Ever use public transit in your commute
03-05-12, 10:53 PM
#26
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Thread Starter
I only use the bus when I'm sick, have a mechanical issue I can't take care of between shifts at work, when it's super windy, or snow, and hopefully next year snow won't stop me. But my commute is only about 7 miles each way.
It would require a safe place to lock up, but you might consider reversing the leg that transit takes you though. There's a couple that uses the bus to come in from somewhere north of me and then catches the bus to downtown from there. The guys at the bike shop and my girlfriend and I were all scratching our heads about this pair of bikes that seemed to always be locked up in front of the bank down the street from us until my girl spotted them locking up and hopping on the bus one morning.
Some transit centers and a few bus stops (well, at least one!) around here have individual bicycle sheds that I assume you can rent. You might see if that is the case in your area too, instead of having to find a business you feel comfortable locking up in front of if you take that route.
It would require a safe place to lock up, but you might consider reversing the leg that transit takes you though. There's a couple that uses the bus to come in from somewhere north of me and then catches the bus to downtown from there. The guys at the bike shop and my girlfriend and I were all scratching our heads about this pair of bikes that seemed to always be locked up in front of the bank down the street from us until my girl spotted them locking up and hopping on the bus one morning.
Some transit centers and a few bus stops (well, at least one!) around here have individual bicycle sheds that I assume you can rent. You might see if that is the case in your area too, instead of having to find a business you feel comfortable locking up in front of if you take that route.
03-06-12, 07:28 PM
#27
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I have to use the P.T.
I have to use the metro system here in Montreal, Quebec (Can).
I live on the South Shore of the island and the bikes are not alowed on any of the bridges in the winter time. So, I bike from home to the metro station on the South Shore (Longueuil) and use the subway train to the next metro station (Jean-Drapeau) on the Sainte-Hélène Island, from where I can bike to work.
It is a blessing that I work on off-peak hours because bikes are not allowed in the metro on peak hours. If I would be working 9 to 5, I couldn't commute to work on the winter time!
To be fair, I will use the P.T. if there is a snowstorm or freezing rain.
But cold, I don't care. In fact I like it.
If you read French, I wrote about this particular commute on my blog
I live on the South Shore of the island and the bikes are not alowed on any of the bridges in the winter time. So, I bike from home to the metro station on the South Shore (Longueuil) and use the subway train to the next metro station (Jean-Drapeau) on the Sainte-Hélène Island, from where I can bike to work.
It is a blessing that I work on off-peak hours because bikes are not allowed in the metro on peak hours. If I would be working 9 to 5, I couldn't commute to work on the winter time!
To be fair, I will use the P.T. if there is a snowstorm or freezing rain.
But cold, I don't care. In fact I like it.
If you read French, I wrote about this particular commute on my blog
Last edited by Marin58; 03-06-12 at 07:42 PM.
03-06-12, 08:21 PM
#28
Senior Member
My commute is 54 miles RT. While I can ride that with no problem, there just aren't enough hours in the day. So I manage my commute to get about 20 miles of riding in per day in order to make it all work.
J.
J.
03-07-12, 09:24 AM
#29
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Just about every work day, my commute is:
10-mile ride from my house to the train station.
Lock up the bike and jump on the train for about a 30 minute ride.
Get off the train and take a different bike out of my bike locker at that train station and ride 5 miles to my office.
Reverse the process for the way home.
10-mile ride from my house to the train station.
Lock up the bike and jump on the train for about a 30 minute ride.
Get off the train and take a different bike out of my bike locker at that train station and ride 5 miles to my office.
Reverse the process for the way home.
03-07-12, 11:02 AM
#30
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It's not the bike I worry about leaving, it's my vehicle. If I don't use the bus and instead drive my vehicle to a spot 10 miles out I'd leave my vehicle and ride to work then ride back after work. The spots are park parking areas, etc. Basically well kept but I worry about my vehicle being that far away from me for so long.
As to the drive-bike option: I do this with some regularity. It used to be my primary before my daughter got her driver's license. I would drive her to school (which worked out to about half of my 20 mile commute) and then ride the remainder. I still do it sometimes when I know I'll be short on time, either riding with her, or driving another car to an intermediate location. I park in several different types of locations, including parks, neighborhoods and occasionally other relatively open lots.
While your location is definitely different from mine, overall I'd say that in terms of theft risk, your bike is probably much more at risk than your car. Stealing a car is a) a felony in most places b) requires far more knowledge and sophistication and c) attracts more attention (at least in daylight hours). Bikes are notoriously easily stolen (I lost one 18 months ago - admittedly I did not have a great lock). Unless your car is extremely desirable, or you're parking in pretty sketchy locales, it is probably just as safe as it would be in the parking near your work -- after all, most of us can't keep an eye on our car all day long, even if it is only a few hundred feet away, right?
