Thursday, October 23, 2008

It's smarta?

I love public transportation.  Don't ask me why, but I do.  I think it makes me feel like a "city girl," plus, it generally just makes sense.  Unless you live in a city with an inefficient public transportation system.  Don't get me wrong, I love MARTA.  It's just not the most efficient use of my time.


MARTA is smarta...
...after you have epi-LASIK surgery on your eyes and can't drive for 5 days, yet have to get to work
...when you go to the Chick-Fil-A Bowl on New Year's Eve (on the way home you may wonder if it actually is smarta)
...when there's no time crunch and you and your sister want to go to Improve in the Park at Piedmont and don't want to have to worry about parking, traffic, driving home, etc.
...when Atlanta somehow runs out of gas (in case you were living under a rock and missed it, check it out here)
...when the weather is nice and you want to feel like you live in the city (I actually ride it for this reason sometimes!)
...when you want to contribute to environmental sustainability and keep one more car off the road
...when it only costs $1.75 each way, and you can get a nifty laminated breeze card to reload
...when traffic on North Ave. is ridiculous and you actually walk at a faster pace than the cars are moving

MARTA ain't smarta...
...when it takes you over an hour each way to get to and from work, versus the 20-40 minutes max that it takes in your car
...when you have to walk over 4 miles during the commute (one mile from my house to the station, one mile from the station to work, repeat in reverse order)
...when it's over 100 degrees outside and you are soaking wet from sweat by the time you get to the office OR it's raining OR it's freezing
...when  you have to go under "the bridge" on North Ave, and happen to pass two people in the middle of a drug deal (that may have been a little dramatic, but that bridge is creepy)
...when you have to carry anything other than your pocketbook
...if you want to go somewhere in the city that isn't directly North, South, East, or West

Maybe the good does outnumber the bad, but I'm not sure it necessarily outweighs the bad.  And, unfortunately, while I may ride it occasionally, I don't think it's going to become a norm.  If you want to find out more, check out MARTA's website.  

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