Doing the public transportation thing
I don’t really use the public transportation options in San Jose, I admit. The lightrail never seems to go where I want to go, and it takes at least twice as long compared to driving. I would like to use it more, but driving my car is easier, so I just do that instead. I only occasionally take the lightrail to downtown San Jose because it is just starting to get busy enough that parking can be difficult.
It is a different story in San Francisco. I was up there Thursday and Friday, and in that short time, took the bus, the Muni, and CalTrain. It was such a nice change of pace to not drive my car everywhere. Plus it was fun, probably because of the novelty it all, the nice weather, and the fact that I didn’t have to be anywhere at a particular time.
I carpooled up to San Francisco, and on the way home to San Jose, I took CalTrain for the first time. The debate is whether it is cheaper to drive or take the train between San Jose and San Francisco. The train costs $13.50 a person round-trip, which I estimate is about the cost for gas for the same trip. So I think CalTrain is definitely the way to go if I am traveling by myself or don’t want a car up in the city, but if there is a group of us going, carpooling makes just as much sense, at least financially.
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Why don’t you use the VTA buses, as well? They go everywhere, they’re generally nice and clean, and they have bike racks?
In general, it is faster and easier to drive, so I do. Also, the bus stop is about 5 blocks away from my house, so that adds to the hassle. I even have a VTA pass from work and I still don’t take the bus!