Why don't people carpool and use public transportation?

Drolefille · #1 06-04-2007, 07:01 PM

The only place I've lived with half decent public transport was St. Louis, and the metrolink there was really not useful. The stops were generally in bad neighborhoods and never actually went from those neighborhoods to places where people would work. Downtown is alright, but if you didn't need to go there, you didn't need to take the metro. They're getting a bit better, but not enough.

alum · #2 06-04-2007, 07:11 PM

In DC, the WMATA Metro system seems to be pretty reliable and safe. My D took it during rush hour times from suburbia to downtown DC when she interned starting at age 16 and we never felt cause for alarm. GEN Alum uses it for the Pentagon commute.

In addition to Metro, VRE, Maryland rail, there are HOV lanes and the resultant slugging behavior. http://www.slug-lines.com/

Thetagirl218 · #3 06-04-2007, 07:41 PM

I have lived in Florida almost my entire life, and I can tell you from personal experince that the public transporation systems in most of the state aren't that great. Mainly because there is not a huge urban hub like there would be in a major city. So for the most part PT is not worth it in much of the state. I am not sure about Miami's system though...

Munchkin03 · #4 06-04-2007, 08:38 PM

I don't think most parts of the country are well-equipped for public transit. If it exists, it's either unreliable, unsafe, or inconvenient. Sometimes, PT isn't very convenient if you don't live right in the center of the city. Not every subway or bus system runs 24 hours a day.

Plus, having your own car--whether it's going to work or going to dinner with friends--gives you a little bit more freedom or autonomy.

I am all about taking the subway, since gas is stupid expensive now and parking is a snitch in this town, but I live in one of the maybe 10 American metro areas where you can get away with not owning a car.

AGDee · #5 06-04-2007, 08:52 PM

I have thought about car pooling with a 25 mile each way commute to work. There are a few women in my department who live within a couple miles of me. The problem becomes this: I have two school age kids. It does happen that, several times a year, I get a call from the school saying that I need to pick one of them up due to illness. If I carpooled, what would happen? If I drove, either my coworker would have to leave with me or she'd be stuck there. If my coworker drove, then how would I leave to get my kid? If I could figure this one out, I would definitely carpool. I did carpool with someone once , before I had kids, and I enjoyed it. I liked having someone to chit chat with on the way to work. It made the drive go by faster. I felt safer going through some scary neighborhoods. And, we both saved money. It was nice. If we had decent public transportation (trains or subways), I would take those. I think Detroit will be the last major city to ever adopt a mass transit system because, after all, we are the Motor City.

tld221 · #6 06-04-2007, 09:09 PM

at first, i was like, "you really dont want to take PT - you will be miserable and become bitter towards everyone."

while riding the NYC PT should be an Olympic sport (hustling for a seat, mapping out your trip, the stopping and going, etc), i realize that it is a freaking godsend. i REALLY hate it when i go out of town and i have to depend on getting a ride from whoever i'm staying with. and while i enjoy the comfort of the backseat of a lincoln towncar, it gets pricey and i get all antsy.

the bus and train is still a form of dependency, but anywhere i need to get to i can get there. and its pretty awesome when youre buzzed or way over the BAC to get behind the wheel.

i mean gas + tolls (as high as $9/bridge) + insurance + car note + added worries of theft, vandalism, accidents versus $2 and the patience to wait it out sometimes in sometimes grungy stations... you be the judge.

then again i dont have a family of my own, or any dependents.

EagleChick19 · #7 06-04-2007, 09:18 PM

I don't because my job takes me all over the county I live in, and it doesn't make sense to do it.

Dionysus · #8 06-05-2007, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Drolefille

The only place I've lived with half decent public transport was St. Louis, and the metrolink there was really not useful. The stops were generally in bad neighborhoods and never actually went from those neighborhoods to places where people would work. Downtown is alright, but if you didn't need to go there, you didn't need to take the metro. They're getting a bit better, but not enough.

They recently added an additional route starting from Clayton, I think. I don't find the passengers very threatening during the day. But at night, I've seen more fights there than at the clubs. I will ride the ML at night, only if I'm with someone else, never alone.

Drolefille · #9 06-05-2007, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dionysus

They recently added an additional route starting from Clayton, I think. I don't find the passengers very threatening during the day. But at night, I've seen more fights there than at the clubs. I will ride the ML at night, only if I'm with someone else, never alone.

Yeah, the new stops help a lot as far as convenience, and though I've never really had a problem with the passengers, SLU students got robbed either at the station or on their way to and from the station nearest to campus. It made it really far down on my list of transportation.