1. Delays. When NJ Transit is delayed, it is hellish. Last week, I spent an hour traveling from Secaucus to New York Penn Station because a train was disabled within the tunnel. And hence, only one tunnel was available for all trains to travel through. There have also been times where my usual train was canceled for some unknown reason. Another time, I got on a train, then a conductor announced that they didn't know where the train engineer was, and so they couldn't go anyway. I rushed off that train to catch another one, only to hear that train was going to be delayed for another 20 minutes.
The New York Subway system is no better. Earlier this month, I was caught in delays going from Penn Station to Canal Street. This trip usually takes 10-15 minutes, but took nearly 40 minutes because there was a "switch problem" at West 4th Station. I ended up being late for work, but so was half the office.
2. Smells. The train stinks. But what else is expected when you have over 50 people in one car with no ventilation. The worst is when you are actually sitting next to the one who has b.o. I've been there, and it's not fun. I've also sat next to someone who farted. I know it's immature, but I nearly bursted out laughing.
3. Holiday visitors. Being a commuter is pure hell during the holidays. The already over stuffed rush hour trains are packed even more with children, people with lots of luggage or huge shopping bags, and even pets.
4. Price. Commuting is expensive. Currently, a NJ Tranist monthly pass is about $250, a monthly metrocard is $89, and I have to park at meter parking (about $3 or $4 a day) at my local NJ train station because there's a 5 year waiting list for a parking permit. It's frustrating to be spending all this money on transportation that isn't very efficient. And now, the MTA wants to raise subway ticket prices, so who knows how much I'll be paying next month.
5. It's tiring. I wake up around 5:45 am and I don't get home from work until nearly 7:00 pm. I spend so much of my time commuting, that when I get home, I just want to plop down. But then, I have to do the whole thing over again tomorrow, I should just move to the city.
Although commuting has major negatives, there are some benefits. I like to read or sleep on the train ride to work. Nowadays, I don't have a lot of time to just read for pleasure, so it's nice to spend the time commuting with a good book. I think the train ride after work helps me decompress from the day. It's nice to just sit for 45 minutes knowing that someone else is in charge and you're not responsible for anything. Oh, and double decker trains are fun, it makes me feel like I'm in the future.
2. Smells. The train stinks. But what else is expected when you have over 50 people in one car with no ventilation. The worst is when you are actually sitting next to the one who has b.o. I've been there, and it's not fun. I've also sat next to someone who farted. I know it's immature, but I nearly bursted out laughing.
3. Holiday visitors. Being a commuter is pure hell during the holidays. The already over stuffed rush hour trains are packed even more with children, people with lots of luggage or huge shopping bags, and even pets.
4. Price. Commuting is expensive. Currently, a NJ Tranist monthly pass is about $250, a monthly metrocard is $89, and I have to park at meter parking (about $3 or $4 a day) at my local NJ train station because there's a 5 year waiting list for a parking permit. It's frustrating to be spending all this money on transportation that isn't very efficient. And now, the MTA wants to raise subway ticket prices, so who knows how much I'll be paying next month.
5. It's tiring. I wake up around 5:45 am and I don't get home from work until nearly 7:00 pm. I spend so much of my time commuting, that when I get home, I just want to plop down. But then, I have to do the whole thing over again tomorrow, I should just move to the city.
Although commuting has major negatives, there are some benefits. I like to read or sleep on the train ride to work. Nowadays, I don't have a lot of time to just read for pleasure, so it's nice to spend the time commuting with a good book. I think the train ride after work helps me decompress from the day. It's nice to just sit for 45 minutes knowing that someone else is in charge and you're not responsible for anything. Oh, and double decker trains are fun, it makes me feel like I'm in the future.
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