep an eye on the map app when I'm listening to something gripping. Has anyone else ever spaced out and missed their stop because of headphones or a good audiobook?
Honestly, the 7 bus on Broad Street in Philly has been a mess lately. I counted at least 12 people pressed against the doors on the second one that passed me. Has anyone else had luck catching it earlier in the morning, or is this just how it is now?