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News & ArtsSaturday, December 24, 2011
Transportation A Taste of the Potential Power of Link
Posted by Charles Mudede on Sat, Dec 24, 2011 at 9:16 AM
I live in Columbia City. I had a train to catch at 7:30 am. I woke up late, 6:30 am, because I slept badly. I was out of the door at 6:45 am. I arrived at Columbia City Station at 6:50 am. A northbound train appeared at 6:55 am. I was at the Chinatown Station at 7:10 am and on the southbound Amtrak Cascades train at 7:20 am.
Thank you, Link.
9
I liked your post, Charles.
The photo is evocative, too; Brings me back to living in New York. I'd slip out of the office in Brooklyn without being spotted, and take the A train to Grand Central. Board Metro North. Soon we're out of the tunnel, I'm watching North Manhattan pass by, we stop at 125th in Harlem, then the Bronx, then out of the city. Very soon I'm cruising blissfully along the Hudson River. With each transfer, I shed layers of tension and stress. I love trains.
The photo is evocative, too; Brings me back to living in New York. I'd slip out of the office in Brooklyn without being spotted, and take the A train to Grand Central. Board Metro North. Soon we're out of the tunnel, I'm watching North Manhattan pass by, we stop at 125th in Harlem, then the Bronx, then out of the city. Very soon I'm cruising blissfully along the Hudson River. With each transfer, I shed layers of tension and stress. I love trains.
11
What Gus said.
Sorry for the not sleeping well Charles and may the rest of your trip be a good one.
Sorry for the not sleeping well Charles and may the rest of your trip be a good one.
13
Yeah, well...
If I need to be on that same 7:30 train, I absolutely have to be on the bus that leaves Ballard at 6:34, because the next bus is definitely too late.
And I have to pray that it doesn't leave one minute early.
And hope that the Ballard Bridge doesn't go up.
And worry that it will hit extraordinary traffic.
And fret that someone might take 5 minutes just to pay.
And assume that it could get stuck at Elliott & Mercer for 5 minutes.
Or take 15 minutes to crawl through downtown for no apparent reason.
...Any of which increases the chances of not getting to the train in time.
So if I manage to catch that very bus, 56 minutes before my train, I have a 70-80% chance of making the train. No guarantees.
Did I mention that Ballard is less than 6 miles from King Street Station?
Should I point out that Metro's "RapidRide" and the mayor's "rapid streetcar" plans each lack the frequency or the reliability to improve this situation?
Glad you have Link, Charles. Because everywhere else in this city experiences the "potential power" of getting fucked by transit despite your best efforts.
If I need to be on that same 7:30 train, I absolutely have to be on the bus that leaves Ballard at 6:34, because the next bus is definitely too late.
And I have to pray that it doesn't leave one minute early.
And hope that the Ballard Bridge doesn't go up.
And worry that it will hit extraordinary traffic.
And fret that someone might take 5 minutes just to pay.
And assume that it could get stuck at Elliott & Mercer for 5 minutes.
Or take 15 minutes to crawl through downtown for no apparent reason.
...Any of which increases the chances of not getting to the train in time.
So if I manage to catch that very bus, 56 minutes before my train, I have a 70-80% chance of making the train. No guarantees.
Did I mention that Ballard is less than 6 miles from King Street Station?
Should I point out that Metro's "RapidRide" and the mayor's "rapid streetcar" plans each lack the frequency or the reliability to improve this situation?
Glad you have Link, Charles. Because everywhere else in this city experiences the "potential power" of getting fucked by transit despite your best efforts.
16
Just as corporations are not people, neither is "link", Charles.
You should be more thoughtful.
Say, thank you tax payers for subsidizing my lifestyle choice.
You should be more thoughtful.
Say, thank you tax payers for subsidizing my lifestyle choice.
17
@16:
I'm sure he will, just as soon as you get around to thanking taxpayers like myself for the decades of massive road and utility subsidies that have supported your low-density lifestyle and smug sense of entitlement.
I'm sure he will, just as soon as you get around to thanking taxpayers like myself for the decades of massive road and utility subsidies that have supported your low-density lifestyle and smug sense of entitlement.
19
Wow Chuck can take the train all by himself, didnt even need mommy to hold his hand.
It is a Christmas eve Miracle
There is a GOD, and He's American
It is a Christmas eve Miracle
There is a GOD, and He's American
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