an experiment in commuting
I get bored of my commute to work. It takes me more than an hour by subway, from 18th Avenue in Brookyn, to 125th Street in Manhattan. An hour and 15 minutes is about the average.
Driving takes less time, but there is alternate side of the street parking four days a week up by my job, and parking in the lot would cost $8 a day, plus gas wasted idling along the Gowanus by the Prospect Expressway- Hamilton Avenue Exit merge. People just don't know how to drive.
So today I tried something new. I added a ferry trip to my commute! And here is my recap:
I left my apartment and was behind the wheel of my car at 6:57. It was yet another rainy day here in Brooklyn, so the traffic was thankfully light. I got to listen to my boys on XM for about 20 minutes while I head over to the free parking at the ferry terminal. There was ample parking, just feet from the boat.
The tickets cost me $12 for a round-trip. There are discounts for ten-packs and monthly passes, and this was just a trial run to see if I should make the investment, long-term.
There were plenty of cushioned seats when I got there, and tables, good for reading, coffee drinking, or gazing into the foggy Brooklyn Bay. We left promptly at 7:20, and we arrived on the Manhattan side in just 15 minutes, at Pier 11. The ride wasn't as choppy as I anticipated (due to the weather adn all that).
The walk to the 2/3 train was about 10 minutes. The same as it would be from the D in Harlem to my job. It's a change, and any change is welcome. It's especially welcome because unlike 127th Street, there is no piss, shit, or other gross odor. The 2/3 leaves me just two (cleaner)blocks from my office.
The total commute time? 1 hour and 15 minutes... My travel time destiny I suppose...
The omparision?
Time= equal
Price (pre-discount, round-trip)= Subway alone: $4
Car alone: $8 (for parking, tolls and gas extra)
Car/ Ferry/ Subway: $16 (gas extra)
Effect on attitude= Subway: Grumpy if I get a seat; Homicidal if I don't.
Car alone: Why the fuck is there traffic?! There's no accident! Don't you kow how to fucking merge!!
Car/Ferry/ Subway: Ahhh...
Now, I can take my bike (once I get a new one) to the ferry, and en even ride uptown in Manhattan if I want. I would save some cash, and get the exercise. Also, I could save some money with monthly passes for the ferry, and getting cheaper cards.
I get bored of my commute to work. It takes me more than an hour by subway, from 18th Avenue in Brookyn, to 125th Street in Manhattan. An hour and 15 minutes is about the average.
Driving takes less time, but there is alternate side of the street parking four days a week up by my job, and parking in the lot would cost $8 a day, plus gas wasted idling along the Gowanus by the Prospect Expressway- Hamilton Avenue Exit merge. People just don't know how to drive.
So today I tried something new. I added a ferry trip to my commute! And here is my recap:
I left my apartment and was behind the wheel of my car at 6:57. It was yet another rainy day here in Brooklyn, so the traffic was thankfully light. I got to listen to my boys on XM for about 20 minutes while I head over to the free parking at the ferry terminal. There was ample parking, just feet from the boat.
The tickets cost me $12 for a round-trip. There are discounts for ten-packs and monthly passes, and this was just a trial run to see if I should make the investment, long-term.
There were plenty of cushioned seats when I got there, and tables, good for reading, coffee drinking, or gazing into the foggy Brooklyn Bay. We left promptly at 7:20, and we arrived on the Manhattan side in just 15 minutes, at Pier 11. The ride wasn't as choppy as I anticipated (due to the weather adn all that).
The walk to the 2/3 train was about 10 minutes. The same as it would be from the D in Harlem to my job. It's a change, and any change is welcome. It's especially welcome because unlike 127th Street, there is no piss, shit, or other gross odor. The 2/3 leaves me just two (cleaner)blocks from my office.
The total commute time? 1 hour and 15 minutes... My travel time destiny I suppose...
The omparision?
Time= equal
Price (pre-discount, round-trip)= Subway alone: $4
Car alone: $8 (for parking, tolls and gas extra)
Car/ Ferry/ Subway: $16 (gas extra)
Effect on attitude= Subway: Grumpy if I get a seat; Homicidal if I don't.
Car alone: Why the fuck is there traffic?! There's no accident! Don't you kow how to fucking merge!!
Car/Ferry/ Subway: Ahhh...
Now, I can take my bike (once I get a new one) to the ferry, and en even ride uptown in Manhattan if I want. I would save some cash, and get the exercise. Also, I could save some money with monthly passes for the ferry, and getting cheaper cards.
