All Entries / Randall Switched to Transit for His Commute, Loves the Extra Time, Meeting People, and Saving Money
In my 30-plus years of working, I have never taken public transportation. I always drove a car, by myself. I live in West Palm Beach and last June I started a job in Kendall, 87 miles away. I drove to work each day, spending over $600 per month on gas. This April, I looked into riding TriRail and MetroRail to get to work. The Metro station is right across the street from my office. With free parking at TriRail, it's just $100 a month. That's $500 a month savings, all while helping the environment! My commute is only 30 minutes longer than driving, but without the traffic headaches and maintenance cost. I utilize the time on the trains to work on my laptop, send personal emails, or to take a nap. I couldn't do any of this in my car.
I have met new friends while commuting that I never would have met otherwise. One gentleman is a psychologist working with trauma patients.
My wife is just finishing her Masters in psychology and was wondering how she would get started in her new field. During a conversation, the gentleman offered his information and said he would like to speak to my wife about her career. I also met a botanist who told me about plants that I can add to my landscaping to attract butterflies and other non-pest insects. He told me of programs offered by the county that give you those plants for free, to help the environment. My yard now looks great!
All this in just 6 weeks of riding transit. All while saving over $500 per month and using less energy. All of this while relaxed and carefree, meeting new friends, being productive for my job, or doing personal tasks.
It's been an excellent experience riding TriRail/Metro.
