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Unread 01-26-2009, 08:06 PM
 
21 posts, read 78,120 times
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Default Comfort/Stress level of Metro versus driving?

I've finally gotten to check out some different parts of the metro area, and have been looking at my options for commuting to Suitland.

It seems that at this point my best options are either to live pretty far out in the nicer areas east/south of town, or to live in the Foggy Bottom/Rosslyn area and ride the Metro to work. I know that the lifestyle is going to be completely different in Foggy Bottom versus Chesapeake Beach for example, but they appeal to me in different ways and I think I could be happy in either place.

I'm wondering about the commute itself though. Is commuting daily on the Metro pretty easy and enjoyable compared to driving, or is it worse? I'm looking at probably a 32 minute Metro commute versus a 45 minute drive. The metro hasn't seemed bad the few times I've ridden it, but I can imagine it wears you down when you spend over an hour every day on the train.
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Unread 01-26-2009, 08:19 PM
 
451 posts, read 1,187,445 times
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It depends on where you're getting on and how many transfers you've got to deal with.

A lot of places on the red line are just awful getting on each morning. Really, you've got to either wait several trains, or if you're not bashful, just shove your way into the sardine can.

Then there's the breakdowns. Metro doesn't have any express lines, so when there's a problem on one track, it screws up the whole line. It'll happen every once in a while and cause a mess.

I guess it really depends on what type of person you are, not to mention what type of car you have.

Some people would just MUCH rather be in their own car, in their own personal space, listening to their music, with their coffee and their bagel (and their cigarettes if that's their thing), doing their commute. And if it's bumper to bumper, they'll just sort of deal with it if it means avoiding being crammed on a train.

Others would rather walk to the metro, go underground, take their seat and just read or zone out for a while until it's time to work.

You just have to go with your gut I guess.
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