Why do so many people who live in walking distance to a metro still drive to work?

[Anonymous]

We don't Metro because we have three people to get to three different locations in a short amount of time, and Metro is not always reliable. Also, we calculated the weekly cost of our trips vs. the cost of driving and gas was actually cheaper. We use our Metro station when driving will be more of a PITA than riding the train - i.e. to go to the National Mall or large events downtown where parking will be difficult to come by and the annoyance factor of driving in traffic is greater than dealing with the crowds on the trains.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In the past, I considered trying to buy near a metro, so that I wouldn't have to drive at all for my daily commute (my work is one block from a metro stop).

But then I realized that I get home late each day, so from fall until early spring, I'd have to walk home from the metro in the dark, alone. And frankly, I don't know of any location within a mile of a metro stop where I'd feel comfortable doing that.

This is mind-boggling to me. I live about half a mile from one metro station and 3/4 of a mile from another. I would be perfectly comfortable walking home from either one of them. Why would you consider buying a house in a neighborhood where you did not ever feel safe walking around after dark? Even if walking at night is not something you do regularly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The freedom to be trapped in traffic vs. being confined to a Metro train that may or may not break down, but will certainly be full of ill-mannered boors, should never be underestimated.

this really doesn't sound better, based on how you just described it

I don't live or work anywhere near a metro stop at this point, but other than while I was pregnant and sick as a dog, I took public transportation to work. I used to take a bus from a park and ride to the metro. I enjoyed being able to take my newspaper with me and do my reading while someone else was "free to be trapped in traffic" I HATE traffic!

[Anonymous]

I think it depends on how close your house, jobs, and daycare/schools are to the metro. We live 4 blocks from a metro station. DW doesn't drive at all and works close to a metro station. I drive DS to daycare (1 mi from home), then park at the metro and go to work, then do the reverse in the evening. Before DS, I always took Metro. When DS starts preschool, I'll probably drive to drop him off and drive to work, but it all depends where he ends up going.

[Anonymous]

Some companies provide free/reduced parking but not transit benefits so its plainly cheaper.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the past, I considered trying to buy near a metro, so that I wouldn't have to drive at all for my daily commute (my work is one block from a metro stop).

But then I realized that I get home late each day, so from fall until early spring, I'd have to walk home from the metro in the dark, alone. And frankly, I don't know of any location within a mile of a metro stop where I'd feel comfortable doing that.

This is mind-boggling to me. I live about half a mile from one metro station and 3/4 of a mile from another. I would be perfectly comfortable walking home from either one of them. Why would you consider buying a house in a neighborhood where you did not ever feel safe walking around after dark? Even if walking at night is not something you do regularly.

I didn't buy a house in a neighborhood where I don't feel safe walking around after dark. That's my POINT. I couldn't find a neighborhood within a mile of a metro where I did feel safe walking around at night, so I didn't buy a house near a metro.

It's fine if you feel safe walking to and from metro to your house in your neighborhood, but I probably wouldn't. I used to live in a sketchy area, and the people who kept saying they felt safe were the ones who were pretty oblivious to stuff going on around them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The freedom to be trapped in traffic vs. being confined to a Metro train that may or may not break down, but will certainly be full of ill-mannered boors, should never be underestimated.

this really doesn't sound better, based on how you just described it

I don't live or work anywhere near a metro stop at this point, but other than while I was pregnant and sick as a dog, I took public transportation to work. I used to take a bus from a park and ride to the metro. I enjoyed being able to take my newspaper with me and do my reading while someone else was "free to be trapped in traffic" I HATE traffic!

+1 Whenever I do have to drive, I thank my lucky stars I don't have to do it everyday. The driving and traffic around here is nuts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In the past, I considered trying to buy near a metro, so that I wouldn't have to drive at all for my daily commute (my work is one block from a metro stop).

But then I realized that I get home late each day, so from fall until early spring, I'd have to walk home from the metro in the dark, alone. And frankly, I don't know of any location within a mile of a metro stop where I'd feel comfortable doing that.

This is mind-boggling to me. I live about half a mile from one metro station and 3/4 of a mile from another. I would be perfectly comfortable walking home from either one of them. Why would you consider buying a house in a neighborhood where you did not ever feel safe walking around after dark? Even if walking at night is not something you do regularly.

Oh, get real. I live in a perfectly safe neighborhood, but bad things happen everywhere. The issue for me is that my neighborhood in DC is very quiet and residential, so if someone did get a mind to do something while I was walking home from Metro, there wouldn't be anyone out and about after dark to help me. My neighbors are great - but I don't know who else is around who doesn't belong. Remember David Rosenbaum?

[Anonymous]

Metro sucks. I live 1/2 mile from the Red Line and can't stand it. I took it 1992-2005 and it deteriorated so badly I couldn't do it anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metro sucks. I live 1/2 mile from the Red Line and can't stand it. I took it 1992-2005 and it deteriorated so badly I couldn't do it anymore.

I agree with this, too. It's more expensive and crowded than ever while simultaneously being less safe and less reliable. Stellar combo.

[Anonymous]

We intentionally bought close-in and within walking distance of Metro (Red Line). For the past 20 years my DH has either biked or taken Metro to work nearly every day. He does this because he's a committed environmentalist. hates traffic, and refuses to pay more for parking. Many of our neighbors take Metro, and walking is often a nice way to catch up with folks. I can walk to work, but if I couldn't, I'm not sure I'd take Metro because of how much the service has really deteriorated over the years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Some companies provide free/reduced parking but not transit benefits so its plainly cheaper.

This is crazy. Maybe employers should change this policy and also provide free/reduced metro passes. That would ease the congestion a bit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Some companies provide free/reduced parking but not transit benefits so its plainly cheaper.

This is crazy. Maybe employers should change this policy and also provide free/reduced metro passes. That would ease the congestion a bit.

On the roads, yes. But it would make Metro even worse. Have you ridden it as a commuter lately? It's terrible - packed to the gills and utterly unreliable.

[Anonymous]

Metro does indeed blow, and on the weekend in particular I can drive wherever I need to be in DC faster than Metro -- and I don't live in the city proper.

[Anonymous]

For me, driving is easier, cheaper, and funner. Yes, you get stuck in traffic but at least you are not forced to hear other people's inane chatter, inhale their cologne, listen to their music or touch them. You are also not limited in your choice of footwear, and I do like my high heels. The freedom and personal space afforded by a car is great.

Plus I imagine my daycare pick-up and drop-off would be a huge hassle without a car. The reality is that unless everything you need is in walking distance (and I mean, everything, work, daycare, school, shopping), you will need some combination of public transit, driving and walking to get places, and at that point you may as well drive.