Best time to leave Lake Ridge in the morning (Franconia: mall, bus)

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Fundman

Instead of leaving your house at 5:30 am, how about picking up 2 slugs at the commuter lot and take the HOV lanes. You could then leave as late as 8:15 am. While some consider it a hassle to interact with strangers, I think that is less of a hassle then getting up at 4 am.

Or take the PRTC commuter bus. You can catch the bus after 8 am and still get into DC before 9 am.

I had to chuckle over this. While I hate getting up at 4:15 a.m., I'd much rather do that and have a somewhat peaceful ride to work early (and it is) then deal with a bunch of people in the morning!! I've done the slug thing when I had to. For the most part it's nice but:1. As a female, you need to get over the "safety" factor (and it is safe)2. There's a lot of smelly people out there. A LOT. I can't tell you how many times I held my breath in the morning due to strong perfume or reeking smokers.But I do realize that some folks really can.not.get.out.of.bed!!! To each his own!

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I had to chuckle over this. While I hate getting up at 4:15 a.m., I'd much rather do that and have a somewhat peaceful ride to work early (and it is) then deal with a bunch of people in the morning!! I've done the slug thing when I had to. For the most part it's nice but:1. As a female, you need to get over the "safety" factor (and it is safe)2. There's a lot of smelly people out there. A LOT. I can't tell you how many times I held my breath in the morning due to strong perfume or reeking smokers.But I do realize that some folks really can.not.get.out.of.bed!!! To each his own!

That's pretty funny. I have heard how awkward it can be because some people don't want any talking. Not sure how fun an option that is unless you are desperate.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by pgtvatitans

That's pretty funny. I have heard how awkward it can be because some people don't want any talking. Not sure how fun an option that is unless you are desperate.

I slugged for a year when I had to put the kids on the bus and couldn't leave my house until 6:20. I picked up riders every morning. I got used to it, it was fine, but I'll take getting up early and a peaceful ride with my radio up load over sleeping in anytime! I do know a few "night owls" though that would put up with ANYTHING just to stay in bed.
The worst part of slugging, to me, was the smells.

[luv2write79]

Very good information here, guys! Thanks! I'm open to multiple options, but to begin I'll probably have to drive so I can figure out timing and specifics before I'm comfortable trying public transit. And I can always change my schedule if I need to! I don't mind slugging, but I wonder if it's the same amount of travel time if I slug later in the morning or just drive at the crack of dawn. I'm definitely not a morning person, but I do have my children to think about after school.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by luv2write79

Very good information here, guys! Thanks! I'm open to multiple options, but to begin I'll probably have to drive so I can figure out timing and specifics before I'm comfortable trying public transit. And I can always change my schedule if I need to! I don't mind slugging, but I wonder if it's the same amount of travel time if I slug later in the morning or just drive at the crack of dawn. I'm definitely not a morning person, but I do have my children to think about after school.

Yes, that was the beauty of the 6AM-2:30 shift for me. I was pulling in my driveway at around 3:15 on a good traffic day. I was always able to fix and early dinner and then get the kids off to whereever they needed to be. I just don't know how people do it that work until 5PM or so and then have to make their way home. Most "kid" stuff starts before they can even get home.

[Leaving4Ca]

Forget the slugs... YUK.... all depends on exactly where in Lake Ridge you are. If you are by Tacketts Mill, you can leave a little later, say 5:45. If you are closer to West Ridge, I would leave at 5:30.

Also depends on where your job is in DC. I have found 395 to be the best way in - with detours in different places in Arlington if need be. NO WAY would I touch 66.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by Leaving4Ca

Forget the slugs... YUK.... all depends on exactly where in Lake Ridge you are. If you are by Tacketts Mill, you can leave a little later, say 5:45. If you are closer to West Ridge, I would leave at 5:30.

Also depends on where your job is in DC. I have found 395 to be the best way in - with detours in different places in Arlington if need be. NO WAY would I touch 66.

Are you serious? While 66 is not really an option for the OP I do believe 66 is a better road than 95. Look/listen to WTOP for 2 weeks and compare the two. There are always more incidents on 95. ALWAYS. More backups due to crashes, construction etc. While 66 can be slow and backed up after 530-6 it is still better than 95 with all its issues.

[HokieFan]

Originally Posted by Leaving4Ca

NO WAY would I touch 66.

I-66 should not even be considered as a route from Lake Ridge to DC.

[ChristineVA]

Originally Posted by Bigfoot424

Are you serious? While 66 is not really an option for the OP I do believe 66 is a better road than 95. Look/listen to WTOP for 2 weeks and compare the two. There are always more incidents on 95. ALWAYS. More backups due to crashes, construction etc. While 66 can be slow and backed up after 530-6 it is still better than 95 with all its issues.

I don't know...I have many coworkers who use I66 out of Centreville and Manassas, into DC, and by and large, they are having a worse time of it than those coming up from Woodbridge. Yes, I95 has awful things happen, especially during the summer months, but when comparing notes, the I95 folks seem to have an average commute of less time. I have one woman in my office who takes an hour of leave every Friday afternoon because she can't get down 66 in a reasonable about of time leaving at 3:30 from DC. Slow all the way when there are no incidents.

I think it used to be that 95 was the worst, but I feel in the last 2-3 years I-66 has eclipsed it.

[Bigfoot424]

Originally Posted by ChristineVA

I don't know...I have many coworkers who use I66 out of Centreville and Manassas, into DC, and by and large, they are having a worse time of it than those coming up from Woodbridge. Yes, I95 has awful things happen, especially during the summer months, but when comparing notes, the I95 folks seem to have an average commute of less time. I have one woman in my office who takes an hour of leave every Friday afternoon because she can't get down 66 in a reasonable about of time leaving at 3:30 from DC. Slow all the way when there are no incidents.

I think it used to be that 95 was the worst, but I feel in the last 2-3 years I-66 has eclipsed it.

Still don't agree. I 95 has the luxury of separate HOV lanes and can handle more cars. Problem is, it is handling more cars/vehicles. Way more accidents and incidents occur on 95 compared to 66. Not saying 66 is easy, it isn't, but 95 is much worse. Just watch WTOP.Com daily for awhile and you'll see.