Commuting –Train, Subway, Bus, Car, Boat (Boston: price, buses)

[495neighbor]

If you have/had an hour commute or more and were able to use the train, subway, bus, car or a combination of the above to your destination and back, which would be your preference?

Also am curious why more towns don't have express bus service? Is bus transportation considered uglier and grittier than other forms of public transportation?

[MikePRU]

I think it would be really fun to commute by boat. My second choice would probably be train. when I was a commuter I used to have to switch between multiple train lines and it was a nightmare. My commute could have been so much shorter and less stressful if I had just been able to commute on one method of transportation. I think there's probably a lack of express buses because most people think if I'm just going to take the bus I might as well drive. You end up. In the same traffic either way.

[Xx2O11xX]

I would prefer to commute in my car where the seat is the most comfortable, I can control the temperature, and I don't have to be outside.

Commuter Rail- Rarely on time, and forces you to wait outside, overpriced.
Train- Crowded during rush hour, sometimes no seats available. But I would choose this as #2. It is affordable.
Bus- Slow, sometimes no seats available, you're forced to wait outside at bus stops.

[Guineas]

Sometimes it's nice to zone out and just drive after a long day's work.

Commuter rail is nice, but there's nothing more aggravating than to miss ones train. Becomes a huge time suck if your job has somewhat unpredictable daily schedules. I notice that I tended to stay later when I was taking the commuter rail, because once I missed my usual train, I then had to decide to get some more work done and wait for the next, and next thing I know I'm trying to catch the 9pm train. With driving, when I wanted to leave, I just left.

I wouldn't commute by car for an hour though. 30 minutes is my maximum car commute.

[millerm277]

Originally Posted by 495neighbor

Also am curious why more towns don't have express bus service? Is bus transportation considered uglier and grittier than other forms of public transportation?

It's certainly a far more unpleasant mode of transportation in terms of comfort.

Buses are subject to the same traffic everything else is, and hence are quite unreliable/lengthy at peak commuting times.

The only special lanes for buses are some limited sections of the Silver Line system.

[Shizim]

I drive in to Boston daily. I much rather rely on myself than the MBTA and it's issues (especially in the winter).

Also there is no commuter rail stop in my town proper so I would have to drive to one or the orange line and train in From there. It's actually faster door to door to drive.

When you end up working late, driving is a godsend. 20 minutes parking lot to door can't be beat.

[a bag of it]

For me it depends on where I'm going, what I'm doing and what time I'm coming back. Commuter rail is the easiest, but the timing usually doesn't work out and it's expensive, so I drive to the t. Car is usually the most stressful, but also the most flexible. Can be cheapest or most expensive option depending on where you park. Boat is even less convenient than commuter rail. Bus is by far the worst of all, combining all of the downsides with no advantages.

[raveabouttoast]

I'd say car, but I don't commute to Boston.

If I was heading in to Boston, I'd go with the T. The Commuter Rail is a bit pricey and the schedule is not nearly as flexible as the T.

[jayrandom]

If you're going to spend an hour, the commuter rail is by far the most pleasant way to go. It's expensive and infrequent, which are the biggest advantages of the subway. Driving is probably faster but it's definitely more stressful and the variance is much higher. The ferry is the only method I've never tried in Boston.

[kingeorge]

I have never had a chance to try a boat. I hear that people like it. I have done all other stuff here and there. I do like subway the best. Well run, it is most convenient and usually the fastest option in the dense city environment.

Red Line was my best friend since it started, but lately service is really becoming disappointing. MBTA is asleep at the wheel, and is not expanding capacity to be in step with big economic boom we are experiencing in the last decade in this area.