Metra's inconsistency makes me want to drive. I can't be the only one?
My family is car-lite. One car. I've been riding Metra for over a year to work and the city for whatnot. Something the entire time has stuck out at me.
I will preface the below with the understanding that I know it's getting better, but that it exists at all is a problem if you support a real workable public transit system.
That said. There's one thing above all others that makes me want to buy a second car and use it. Inconsistency. Let's start with what hits home with the chainlink the most. Bikes.
I can't trust Metra when it comes to bikes. I'm lucky to ride the Rock Island and not have a problem. The conductors are nice. This isn't true across the board though. There's always that idea in the back of my head that I could be denied on a conductor's choice.
I'm ok with the rush hour restrictions. Could they be better? Not having to wait till 7:40 to bring a bike back home. Yes, they could. It's not consistant though. Of course the taste brought this to mind. Bikes are not allowed on the Metra for over a week. If someone were reverse commuting and depended on their bike for the last mile? They are out of luck.
So what's the option? The distances are too great, so you drive. You buy a car and you drive.
Next, the catering to downtown events is ridiculous. Last night I had my bag searched getting on the train after my Python user group meeting. I had an empty glass growler. One I really liked. After arguing and realizing I'm a regular they let me carry it home, but it hammered down an important point. I can't trust taking the Metra. Unless I'm keeping close track of of whatever rules they are deciding to enforce this week.
Except in very very rare cases, I can get on the CTA and expect the same rules day in and out. It's a real transportation system.
What it seems to come down to is that Metra puts a lot of restrictions into place catering to events to make their lives easier. They could have not have searched bags. They could have just enforced rules about unruliness on the trains, just like any other day.
It seems like Metra if for exactly two groups. Commuters obviously. Then tourists. It's not an alternative transportation system.
End rant. :)
All that said, the seats are really comfy.
Views: 1097
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by envane (69 furlongs) on -
James BlackHeron said:As it is now Van Galder doesn't allow bikes except for folders and it's a LONG bus ride from Memorial Union all the way out to the 5500-block of University Ave -and an ever longer wait for a bus to come on that route. By the time I pay for CTA out to O'Hare, VG bus, and Madison Metro Bus both ways I can still drive much cheaper even with $5/gallon gas.
The Van Galder takes bicycles for a $10 fee. I've done it. It also has rides to/from Union Station in addition to O'hare.
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Permalink Reply by burgansbar on
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Cesar, agreed. Wish Metra was a real transportation system. Selective enforcement of rules stems from poor leadership at the mgt level
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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on -
I'm a hug fan of buses and wish there were more BRT systems.
envane x said:The Van Galder takes bicycles for a $10 fee. I've done it. It also has rides to/from Union Station in addition to O'hare.
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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on
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I don't even have issue with selective enforcement. It's the changing of the rules. The inconsistency.
If it's Monday, I want to know what to expect. It's ridiculous that I need to check online because of some tourist event.
They change the rules because it's easier than enforcing the normal rules. It's easier to search bags and get rid of any glass than it is to enforce that people don't be rowdy on the train.
burgansbar said:Cesar, agreed. Wish Metra was a real transportation system. Selective enforcement of rules stems from poor leadership at the mgt level
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Permalink Reply by Pippy Duchamp on -
I'm curious- where do they put bikes on the Van Galder bus? I've ridden it before but never with a bike. Do they put them in the cargo area? Or do they have one of those rack thingies like on the cta?
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Permalink Reply by envane (69 furlongs) on
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They stick 'em in the cargo area. Its pretty convenient, no disassembly required.
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Permalink Reply by Pippy Duchamp on
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Good to know! Thanks!
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Permalink Reply by clp on -
OP reads:
I'm ok with the rush hour restrictions....having to wait till 7:40 to bring a bike back home...If someone were reverse commuting and depended on their bike for the last mile...are out of luck.
Can't believe you're hassling with a bicycle just to ride a mile. Why not just walk the mile? Which would probably take you 20 minutes instead of the 5-10 that biking might. So to save that 10-15 minutes you're dragging along your bike? And criticizing Metra just because they sometimes don't have room for your vehicle in their passenger car?
I use Metra a lot to go to different suburbs to play golf. I never bring a bike; I've got my shoulder bag of clubs to deal with. I think nothing of using Pace when I get off Metra, and then walking as much as 40minutes (2 miles each way) to the golf course. It is normally a very pleasant country walk, away from city streets and traffic.
