Denny's car is out of comission, or, Mont. County Bus system: a review.
Car is out of commission until hopefully tomorrow or sunday when I find out that my patch job on the cooling system worked like a charm. But until then, public transit.
The Bus:
Cleaner than you would expect. The Glorious People's of Montgomery County Revolutionary Bus System (hereafter known as "Ride-on") is cleaner and quieter, while the Metrobus is dingier and louder. Sample size of 3 buses total, take with salt.
The Ride:
As you would expect, they twist and turn around to hit major destinations and are not a straight line, as well as stopping to pick up/discharge people. About the best you could hope for. Misconception busted 1: The bus is not a go whenever the hell you feel like it, they run on a schedule. Misconception busted 1a: They keep to the schedule very well, at least on low traffic days like today.
Make damn certain you take a careful look at the schedule- the route changes with time of day. This happened to me and the ride to work took 1.5 hours and I had to walk half of it. And be on time ffs.
Payment:
$1.35 (substantially less with a multi-pass, smart card etc.) is good for two hours worth of riding with any number of boardings, disembarks and transfers. If you transfer from Metro to Bus, you get 90c off the ride. Doesn't work the other way around.
Overall:
A bus will always be slower than an equivalent car ride under almost all circumstances- depending on transfers, traffic and other factors, about 1.5 to 3 times slower. My usual 20-25 minute commute took 47 minutes door to door by bus.
Pros:
-Don't have to drive
-Cheaper than car
-Save the environment and shit
-Don't have to park
Cons:
-Much slower
-Bus people (I don't mind, but you caucs reading this will be in the small minority in your bus, and suddenly feel like a yuppy no matter how poor you are.)
-Stand around in the weather
Verdict: If you live in the PRMC you are blessed with a functioning public transit system that will take you just about anywhere in the county besides the burbs way away from 270. (As far north as the Urbana park & ride on one line). I'd know the system, but the sluggishness of buses means it's only practical when:
-Your car is out of service.
-Parking is expensive or impossible at the other end.
-You plan on being drunk.
-You miraculously have a straight shot, no transfer route from A to B where the bus won't be much slower and in that case and the price and not having to drive outweigh the extra time.
-Going to the airport and other circumstances where a car is a liability.
Other thoughts:
As always when considering PT, I rage about how this country's system is woefully inadequate compared to anywhere outside of sub-saharan africa or an active warzone. The red line metro should extend to Frederick, they should finally start that damn purple line and there should be twice as many bus routes with 50% more busses to minimize wait times. As much as it hurt this summer $5 a gallon gas is exactly the kick in the ass we need to get our country back into the 19th century (when trains were fast, amazingly well organized and always, always on time baring act of god, as well a having urban planning that lent itself to actually getting places instead of getting a nice big buffer between you and your neighbors). NYC makes me happy in that respect- you can access a greater metropolitan area of over 18.5 million with three bucks and 45 minutes.
The Bus:
Cleaner than you would expect. The Glorious People's of Montgomery County Revolutionary Bus System (hereafter known as "Ride-on") is cleaner and quieter, while the Metrobus is dingier and louder. Sample size of 3 buses total, take with salt.
The Ride:
As you would expect, they twist and turn around to hit major destinations and are not a straight line, as well as stopping to pick up/discharge people. About the best you could hope for. Misconception busted 1: The bus is not a go whenever the hell you feel like it, they run on a schedule. Misconception busted 1a: They keep to the schedule very well, at least on low traffic days like today.
Make damn certain you take a careful look at the schedule- the route changes with time of day. This happened to me and the ride to work took 1.5 hours and I had to walk half of it. And be on time ffs.
Payment:
$1.35 (substantially less with a multi-pass, smart card etc.) is good for two hours worth of riding with any number of boardings, disembarks and transfers. If you transfer from Metro to Bus, you get 90c off the ride. Doesn't work the other way around.
Overall:
A bus will always be slower than an equivalent car ride under almost all circumstances- depending on transfers, traffic and other factors, about 1.5 to 3 times slower. My usual 20-25 minute commute took 47 minutes door to door by bus.
Pros:
-Don't have to drive
-Cheaper than car
-Save the environment and shit
-Don't have to park
Cons:
-Much slower
-Bus people (I don't mind, but you caucs reading this will be in the small minority in your bus, and suddenly feel like a yuppy no matter how poor you are.)
-Stand around in the weather
Verdict: If you live in the PRMC you are blessed with a functioning public transit system that will take you just about anywhere in the county besides the burbs way away from 270. (As far north as the Urbana park & ride on one line). I'd know the system, but the sluggishness of buses means it's only practical when:
-Your car is out of service.
-Parking is expensive or impossible at the other end.
-You plan on being drunk.
-You miraculously have a straight shot, no transfer route from A to B where the bus won't be much slower and in that case and the price and not having to drive outweigh the extra time.
-Going to the airport and other circumstances where a car is a liability.
Other thoughts:
As always when considering PT, I rage about how this country's system is woefully inadequate compared to anywhere outside of sub-saharan africa or an active warzone. The red line metro should extend to Frederick, they should finally start that damn purple line and there should be twice as many bus routes with 50% more busses to minimize wait times. As much as it hurt this summer $5 a gallon gas is exactly the kick in the ass we need to get our country back into the 19th century (when trains were fast, amazingly well organized and always, always on time baring act of god, as well a having urban planning that lent itself to actually getting places instead of getting a nice big buffer between you and your neighbors). NYC makes me happy in that respect- you can access a greater metropolitan area of over 18.5 million with three bucks and 45 minutes.