Cleveland public transportation??? (Strongsville, Westlake: buying, living in, costs)

[BelieveInCleve]

Also, lets not forget the Taxis that can be found around the city (mostly downtown). Thats another plus for the city. We have Buses, Rapid Lines, Trolleys, and Taxis.

[E Rocc]

Originally Posted by Cle440

Also, lets not forget the Taxis that can be found around the city (mostly downtown). Thats another plus for the city. We have Buses, Rapid Lines, Trolleys, and Taxis.

Unless things have changed in the last 15 years, that can be very expensive late at night....assuming they even run. The last time I took a cab home from downtown was at 3am or so after a Browns playoff game (vs. Buffalo IIRC). It cost a fortune and that was to Maple Heights.


We've had people try to find a cab at closing time in the 'burbs and they usually give up and wake up a friend.

People in Cleveland seem to see RTA as a potential commuting option, but not for shopping or going out.

[Steve36]

We've had a lot of trouble getting the regular cab companies to come out to Shaker to pick us up even if scheduled far in advance. We've pretty much given up on calling taxis to our house. Luckily, we are close to a rapid stop so we can still get downtown pretty easily but not necessarily close to where we want to be downtown. Even getting a taxi to take us home from downtown can be a challenge and we have had cabbies refuse to take us when they found out where we wanted to go. We've actually found the only sure way to get a cab for home from dwontown is to enlist the help of a police officer if there is one around and they are not busy with more important things. If you are out on the east side (Coventry for instance) forget about getting a cab to take you home, not gonna happen. When we lived in Rocky River taxi service was better but it still wasn't great.

[BelieveInCleve]

Well during the day, especially in the summer, there is usually of ton of cabs in different locations downtown. There is also some during the night. If you live in the suburbs, except for a few locations, it will be pretty hard to find a taxi. Most places in the area have taxi companies that you can call up and they will come and get you, we have 3 or 4 companies in Lorain County like that, and Im sure there is more in Cuyahoga County and the suburb areas. But, its not like this is New York City, we dont have taxis everywhere you look.

[TheProf]

Originally Posted by E Rocc

Unless you live downtown, very close to downtown, or near a rapid station, I'd strongly recommend having a car. RTA is extremely downtown-centric, and to get from point to point within the region you need to go downtown, go near downtown, or budget a lot of time.

I'd also say that a single guy in Cleveland who does not have a car is very likely to stay that way.

Aside from New York, where the subway system dwarfs everywhere else, and San Fran, which is so compact, tell me where this isn't true. I know it's true in Boston and D.C., both with bigger and much higher used rail systems than Cleveland. I'm not getting your point.

[E Rocc]

Originally Posted by TheProf

Aside from New York, where the subway system dwarfs everywhere else, and San Fran, which is so compact, tell me where this isn't true. I know it's true in Boston and D.C., both with bigger and much higher used rail systems than Cleveland. I'm not getting your point.

Direct answer to the original question. The poster wanted to know how well they could get by without a car around here.

[BeJealous2]

Actually, the Cleveland RTA was ranked to best public transit system in the U.S. We beat DC, NY, and Chicago. How about those apples?!
Check out the link: Newsroom - News & Updates | Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority

Public transit's great here, especially for the Midwest. Also, there are no image issues. You ride the bus/rapid because you don't like to be stuck in traffic, you want to save gas, don't want to pay for parking, you care about the environment, etc.....not because your poor per se. I'm upper middle class and I take PT every day. With gas prices they way they are....i couldn't imagine driving to and from work.

[pghcleak]

The article didn't really say Cleveland's RTA was the best in the United States beating out other large cities. The article said that the reason Cleveland won the award that year was because "RTA won the award through a simple “back to the basics” business plan that focused on enhancing customer service, improving its image and strengthening its financial health."

"Transit agencies that have won APTA’s Outstanding Public Transportation Achievement Award in recent years include, New York City, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco and Toronto."

[BelieveInCleve]

I would agree that Cleveland has a great Public transit system, especially for its size, but as far as the best in the country, I dont know. I mean its pretty nice, but compared to places like NYC, Chicago, San Francisco, D.C., its definitely not as good but if you take in account the size of those compared to Cleveland, its probably equal if not better.

[Clevelander17]

Of the cities I've been to, San Francisco's is far and away the best. NYC's and DC's are also very good. Cleveland's is decent, better than a lot of others (especially out West), but I have a hard time calling it best in the nation.