How many take the LIRR? (New York, Hempstead: how much, closing, taxi)

[TheTruth08]

For people that live on the Queens border like I do, Valley Stream. I think its more easier catching a bus to Parsons and taking those trains, but I am only 16 and use the trains for fun with family. So I wouldnt really know.

Do you guys think the LIRR should use metro cards? Isnt it around 200 a month for 5 days a week transportation? Plus you have to add $80 for a metro card, thats a lot of money right there.

[AlexisT]

If time counts, the LIRR is the better option. You'd use a LOT of time getting a bus and a subway.

Yes, the LIRR is expensive. IIRC LIRR riders still pay a lower proportion of costs than subway riders do, though. I don't think they could go to MetroCard as they'd have to install gates at every station. I believe you can buy a combo ticket/card so it's in one piece, but it can't go on a standard MetroCard because the conductor has to check it.

[TheTruth08]

Oh, alright thats not bad than. I will have to check into using th LIRR when I want to hang in the city than.

True the wait for a N4 bus is ridiculous. I was waiting after school on Merrick Ave for one because I was to lazy to walk home, and the wait for the bus was 30 minutes long.

[sean sean sean sean]

Originally Posted by AlexisT

Nancy, I think that's overall average commute time, not just public transit users. When I looked at the census data before, they didn't split commute time down by mode of transport.

Yup, that's right. The average commute time is for everyone, not just public transit users. % using public transportation also includes people who use taxis and livery service, which I thought was strange...might explain why such a large number of people in places like Centre Island are listed in that category.

[Johninwestbury]

Originally Posted by Danielle Westbury

oh ok... i wonder why so much in gaps? i thought they were going to add more trains. that was the first time i rode the train in a long time too.

The gaps are there because in rush hour the LIRR often uses both tracks for peak trains, screwing everyone else in the process. I'd like to see the practice ended. It would just mean slightly longer running times for peak trains, that's all.

[Smash255]

Originally Posted by Tymel

For people that live on the Queens border like I do, Valley Stream. I think its more easier catching a bus to Parsons and taking those trains, but I am only 16 and use the trains for fun with family. So I wouldnt really know.

Do you guys think the LIRR should use metro cards? Isnt it around 200 a month for 5 days a week transportation? Plus you have to add $80 for a metro card, thats a lot of money right there.

As been mentioned, it would require gates at every station, also unlike the subway system where you pay the same amount if you ride the subway for 1 or 2 stops or if you ride it for 20 stops, the LIRpay scale is structured that you pay more the longer the trip toy have.

As far as the amount of $4 it costs. it is pretty expensie firstve, but you can get some breaks. For example my monthly ticket is $211, I work downtown so I get the unlimited monthly which is $81 with that. If sign up for the mail and ride unlimited monthly metro card you save 5% on your railroad monthly ticket.

Depending on where you work (and I think most larger companies have this option) you can sign up for wage works, and have the tickets come out of your paycheck, with the first $115, as a pre tax deduction.

So the monthly railroad and metro card would cost $291, by using the mail and ride option it drops it down $280.45, which is what comes out of my paycheck. However, I don't have to pay taxes on the first $115 as its a pre-tax deduction so it really comes out to somewhere in the $235 range that I spend a month. Sill expensive, but do save quite a bit.

Now, riding it every now and then which is something it sounds like you would do your obviously not going to get those same kind of savings, but its still a better alternative than the bus. I would highly suggest purchasing your tickets prior to boarding the train, because the tickets are quite a bit more expensive to buy on the train than the ticket machines at the train station. Also if possible, it might make sense to get on at the Rosedale station (providing you can get there easily enough) as the tickets are a bit cheaper there than Valley Stream, since its in a different zone.

[TheTruth08]

Thanks, that cleared a lot of stuff for me. I understand now I thought it was one flat rate at before, I didnt know its different per the amount of time on the train. I think I would rather just spend the extra and use the Valley Stream station tho.

[nancy thereader]

That's what I thought, sean. It is just that this was a post about the LIRR. I don't think that their commuting times have changed that much from the early 1900s.

[Rhazula]

I take the LIRR because I don't drive.

For me, riding the bus and train is cheaper and more economical.

[TaliTab]

Originally Posted by TVR1997

I take the LIRR Hempstead branch, which is pretty awful. The train takes approximately 1 hour to Hempstead from Penn, people get to Babylon & Huntington faster. I used to drive to Westbury and catch the express trains there, but its zone 7 and costs a bit more. It takes about 40 minutes to Westbury on the express, but 1 hour to Hempstead and Westbury is further east, but the first stop on the express. The Hempstead line has very little through service to Penn (and none at nights/weekends, all go to Flatbush Ave). There are two morning *express* trains (they don't stop at Jamaica and the dreaded Hollis/Queens Village stops). There are no, I repeat no express trains in the evenings. And now, with the summer track work, some genius at the LIRR decided to reduce the service, so from there's a 31 minute gap in the 7:00 hour in trains to Penn in the morning. There's a 7:00, 7:10 and 7:41 (couldn't someone have done a better job of spacing them here). Just terrible.

My husband and I are moving to W Hempstead from Queens. Is the Hempstead branch really that bad. I commute now, to the city and it takes me about 45 minutes,express bus.