03-07-12, 11:39 AM
#31
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I use Metro-Rail every morning coming to work and every afternoon coming home. I ride 6.5 mi. from home to the Norwalk Metro Station (Green Line). That's where the train originates on the eastern end.
I ride the Metro for 11 miles to the Harbor Freeway station, then ride 1.5 mi. to work. I do have a folding bike (DaHon Curve SL 8-Spd) so it folds up fairly small (16" wheels) for the Metro ride. Never had any trouble from the Metro Police or the other passengers.
Sometimes passengers have questions about the folding bike, but not very often.
Fare is $1.50 each way.
Rick / OCRR
I ride the Metro for 11 miles to the Harbor Freeway station, then ride 1.5 mi. to work. I do have a folding bike (DaHon Curve SL 8-Spd) so it folds up fairly small (16" wheels) for the Metro ride. Never had any trouble from the Metro Police or the other passengers.
Sometimes passengers have questions about the folding bike, but not very often.
Fare is $1.50 each way.
Rick / OCRR
Sounds almost identical to mine, but coming from North LA county to DTLA instead of from Norwalk. I also use Metro Rail every day for my commute to and from my office downtown. I ride about 5.5 miles along the Chandler Blvd./Orange Line bike path to the North Hollywood Red Line Station, board the subway with my bike, then exit at the 7th St. Metro Station, and ride about 2.5 miles to work. I have a Specialized Tricross that I've converted into a commuter, and have also never had any issues with the sheriffs or Metro Police on the trains.
Interesting thing is that when I started commuting by bike about 4 years ago, I was often the only one with a bike on the train. Since then, seats have been taken out of some of the subway cars to allow more bikes on board, and it's rare that there aren't at least 4-5 bikes on board during the ride home during rush hour. Los Angeles is slowly becoming more bicycle friendly, but it has taken time.
Last edited by El Gigante; 03-07-12 at 11:41 AM. Reason: whoops!
03-07-12, 02:08 PM
#32
Senior Member
Thread Starter
I have to use the metro system here in Montreal, Quebec (Can).
I live on the South Shore of the island and the bikes are not alowed on any of the bridges in the winter time. So, I bike from home to the metro station on the South Shore (Longueuil) and use the subway train to the next metro station (Jean-Drapeau) on the Sainte-Hélène Island, from where I can bike to work.
It is a blessing that I work on off-peak hours because bikes are not allowed in the metro on peak hours. If I would be working 9 to 5, I couldn't commute to work on the winter time!
To be fair, I will use the P.T. if there is a snowstorm or freezing rain.
But cold, I don't care. In fact I like it.
If you read French, I wrote about this particular commute on my blog
I live on the South Shore of the island and the bikes are not alowed on any of the bridges in the winter time. So, I bike from home to the metro station on the South Shore (Longueuil) and use the subway train to the next metro station (Jean-Drapeau) on the Sainte-Hélène Island, from where I can bike to work.
It is a blessing that I work on off-peak hours because bikes are not allowed in the metro on peak hours. If I would be working 9 to 5, I couldn't commute to work on the winter time!
To be fair, I will use the P.T. if there is a snowstorm or freezing rain.
But cold, I don't care. In fact I like it.
If you read French, I wrote about this particular commute on my blog
03-07-12, 02:09 PM
#33
Senior Member
Thread Starter
That's what I'm thinking as I move towards doing a full. I'll do a full one way about 2-3 times a week. A RT would take up the time I use to coach.
03-07-12, 02:10 PM
#34
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Just about every work day, my commute is:
10-mile ride from my house to the train station.
Lock up the bike and jump on the train for about a 30 minute ride.
Get off the train and take a different bike out of my bike locker at that train station and ride 5 miles to my office.
Reverse the process for the way home.
10-mile ride from my house to the train station.
Lock up the bike and jump on the train for about a 30 minute ride.
Get off the train and take a different bike out of my bike locker at that train station and ride 5 miles to my office.
Reverse the process for the way home.
03-07-12, 02:13 PM
#35
Senior Member
Thread Starter
While your location is definitely different from mine, overall I'd say that in terms of theft risk, your bike is probably much more at risk than your car. Stealing a car is a) a felony in most places b) requires far more knowledge and sophistication and c) attracts more attention (at least in daylight hours). Bikes are notoriously easily stolen (I lost one 18 months ago - admittedly I did not have a great lock). Unless your car is extremely desirable, or you're parking in pretty sketchy locales, it is probably just as safe as it would be in the parking near your work -- after all, most of us can't keep an eye on our car all day long, even if it is only a few hundred feet away, right?
Though I've decided to just ride the whole damn thing tomorrow morning and deal with my rump being sore from the saddle.
