My Metrolink Diary: Week 4

This is the latest installment of Times copy editor Rubaina Azhar's adventures in Metrolink:

So it boils down to this: At 4:30 a.m., is saving a polar bear more important than sleeping for another half-hour?

Since 2004, I’ve lived in Fullerton and worked in downtown L.A. Until earlier this month, I chose to drive to work every day instead of taking mass transit. Typical Southern Californian. On July 1, though, I tried commuting to L.A. on Metrolink for the first time and had an easy go of it. Coming home that first day, though, I managed to get on the wrong train and wound up stranded in the City of Industry. I wanted to keep the faith in public transportation, however, so I took Metrolink again the following week. Twice even. A full 100% increase in use over my first week. And I took the train again once last week.

Now I'm on Week 4 and I'm proud to say I rode Metrolink on Monday. But not Tuesday. And not today.

For the last two days, at 4:30 a.m., my desire for sleep outweighed my desire to help a polar bear. Yes, I want to be a good citizen and curb global warming and stop Arctic sea ice from melting so quickly and preserve polar bear habitat, but I also want to keep my eyes open at work. And an extra half-hour of sleep goes a long, long way toward that modest goal, as any working parent with little ones will tell you.

By waking up at 5 a.m., I effectively don't have enough time to shower and dress, drive to the Metrolink station, park and catch the 5:59 a.m. train downtown. I just don't move fast in the early a.m. I've tried to cut corners to save time, believe me: I've packed my breakfast to go instead of eating it at home; I've let my hair air dry instead of blow-drying it; I've skipped my shower altogether. But I like to eat, I hate leaving the house with wet hair and I like to be stink-free.

Taking mass transit in Southern California often means a lifestyle change. I just simply have to wake up that extra half-hour earlier. Maybe I should keep a photo of a dead polar bear next to the alarm clock on the nightstand.

Related:

First-time Metrolink rider, longtime sleepyhead

My Metrolink mistake

-- Rubaina Azhar

Photo credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[Jason]

I think that the most effective advertisement for rail service is if you're sitting in a car stuck in traffic, and then you see a train full of passengers wizzing right by. If those trains were fast and frequent, people would be more likely to use them.

At the end of the day, the majority of people will only use alternative modes of transportation if they can save time or money. A minority will use it to save the environment, bless their hearts.

So I think the answer for rail is more trains and tracks, with congestion pricing or parking fees to pay for it. Despite our best intentions, the reality is that there needs to be more incentive for people to get out of their cars.

[calwatch]

You know that you can eat on the train, too, at least Metrolink. People grab their lattes and their breakfast bars and eat on the train all the time.

[Tommy]

Just remember that you don't need to take mass transit every day to make a difference. I admire your effort, and I think in your case starting slow is the best way to become accustomed to mass transit. What I would do, in your case, is to schedule one day every week that you will take the train. For example, say, "I will take the train every Wednesday." Then make sure you stick to that schedule. Then once you get used to it, try to increase it to two days a week, and so on.

[Mike]

Can you ride a bicycle to the train station instead of driving?

I ride metrolink to work nearly every day. It does take a little more time than driving, but unlike driving, the time can be spent enjoyably and productively. I've added a bike ride to and from the station. By biking to the station, I am able to get my daily exercise in, obviating the need for a trip to the gym, thereby saving time--and a considerable amount of money--overall. While on the train, I take care of work or errands, or read, or take a nap.

Please give it time. It takes a while to adjust to a train-based commute, especially if you've become used to driving. On the balance, though, you may discover that it actually gives you more time, not less! Saving polar bears is gravy.

-Mike

[Ray]

A few more questions to ponder:

Do you think you would reconsider your doubts if you had to pay an $8 toll to enter downtown Los Angeles every day?

What if your employer didn't pay for your parking? And what if the cost of that parking was more in line with what commuters in NY, Chicago, Seattle or Boston pay?

Are you really loosing a half hour's sleep? There's plenty of time to nap again on the train - you don't have to drive.

Must you really be to the office by 7 am? Seems a bit out of the ordinary.

What time do you leave work in the afternoon? Perhaps there's a time for a nap on the way home.

Do you think Metrolink service is frequent or fast enough? Why is LACMTA focusing on expanding bus service by $7 billion but putting only $1 billion into Metrolink?

[James N.]

"Taking mass transit in Southern California often means a lifestyle change."

If by "lifestyle change" you mean having to plan your days around bus/train schedules and giving up the freedom of driving off whenever you feel like it, then I don't see how Southern California is so different from 99.9% of the rest of this country. Mass transit isn't synonymous with chauffeur service.

[michaelkmak]

You know, there's a lot of other things you can worry about than polar bears (which seem somewhat tangential to your life). What about the cost savings of taking metrolink instead of the cost of gas and parking downtown? Maybe you're a little more well-off than some, but saving still doesn't hurt. A half hour might seem like it makes a difference, personally, I don't know about that.. however, you could go to bed half hour earlier.

I don't know. There's many ways around all the issues you bring up and just because you want to be a bratty adult doesn't seem like good justification for any the decisions you're making. This is a face-value change because you want to fit in and do "good things" for the environment or do you actually want to make a difference? Do you take the train? and recycle? and change your light bulbs to compact-fluorescents? what about car-pooling with other downtown-bound neighbors? turning off lights during the day and opening blinds? do you water your lawn in the early morning or late evening when the sun doesn't evaporate all the water? do you take your own bags to the grocery store that you re-use instead of wasting plastic or paper?

[hermosawave]

Is there a p.m. copy desk? Maybe you should try to switch...

[Marco]

A very insightful blog entry. I empathize with your travails in mass transit. I rode Metrolink for two years before moving closer to work. But if you stick with it for a while the experience actually grows on you. I made lots of commuter friends. We would even get together for birthdays, etc. at a restaurant near a Metrolink stop, then take the late train home. Good memories.