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Permalink Reply by rb on -
I had some fun with the additional "security" last night. I was 10 min early for the UP N line train, had my folder in a bag and was waiting for the door to open. A very large security guard, got in my face and said "NO BIKES-Do you hear what I am saying?"
I politely told him that my bike was a folder and in a bag and it welcome at all times on all Metra lines.
He again continued to ask me "Do you hear what I am saying?" I just got silent and looked straight ahead. He proceeded to tell me that it was not up to me about bringing a bike, it was the conductor's decision.
Of course when I got on the train first, put my bike out of the way next to the stairs on the restroom side of the car, the conductor punched my ticket. He didn't even blink about the folder.
Due to the rain the Taste crowd was smaller than expected on the UPN, there could have been 4-5 bikes in my car, as it was lightly filled. So no big deal for anyone except for the security guard who really would not leave me alone until I just started ignoring him.
A folder is really the only way to deal with all the inconsistency. The fact is that I don't really like to ride my folders- I prefer a normal sized bike.
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Permalink Reply by Adam "Cezar" Jenkins on
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clp said:
OP reads:
I'm ok with the rush hour restrictions....having to wait till 7:40 to bring a bike back home...If someone were reverse commuting and depended on their bike for the last mile...are out of luck.
Can't believe you're hassling with a bicycle just to ride a mile. Why not just walk the mile? Which would probably take you 20 minutes instead of the 5-10 that biking might. So to save that 10-15 minutes you're dragging along your bike?
I think you misunderstand "last mile". It's a transportation term. See last mile on Wikipedia. For most people, it's most likely four to five miles.
And criticizing Metra just because they sometimes don't have room for your vehicle in their passenger car?
The gist of my point is that I don't have an issue with rush hour restrictions. I have an issue with rules changing.
I use Metra a lot to go to different suburbs to play golf. I never bring a bike; I've got my shoulder bag of clubs to deal with. I think nothing of using Pace when I get off Metra, and then walking as much as 40minutes (2 miles each way) to the golf course. It is normally a very pleasant country walk, away from city streets and traffic.
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Permalink Reply by Daniel G on -
Metra has at least a dozen times as much obligation to carry our bikes as it does your golf bags. Bikes are a crucial part of Chicago's totally inadequate transit infrastructure. If Chicago transit was adequate, bikes would not be be necessary to bridge the wide gaps. But it isn't, and they are. Bikes on Metra is not a privilege, it's something they tie themselves to when they let the CTA turn to shit, cut bus service year after year, and preside over two-hour one-way commute times on the Eisenhower. The bicycle is tied to the commuter in a way his luggage is not. Golf clubs are luggage, and a commuter rail service lugging yours around the city free of charge sounds like a better example of a privilege.
clp said:OP reads:
I'm ok with the rush hour restrictions....having to wait till 7:40 to bring a bike back home...If someone were reverse commuting and depended on their bike for the last mile...are out of luck.
Can't believe you're hassling with a bicycle just to ride a mile. Why not just walk the mile? Which would probably take you 20 minutes instead of the 5-10 that biking might. So to save that 10-15 minutes you're dragging along your bike? And criticizing Metra just because they sometimes don't have room for your vehicle in their passenger car?
I use Metra a lot to go to different suburbs to play golf. I never bring a bike; I've got my shoulder bag of clubs to deal with. I think nothing of using Pace when I get off Metra, and then walking as much as 40minutes (2 miles each way) to the golf course. It is normally a very pleasant country walk, away from city streets and traffic.
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Permalink Reply by Cameron 7.5 mi on -
The trains that were built for that line have bike racks. Hopefully one day soon they'll do more than sit on a siding.
http://fox6now.com/2012/05/22/over-1000-show-support-for-talgo-trai...
James BlackHeron said:+1
I would have loved to have seen this line built. But I fear we couldn't have brought our bikes on this train without being boxed anyhow. It would have been very nice to ride the first/last mile to the stations and taken the train to go take care of my folks in Madison (right on the border of Middleton actually.)
As it is now Van Galder doesn't allow bikes except for folders and it's a LONG bus ride from Memorial Union all the way out to the 5500-block of University Ave -and an ever longer wait for a bus to come on that route. By the time I pay for CTA out to O'Hare, VG bus, and Madison Metro Bus both ways I can still drive much cheaper even with $5/gallon gas. Then again my car has been paid for since 1997 so the costs of ownership have been pretty low.
Anne Alt said:I wish that WI government didn't have its head up its ass about high speed rail. I would love to be able to take Amtrak to Madison. *sigh*
Matt M. said:Headed to Madison-in a car....
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