May 18, 2004

caltrain lessons

The new apartment is a tad closer to the train station, so I'm trying a new commute. I've been carpooling with Rosie for a year, but I want to give the train a shot. When I hit all the right connections, the train is 2 hours each way. Carpooling was 1:15 each way, and driving was 0:45 - 1:00 each way. Now that I've ridden it roundtrip once, I have learned a few lessons that I'd like to share with you...

  • Riding the train is relaxing, and gives you lots of time to read and listen to music.
  • My watch is not the official timepiece of the 4th and king caltrain station. Even if it looks like I have 3 minutes left to get on the train, it is NOT ok to stop for coffee.
  • If you miss the 8:07 train because you stopped to get coffee, the 8:37 train is not so bad, although your one-way trip time balloons to a 3 hour trip. David Sedaris's wacky childhood makes good company for this delay.
  • The Cupertino 55 bus line, connecting from the Caltrain station, isn't as painful as I feared.
  • Price-wise, train fare + bus fare from San Francisco to Cupertino is comparable to gasoline costs for one person driving solo getting 28mpg.

Conclusion: I need to commit to 2 or 4 solid weeks of riding the train before I can decide once and for all whether it's a viable means of commute.

Posted by Ethan at May 18, 2004 10:56 AM
Comments

I really liked Naked, much more than Me Talk Pretty One Day. Have you read Holidays on Ice?

I haven't read fiction in so long. This must change.

Posted by: alison on May 18, 2004 12:08 PM

yeah - if I ride the train more I'll have a couple of hours a day to do nothing but sit and read.

I have read Holidays on Ice. classic.

Posted by: ethan on May 18, 2004 12:14 PM

When I was commuting 1 hr + from Chicago to the suburbs (~20 miles), I started hating driving. Being stuck in traffic every day sucks. I commend you for putting up with a 45 - 2 hr commute each way. At least you have public transportation.

Posted by: Janice on May 18, 2004 01:12 PM

You should sign up for the $40/month ticket vouchers from Apple.

A Caltrain monthly pass gets you on VTA for free.

If you're close to BART, getting on Caltrain at Millbrae may be half an hour faster.

I plum forgot about your move! Sorry. I should have planned better. Hope you're enjoying the new place.

Posted by: John R Chang on May 18, 2004 09:05 PM

Whoa, gasoline is the least of the costs, even in California. Tires run 1-2 cents/mile, other mechanical wear perhaps 3-6/mile, and you'll have to judge the cost of (1) your time, (2) increased risk to your insurance premiums and deductibles plus (3) risk to life and limb and disability from cell-phone-weilding drivers in monster vehicles. It's pretty impossible to drive in the US for less than 35 cents per mile real total cost, and that's in perfect weather outside of rush hour.

Posted by: eric on May 23, 2004 03:51 PM
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