"It only hurts if you live!"
03-07-12, 02:25 PM
#36
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I started commuting by bike after riding the bus.
First I walked the mile or so to the bus stop, rode 6 miles to work, and did the reverse int he evening.
Then I started riding my bike to the bus stop. (You can take a bike on the bus free here).
Then I started occasionally riding to the bus stop a mile and a half away from work, rather than waiting for the bus at work (there are many more bus that go from that stop to my home stop than that pass work).
Then I got a bike that was actually my size; I had been riding a 15" bike.
Then I started riding home when I missed the bus.
Then I started riding home when I could.
Then some other people started riding my morning bus and bringing their bikes, so I couldn't reliably take my bike, so I started riding to work sometimes.
Then I started riding to work most mornings.
Now I ride the bus if I'm really sick, or it's raining.
First I walked the mile or so to the bus stop, rode 6 miles to work, and did the reverse int he evening.
Then I started riding my bike to the bus stop. (You can take a bike on the bus free here).
Then I started occasionally riding to the bus stop a mile and a half away from work, rather than waiting for the bus at work (there are many more bus that go from that stop to my home stop than that pass work).
Then I got a bike that was actually my size; I had been riding a 15" bike.
Then I started riding home when I missed the bus.
Then I started riding home when I could.
Then some other people started riding my morning bus and bringing their bikes, so I couldn't reliably take my bike, so I started riding to work sometimes.
Then I started riding to work most mornings.
Now I ride the bus if I'm really sick, or it's raining.
03-07-12, 03:25 PM
#37
Steel is real, baby!
I took the bus instead of riding once (about 3 months ago or so).
HATED it
HATED it
03-07-12, 05:49 PM
#38
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I ride my bike about 5 miles to the bus stop, lock it up in the front of a grocery store, then ride the bus downtown and walk across downtown. The ride is maybe 20 or 25 minutes, the walk is 20 minutes, and then I reverse it in the afternoon.
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03-07-12, 10:54 PM
#39
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Yes, 1.50 each way whether you buy a ticket with cash, or use a TAP (Transit Access Pass) card, which is what I do. TAP is the same as an Oyster Card in the U.K. or an Easy Card in Taiwan.
The not-so-good thing is that Metro doesn't often check to make sure passengers have paid, so lots of them don't. Since I've been commuting by bike (68 round trips now) I've only had my TAP card checked 3 times.
Why Los Angeles Metro doesn't enforce more and/or better is beyond me. One of life's mysteries, I guess.
Rick / OCRR
The not-so-good thing is that Metro doesn't often check to make sure passengers have paid, so lots of them don't. Since I've been commuting by bike (68 round trips now) I've only had my TAP card checked 3 times.
Why Los Angeles Metro doesn't enforce more and/or better is beyond me. One of life's mysteries, I guess.
Rick / OCRR
03-08-12, 03:08 PM
#40
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I ride 1.6 miles to the train and then ride the train for 16 miles then another 1.4 miles to work. Monthly pass is discounted from $110 to $75 for the employer discount program. Then I can pay that $75 with pre-tax money through ADP commuter benefits through work. Discount depends on your tax rate (mine is high so it's a good savings). I use my Tern Link D8i and it's perfect for the crowded train when I take the early train.
03-08-12, 06:00 PM
#41
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Rode the 6 miles in to work this morning before the weather turned, but have limited rain gear now, plus no fenders so...caught the bus on the way home ( 4.5 miles ) and rode the last 1.5 miles to the house.
Plan on getting some gear this weekend. Nice for this beginner to have the MTA with 2 racks on front till I get my act together.
Plan on getting some gear this weekend. Nice for this beginner to have the MTA with 2 racks on front till I get my act together.
03-09-12, 05:19 AM
#42
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I ride 1.6 miles to the train and then ride the train for 16 miles then another 1.4 miles to work. Monthly pass is discounted from $110 to $75 for the employer discount program. Then I can pay that $75 with pre-tax money through ADP commuter benefits through work. Discount depends on your tax rate (mine is high so it's a good savings). I use my Tern Link D8i and it's perfect for the crowded train when I take the early train.
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03-09-12, 11:27 AM
#43
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I used to do multi-modal quite a bit, either taking my nicer bike on the train with me in the morning (leaving early), and riding the whole way back.
I would also take my cheap MTB and lock it up at the station.
The train (wmata) itself costs ~$6 a day now though so I never do it anymore.
I would also take my cheap MTB and lock it up at the station.
The train (wmata) itself costs ~$6 a day now though so I never do it anymore.
03-09-12, 09:36 PM
#44
In the right lane
Tired?
Two feet of snow?
Torrential rain?
Two flat tires and one tube?
Buses rock!
