a serious question (Chanhassen, Starbuck: rent, insurance, credit card)

[RUINER_SR4]

Originally Posted by Simple Living

I ride the bus or walk everywhere. When I really need a car ride somewhere, I'll give a friend $20 for gas and get personal service. I'd rather pay a friend than a cabbie. I hate cabs.

For sure, $20 doesn't get you very far in a cab either.

[bighusker]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

kudos to bussing downtown. every suburbanite I know who works downtown and does it absolutely loves it and wouldnt drive even if they had free parking.

I commute from Plymouth to downtown with almost free parking and I would gladly take public transportation if it got me to work faster. The last time I checked the routes, I think it would have taken 40 minutes to get downtown, not including the time spent waiting for a bus. Most days, I can get from my apartment to my desk in 25-30 minutes (I go in around 9:00 and use the toll lane if the traffic is clogged).

[Simple Living]

Originally Posted by bighusker

I commute from Plymouth to downtown with almost free parking and I would gladly take public transportation if it got me to work faster. The last time I checked the routes, I think it would have taken 40 minutes to get downtown, not including the time spent waiting for a bus. Most days, I can get from my apartment to my desk in 25-30 minutes (I go in around 9:00 and use the toll lane if the traffic is clogged).

Taking the bus does require some advance planning a little more of our time. I see people making up for that extra time by doing some work on the bus, which, in the long run, saves them time.

It's a matter of give in take and priorities, which, of course, vary with each person.

[nick is rulz]

Originally Posted by bighusker

I commute from Plymouth to downtown with almost free parking and I would gladly take public transportation if it got me to work faster. The last time I checked the routes, I think it would have taken 40 minutes to get downtown, not including the time spent waiting for a bus. Most days, I can get from my apartment to my desk in 25-30 minutes (I go in around 9:00 and use the toll lane if the traffic is clogged).

I dont know that it necessarily boils down to strictly the time issue as much as it does the reduction in fuel costs. A monthly bus pass thru my job is about $40, which is considerably cheaper than gas.

[RUINER_SR4]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

I dont know that it necessarily boils down to strictly the time issue as much as it does the reduction in fuel costs. A monthly bus pass thru my job is about $40, which is considerably cheaper than gas.

This is exactly how I choose to look at it. Not to mention I'm neurotic about my vehicles and can't stand the thought of cramming my truck into a tiny spot downtown and watch it get all dinged up day after day. An extra 1/2 hour time commitment per day is worth it to me personally especially with fuel savings, I'm one of those dingbats who chooses to drive a full size pickup so anytime I can park it and save some miles, I'm on board.

It all breaks down to what your priorities are. I can see how many folks would hate the idea of waiting for a bus and riding with a bunch of strangers, etc. I just shut that part of it off in my brain.


Brian.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by nick is rulz

I dont know that it necessarily boils down to strictly the time issue as much as it does the reduction in fuel costs. A monthly bus pass thru my job is about $40, which is considerably cheaper than gas.

My husband would love to take the bus but with transfers, etc. it would take 90 minutes one way, we live 14 miles from his office, it doesn't make any sense besides the fact he already works too many hours a day, adding 3 hours of commute time is over the top.

[taysantanamama]

Unfortunatly, for some, it comes down to pride. They just don't want to be "bus people" and love to be seen in the SUVs, or don't want to ride in a crowded, dirty uncomfortable bus. I took the bus to work in St. Paul, usually the express, and the one I took was a beautiful, comfy charter and I would be one of 10 on it!! Talk about feeling guilty!! I probably wouldn't have considered taking a regular route with many stops, xfers etc.

I think that with a combo effort between transit, corporations and people, something could be worked out to figure out more helpful express routes and times that more could benefit from, and the nice comfy charter busses would be used for the express routes that are fully to capacity.

One problem I had with the express was that I often worked until 6pm as many do, and while I could ride into town on the express, I had to drive home(husband drove in morning, took bus home, I took bus in morning, drove home, never had same schedule). I think that is a problem for many, and end up driving both ways. It isn't and 8-5 world for alot of people, and this needs to be taken into consideration.

I also think that large employers could make an effort to connect employees and pick them up at a certain place for their own park and ride type program. Would help the company in many ways, less stress, no calling in late due to traffic, comaraderie, all would probably increase production. The drive to work, parking expense is a major stressor I think.

Anyway, just some thoughts.

[RUINER_SR4]

taysantanamama, great post and I agree with every single thing you said...especially with the preconceived notion that buses are dirty and gross, folks who feel that way have never been on a Southwest Transit bus before.

[K-Luv]

Originally Posted by taysantanamama

Unfortunatly, for some, it comes down to pride. They just don't want to be "bus people" and love to be seen in the SUVs, or don't want to ride in a crowded, dirty uncomfortable bus. I took the bus to work in St. Paul, usually the express, and the one I took was a beautiful, comfy charter and I would be one of 10 on it!! Talk about feeling guilty!! I probably wouldn't have considered taking a regular route with many stops, xfers etc.

Well, the busses that I see like the SW ones that go out to the suburbs from down town Minneapolis look pretty swank to me. Every time I would pass one I would always wonder if there was a martini bar in the back. Definitely not the city bus.

[Globe199]

Originally Posted by Minnehahapolitan

I want to know why so many of them are Republicans. Since Carver County just voted down the sales tax increase, I don't even want to hear a little quip out of anybody from Chanhassen or Chaska.

Good point. With the opening of the new 312 freeway, a lot of people in the SW burbs are saying it's the place to be. What they fail to realise is that, within five years, the 312 will be just as clogged with commuters as any other metro freeway.

Induced demand - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

If they'd had more foresight, they'd have voted in favour of the sales tax and could maybe have thought about other transit options. But no...we have a 1950s outlook on traffic in the Twin Cities.