I struggle sometimes with how much to honestly post on a blog. No one wants to read a whiny blog, but it would be silly to think my life was sunshine and roses all the time. Or much at all, lately, considering. When I wait to write about something fantastically positive it seems like I don’t write for weeks.
I think this one is fantastically positive, though, and I’ll tell you why.
I started riding Austin’s light rail system, MetroRail, about two weeks ago. I’d been saying I would do it since they mentioned opening a station near the house several years back but I never got around to it. I had one reason or the other, mainly expense, but since I get to ride it for free for work I really ran out of excuses. Plus I am desperate to save money with the price of gas and I have a long work commute.
I asked friends who ride the bus how it works. I mean, I rode the shuttles in college which was forever ago but I’ve never rode the city buses. They showed me how the schedules work (and a sweet friend offered to ride with me the first time!) so I figured out when I needed to be at the rail station and how to take the flyer to work.
The design of the station reminds me of when Sugiyama-san waits for the train in “Shall We Dansu?” and practices his steps on the platform. (That’s my favorite movie of all time. FYI.)
I didn’t need my friend to ride with me and I actually had fun the first trip. The train is so cool on the inside. It’s crazy clean, no food or drink allowed, and everyone is very polite and quiet. I’ve taken a book but never needed it because I love watching the scenery. I like it and I look forward to the days I can take the rail to work. I hope they expand to weekends. I initially decided I’d ride once a week, but now I think I will aim for twice a week. It should save me at least one fill up a month if not a little more than that.
So here’s where the fantastically positive comes in. The reason I kept putting off riding the rail was it gave me anxiety. I didn’t like that I have no control over the schedule, the route, and being stuck at my destination and dependent on the rail to come home. It doesn’t sound like it, but it turned into another point against my panic disorder by taking the rail to work.
And it feels like one day, I’ll be the one dancing on a train platform in Japan.
Hi. I work for Capital Metro, and I’m glad that you’ve had a good experience so far with the Red Line. I, too, enjoy the scenery along the route. It is a different perspective, from inside the train.
I think you articulate well a common obstacle/challenge that many people face when deciding whether to ride transit for the first time: how do I do it? What’s the schedule? How do I pay? What if I get on the wrong one or at the wrong time? etc.
What I’ve heard from other riders and from experience, too, is that the initial investment of time to figure it all out (and getting over the initial apprehension about it) is sometimes overwhelming and keeps many folks from ever trying it out. After people get the hang of it, *usually* they enjoy it and may decide to ride again or to make a habit of riding.
So our challenge here at CapMetro is how can we make the information and the whole process easier to understand? What would have made it easier for you? Particularly for the bus, what info could we provide that would allay your fears about riding a city bus?
One thing that we have started that might be useful to you, is a new travel buddy program. We have a group of community volunteers called MetroAmbassadors who will provide one on one tutorials about how to read the schedules and figure out which bus to take, etc., and then the volunteer will ride with you for your first ride (on the bus or the train either one.) You can get more info about it here: http://www.capmetro.org/insidemetro/Travelbuddy.asp
Happy riding!
That’s fantastic! I’ll email you separately about making the city buses easier; it would be a long response here.
I am lucky to have a generous friend to offer what the MetroAmbassadors do. While I ended up deciding I didn’t need her support, a lot of people who get anxiety would really benefit from the program. Twitter may be a good way to get the word out!
First, I’m all for sharing a little of the non rosies without whining, but that’s just me. Second, Way to go on the train riding! They opened a station by the house we own right after we moved, hope it works out well for resale. I hope to see pictures of you dancing on a platform in Japan someday!
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