Green Adventures: All Aboard (Part 2)

 Green Adventures: a series in which we invite you into the adventures from our journey.

All Aboard (Part 2)

Last week I shared with you part 1 of my journey to take the light rail as a more sustainable form of transportation.  I shared why and how I came to the decision to make the switch in my commute and described the journey as well as some of my mishaps.  Today, join me as I continue to describe this adventure.

Wild adventures

Adventure is certainly a fitting word to describe the move to public transportation.  Each trip provides something new and unique.  I have found myself riding with convicts and businessmen, the drunk and the sober, kids and adults, the rich and the poor, the sick and the healthy, the talkative and the reserved.  And the stories.  Oh the stories.

There’s the time when the guy and his girlfriend were fighting.  She was moving from row to row to get away from him.  The arguing got louder and louder (and closer and closer to me).  When they were just a few seats away, she basically tells him to get lost and he loses it.  Shouting now, he tells her that he will kill her if she leaves him.  Then he proceeds to tell everyone within earshot that he will kill them too.  At that point me and a few other passengers silently made a pact to step up and protect her and anyone else if the situation demanded it.  Isn’t it amazing how much you can communicate with just your eyes when necessary?  After that they calmed down and soon she made a quick exit (I believe to the safety of a waiting vehicle).

Or there was the time when the guy was so drunk he couldn’t even stand up.  He annoyed a woman and her son for a few minutes before passing out in his seat.  It was interesting watching the little boy trying to figure out how to get around him from the outside.  Eventually he chose to crawl on his belly to get underneath him.

Or there was the time when I was sitting with several guys that had literally just gotten out of jail.  Though not the wisest of guys (they were talking about breaking the law again in just a couple hours), they were quite friendly with me.  I loaned then a pen and we struck up a conversation.  I was able to share about how and why I was going to seminary.  Who would have guessed?

And then there was the time when we stopped for probably 30 minutes on a part of the tracks where they are elevated by a good 100 feet or more.  Then the driver get out of the booth, opens the train door, and hops out.  And doesn’t come back (well… for 20 minutes at least).  Turns out there was a potential jumper (not too mention road kill candidate) on the tracks in front of us.  Eventually the person was coaxed down and out of the way and we were on our way.

Now, not every day is like this.  Really, these are the best stories I can remember after countless trips.  Fear and potential harm are rare.  But adventure is always there.  In fact, while always having good intentions of reading and studying, those intentions were often thwarted by all the quirky people there were to watch.

Tips for taking the train

1. Bring Purell.  Certainly this is my germophobia coming out, but I recommend it nonetheless.  If you imagine all the grime and bacteria on the seats, poles, etc… well, just don’t because it’ll creep you out.  Bring purell or promptly wash your hands afterwards.  It will keep you healthier.
2. Use Google Maps for directions.  They have now built in a feature that allows you to select your mode of transportation (by car, public transportation, or walking) when looking for directions.  This is very helpful, especially when taking more than one system. 

Pros and cons

Cons:

• Time – for the most part taking the train will take you longer.  There are certainly days, times, and commutes where this isn’t true.  However, for the most part, be sure to factor in enough time to get to your destination.
• Loss of flexibility – especially in southern California where we do not have an extensive system, you are limited by both time (schedules) and locations (where the lines run)when you rely on the train. 
• No eating or drinking – although many people ignore this rule, you are not allowed to eat or drink while on the train.  For many of us who live a busy lifestyle, we are used to eating and drinking while on the move.  Unless you are willing to risk the potential fines, the train will leave you hungry.
• Crowds – if traveling during peak hours you might have to sit next to someone else or even stand.  Of course, when driving alone this is not a problem.
• Storage – finally, you are limited by what you can tote around with you.  This was especially difficult as a student.  I often needed to lug around a laptop, books for class, food, and water.  Then add on the walking and it was after quite the pain.

Pros:

• Savings – for the most part, taking the train is significantly cheaper than driving.  This is particularly true when you factor in wear and tear and possibly insurance (if you were to do away with your vehicle completely).
• Better for car – as noted above, this significantly reduces wear and tear.  This results in tires lasting longer, less frequent maintenance, etc.  This saves you money and time.  It also means your car (a valuable resource with a big footprint) last longer.
• Ability to relax or be productive – when taking the train you have the freedom not to focus on where you are going.  This frees you up to be productive, catch a nap, or people watch.  I personally find driving through traffic stressful, so it’s nice to arrive without the added stress.
• Exercise – inevitably you will have to walk more versus driving.  This allows you to get your heart rate up and simply enjoy (hopefully) fresh air. 
• No risk of falling asleep at the wheel – there were times commuting at 5 am after studying until late or getting up in the night with my daughter when the hardest part of driving was staying awake.  It was awful having to open the window in freezing temperatures (relatively speaking since i live in California) just to stay awake.  Public transportation takes away that risk and the associated pressure.
• No parking hassle – this option allows you to skip the hassle of finding or paying for parking.  I know in some places this isn’t a concern.  In others, however, it is important.  I have been able to save significantly on parking costs via this method, not to mention the time of looking for a spot.
• Connection to others – when we lock ourselves behind our car doors and windows we lose a valuable connection with each other.  We can travel hundreds of miles without even greeting or noticing another person.  That’s a shame.
• Green – this is the option that better cares for God’s creation.  Mass transit allows us to minimize emissions and such.

So, what do we do with all of this?  While the train is not for every commute, I highly recommend it.  I have always – well almost always – felt incredibly safe despite my tales above.  It is generally cheaper.  It has less of an ecological impact.  Many of the cons are really just adjustments we need to make rather than major problems.  Perhaps we should be adjusting in some of these areas anyways. 

If you find yourself faced with long commutes, high gas bills, and a lack of connection with others, I encourage you to learn from my adventures and consider taking the train.  It certainly won’t be dull.

Also consider:

Green Adventures: All Aboard (Part 1)

Green Adventures: Baking Bread

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