I just bought a train pass

[BFGirl]

My work offers a $55/year pass that includes all public transit in my metropolitan area.  This includes trains, light rails and buses.  It is 4 miles from my house to a train station and a .75 mile walk from the station to where I work.  I am going to try riding the train at least 2 times a week if not more and see how it goes.  This will probably save me $80-100 in gas plus I will walk 1.5 miles each day I do it.

[enigmaT120]

$55/year?  Maybe you'll only end up driving when you need to run errands after work, stuff like that.  Sounds like a good deal.

I like trains but I have to make do with buses for my multi-modal commute.  My employer pays for the pass, too.

[Milspecstache]

I loved trains when I rode them for 3 years in a different job/city.  Was awesome.  Had on average about one 2hr delay per year which was nothing compared to the frequent delays for autos (traffic, accidents, weather).  I was always able to read/study/sleep on the train so although the time was greater it was well spent.  Additionally I walked to the train station everyday, about 2 miles, so that gave me exercise.

[spoonman]

$55/year is pretty darn good.  My employer covers 50% of my monthly bus pass, which ends up saving me $100 in gas each month.

Once you get into a groove with public transportion it is not that bad.  Like Milspecstache pointed out, you can do other things on the bus that are not possible if you drive to work.

[LibrarIan]

That is an insanely good deal. I pay like 70/month for public bus service. It still saves me money, time and stress, but it's still more than I'd like to pay, especially now that I've seen your rate.

[BFGirl]

I didn't realize what a good deal this was until I looked up the regular fare rates.  A monthly regional pass is $160/month.

[Milspecstache]

I didn't realize what a good deal this was until I looked up the regular fare rates.  A monthly regional pass is $160/month.

Your employer is probably looking to save on parking/future parking costs.

[Gerard]

I second all the comments about quality of life on the train. You can read, write, knit, or just enjoy letting your mind wander for a change.

Will you drive from your home to the train station, or can you bike/bus?

[CommonCents]

Wow, nice perk!  I pay $173/month for my pass.  Second being able to do things on the train.

[BFGirl]

I second all the comments about quality of life on the train. You can read, write, knit, or just enjoy letting your mind wander for a change.

Will you drive from your home to the train station, or can you bike/bus?

In looking at Google maps closer, the train station is actually 6 miles away, so I will still have 12-13 miles round trip each day.  I'm not very good on my bike and the route goes by some unsavory places, so I really don't think I will be trying that.  There isn't bus service in my area to the train, so that it is out as well.  However, I will save about 23 miles a day doing this.  We'll see how it goes.  I've ridden the train for other things before and it has generally been fine, but the last time I did it, we had to deal with someone behind us who was trying to not pay a fare and then I had a creep sit next to me with his pants unbuttoned.  This was just one bad trip and I have taken trains/subways before without incident.  It was neat riding the subway in New York last summer.

[BFGirl]

I actually do knit, plus I think it will be nice to read on my Kindle or phone while I ride.  The train also has WiFi.

[CommonCents]

I second all the comments about quality of life on the train. You can read, write, knit, or just enjoy letting your mind wander for a change.

Will you drive from your home to the train station, or can you bike/bus?

In looking at Google maps closer, the train station is actually 6 miles away, so I will still have 12-13 miles round trip each day.  I'm not very good on my bike and the route goes by some unsavory places, so I really don't think I will be trying that.  There isn't bus service in my area to the train, so that it is out as well.  However, I will save about 23 miles a day doing this.  We'll see how it goes.  I've ridden the train for other things before and it has generally been fine, but the last time I did it, we had to deal with someone behind us who was trying to not pay a fare and then I had a creep sit next to me with his pants unbuttoned.  This was just one bad trip and I have taken trains/subways before without incident.  It was neat riding the subway in New York last summer.

For the not paying, eh, that's the conductor's issue not yours.  (If they check passes onboard shouldn't even delay you.)  For the second, it's never happened to me, but I'd just switch seats when I could.

[BFGirl]

I second all the comments about quality of life on the train. You can read, write, knit, or just enjoy letting your mind wander for a change.

Will you drive from your home to the train station, or can you bike/bus?

In looking at Google maps closer, the train station is actually 6 miles away, so I will still have 12-13 miles round trip each day.  I'm not very good on my bike and the route goes by some unsavory places, so I really don't think I will be trying that.  There isn't bus service in my area to the train, so that it is out as well.  However, I will save about 23 miles a day doing this.  We'll see how it goes.  I've ridden the train for other things before and it has generally been fine, but the last time I did it, we had to deal with someone behind us who was trying to not pay a fare and then I had a creep sit next to me with his pants unbuttoned.  This was just one bad trip and I have taken trains/subways before without incident.  It was neat riding the subway in New York last summer.

For the not paying, eh, that's the conductor's issue not yours.  (If they check passes onboard shouldn't even delay you.)  For the second, it's never happened to me, but I'd just switch seats when I could.

The person not paying was right behind us and they had to get the police on there at the next stop.  He had been trying to get us to give him our leftover picnic food earlier and then pretended to be asleep when the conductor came by.  For the second, yeah, I got up and moved immediately.

[BFGirl]

Rode the train this morning.  My hours are fairly flexible, so I went in a little after the rush hour commute, (8:26) and there was hardly anyone on the train.  Lovely walk from the train station to work.  We have a beautiful downtown.  Saw restaurants getting their patios ready for lunch and several people on the street told me "Good Morning".  That was refreshing.  Hopefully ride back home will be just as good.

I can see this as a long term stress reliever.  The drive to the train station is mainly on lightly traveled roads and I won't have to deal with the a-holes cutting me off or tailgating on the highway, or the jerks sitting there blocking my access to the employee part of the parking garage, so they can wait to get the closest parking spot.

[BFGirl]

Rode the train every day this week.  I actually dread the thought of driving in now...

[Joggernot]

Dumb question 101: For those of you who aren't getting reimbursed by your employer, have you asked your employer to help pay your costs?  I've learned that if you ask you might get what you ask for.