Northeast - The end of my commute as I know it... (West Haven CT)

West Haven, CT. New MTA Train Station in 2011.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=60979&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=111877d860671e018dff0dfb8c401e86&start=30

http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/ddotinfo/who_ea_intro_chp01tochp08.pdf

http://www.rpa.org/pdf/Connecticut_and_Westchester_Institute_TOD_Report.pdf (pages 16,17)

This is going to turn my 10 mile r/t multi modal commute into a 3.5 mile r/t. This new station is going in just down the hill from my house, saving me two 3.5 mile ride to and from New Haven.

I have mixed feelings about this.

West Haven, CT. New MTA Train Station in 2011.

http://www.railroad.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=67&t=60979&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&sid=111877d860671e018dff0dfb8c401e86&start=30

http://www.ct.gov/dot/lib/dot/documents/ddotinfo/who_ea_intro_chp01tochp08.pdf

http://www.rpa.org/pdf/Connecticut_and_Westchester_Institute_TOD_Report.pdf (pages 16,17)

This is going to turn my 10 mile r/t multi modal commute into a 3.5 mile r/t. This new station is going in just down the hill from my house, saving me two 3.5 mile ride to and from New Haven.

I have mixed feelings about this.
Bike on. Save your Train fare. When the weather is bad, take the train.
I can drive my car to work, I choose to bike the 23 miles each way. When theres snow and ice as this week, I use the car.

Be strong, use the bike

Phew. I dunno. I've only done the full commute once -- it's 33 miles round trip through seriously un bike friendly urban i=95 corridor /abandoned industrial / low socioeconomic status areas.

I consider myself something of a road warrior, ready to take that on now and then -- I truly enjoyed that ride. But every day? 10 miles on the bike and 40 on the train was a much more balanced way to go.

I suppose I could look at the train station opening as a way to move more towards having a car-free family.

Phew. I dunno. I've only done the full commute once -- it's 33 miles round trip through seriously un bike friendly urban i=95 corridor /abandoned industrial / low socioeconomic status areas.

I consider myself something of a road warrior, ready to take that on now and then -- I truly enjoyed that ride. But every day? 10 miles on the bike and 40 on the train was a much more balanced way to go.

I suppose I could look at the train station opening as a way to move more towards having a car-free family.

does this mean that you work somewhere near naugatuck? if so, i wouldn't blame you for avoiding the ride north. that might be one helluva fun training ride, but it's quite dangerous & hilly. i actually thought anything north of the CT coast was nice & scenic, and industrial blight in my mind was always fair haven, east haven, state road, and maybe west haven:p). there was nothing like hitting the wall that is the smell of burning tires on water street in NH.

im actually more excited about the new cars they are putting on the new haven line, about time they upgraded the clunkers from the early 70's

This'll be a great excuse to pick up a folding bike!

I ride in almost every morning from Guilford. Some days, I take the train. In the winter, I take the train home. It's nice having it there, knowing I can just jump on it, but it's not something I've come to rely on. Perhaps that will work for you. Although, Metro-North is a little tougher on bikes that the Shoreline is. I do know I'd lose my mind without my morning ride.

I ride in almost every morning from Guilford. Some days, I take the train. In the winter, I take the train home. It's nice having it there, knowing I can just jump on it, but it's not something I've come to rely on. Perhaps that will work for you. Although, Metro-North is a little tougher on bikes that the Shoreline is. I do know I'd lose my mind without my morning ride.

you mean to NH? that's a helluva ride. rt 142 & 146 are nothing but killer rollers.

Yeah...some days I do 146 to 142, some days I just ride 1 to 22 to 80. Depends on the mood. But it makes all the difference in the rest of my day.