Two feet of snow?
Torrential rain?
Two flat tires and one tube?
Buses rock!
03-09-12, 10:10 PM
#45
Senior Member
Some time ago, I used to ride to a Metro station on my Dahon, then take the folding bike on the subway, and ride some more after I got off the subway. Unfortunately, folding bikes are no longer permitted on the Metro so I haven't done that in a long time - though I suppose if I got a large bag I could put the bike into I'd probably still be able to get away with it.
03-10-12, 09:45 AM
#46
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About 20 years ago I inquired to our local transit agency about putting bike racks on the buses. I was assured that was the biggest waste of money and stupidest idea they'd heard in ages.
Then about five years ago our local transit agency debuted bus bike racks, proclaiming they were a brilliant new transit option they'd just discovered.
They installed some bike lids at one of the light rail stops as a trial and were thrilled about the 100% utilization. They're installing many more lids at other stations now. (BTW, the trial location was next to an apartment building, and the residents were using the shells to store their bikes.
)
Interestingly enough, they're removing their few older bike lockers now because of "homeland security requirements".
Then about five years ago our local transit agency debuted bus bike racks, proclaiming they were a brilliant new transit option they'd just discovered.
They installed some bike lids at one of the light rail stops as a trial and were thrilled about the 100% utilization. They're installing many more lids at other stations now. (BTW, the trial location was next to an apartment building, and the residents were using the shells to store their bikes.
)Interestingly enough, they're removing their few older bike lockers now because of "homeland security requirements".
Last edited by tcs; 03-10-12 at 09:50 AM.
03-11-12, 12:18 AM
#47
In the right lane
About 20 years ago I inquired to our local transit agency about putting bike racks on the buses. I was assured that was the biggest waste of money and stupidest idea they'd heard in ages.
Then about five years ago our local transit agency debuted bus bike racks, proclaiming they were a brilliant new transit option they'd just discovered.
Then about five years ago our local transit agency debuted bus bike racks, proclaiming they were a brilliant new transit option they'd just discovered.
03-11-12, 11:18 AM
#48
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Commute = Transit + Bike every day.
1.7 miles from home to bus stop via the bike.
35 miles on the bus with the bike in the rack on front of the bus.
5.2 miles from the bus stop to the office via the bike.
Afternoon commute is slightly different with a 5.8 mile ride from the office to the bus stop.
Door to door time:
Morning: 1.5 hours
Afternoon: 2.2 hours (could easily cut off 15 minutes by catching an earlier bus, but I usually take that time to cool down and chill out before getting on the bus. In the summer, when temperature and humidity are making for juicy days, I'm pretty wet upon arriving at the bus stop.)
Ray
1.7 miles from home to bus stop via the bike.
35 miles on the bus with the bike in the rack on front of the bus.
5.2 miles from the bus stop to the office via the bike.
Afternoon commute is slightly different with a 5.8 mile ride from the office to the bus stop.
Door to door time:
Morning: 1.5 hours
Afternoon: 2.2 hours (could easily cut off 15 minutes by catching an earlier bus, but I usually take that time to cool down and chill out before getting on the bus. In the summer, when temperature and humidity are making for juicy days, I'm pretty wet upon arriving at the bus stop.)
Ray
1.6 miles to the train stop
35 miles via train
4.6 miles from train to work
Our metro system here (BART) is pretty expensive. Fares are calculated by distance, so i end up paying $8.50/day. It's not too far off in what i would pay for gas, but the bike ride is much more enjoyable.
I'm lucky in that i reverse commute. Otherwise i would fall into the "no bikes" timeframe of the BART system. I could get a folder or do the two bike thing (one at each station), but luckily i can take mine on the train without too much confrontation. It only gets crowded for about 4 stops.
Sometimes, i ride to a further stop on either end. That is how i can extend my ride. I actually didn't even think about it until i had done it several times, but i actually save a few pennies doing that. If i ride one stop further and get off one stop earlier, i save something like 21 cents. SCORE! $0.21! If i do that for a year, i may have enough to buy a soda!
03-11-12, 09:44 PM
#49
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40 mile round trip to work. I only do that on special occasions.
6 miles to the express bus stop. Seattle provides bike lockers at the stop so I can leave my bike there for the day and not worry about it. It's been working well for a year now.
6 miles to the express bus stop. Seattle provides bike lockers at the stop so I can leave my bike there for the day and not worry about it. It's been working well for a year now.
03-11-12, 09:53 PM
#50
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In Montreal, bikes are welcome on the metro between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and after 7 p.m. weekdays. Riders are permitted to bring bikes onto the metro at all times on weekends. But you have to get there first, and buses are a different story. No dice.
So point to point I've found it faster to just use the bike.
So point to point I've found it faster to just use the bike.