Unsuck DC Metro: How Boycotting the Metro Changed My Life

randywdc 35p · 703 weeks ago

While I agree with you, I do have a problem with Metro charging by distance with only every other train going from end to end creating longer waits for those going further. I travel red line between Woodley Park and Glenmont. There have been several times that I have had to wait 10+ minutes during the evening rush hour for a train going to Glenmont. The weekends are even worse.

RGG · 703 weeks ago

No worries.....when Metro decides to eliminate the "Peak of the Peak" fare, that'll just become everyone's REGULAR Rush Hour fare. Just watch.

You know how hard it is trying to figure out a round trip fare now? You have to be "spot on" as to when you're riding or you're going to end up either 1) At the Exit Fare machine, or 2) With money left over on your card (Metro's wish, for sure!).

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sizzle · 703 weeks ago

God, I only live 8 miles away from my office in SE DC. What's my excuse for not riding a bike to work?

Oh right, not getting shot on my way to work. Pretty big motivator...not that Metro's much safer.

3 replies · active 703 weeks ago

RGG · 703 weeks ago

There are offices in SE? Wow.....

Sizzle · 703 weeks ago

Yup. The Navy Yard.

Quigley · 703 weeks ago

Navy Yard isn't ghetto by a long shot. Dozens of people commute by bike to that area.

Geode · 703 weeks ago

Chad, I'm ecstatic to hear how you turned lemon into lemonade. As for me, I live out in Maryland so I do not have the option of biking to work everyday, although I desperately wish I could. It also doesn't help that I spend $15/day on metro and parking (equaling to approx. $300/month) yet my work only covers about 2/3 of the cost taking $100 out of pocket every month. It's absurd to think about it, but unfortunately, I'm not as lucky as you...

15 replies · active 651 weeks ago

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MadAsHeck · 703 weeks ago

I have the same issue. I would like to walk/bike/skip, whatever, as long as I wouldn't have to depend on Metro. But for my commute, I don't have any other choice. So recently I have been getting off one stop earlier, and walking.

Gets me some excercise, and Metro loses 15 cents each time I do it. Not much, but it's my way of stickin' it to da man.

@bflosenrab · 703 weeks ago

MadAsHeck - I do the same thing sometimes (getting off one stop earlier). I don't have a choice as I live almost near Annapolis and don't want to drive in, it would take me a lot longer to get to work. But I never take the metro on the weekends if I want to go to DC. I don't feel safe (as a female)

less metro · 703 weeks ago

If you live near Annapolis, try Dillon's Bus Service. They drop off at many different points downtown and pick up in Annapolis at Riva Road (and 2 other places that I can't remember right now...). They have a fare card system that charges per ride by distance and offer discounts if you use it a lot. I liked it a lot, although I only have direct experience with certain times/busses/etc. Just google them and see if that works better. It might be less metro-ing!
FYI for others: they also have service for Columbia to DC and one other, i think. Their site will tell you.

James · 703 weeks ago

Get that Sabre crap outta here!

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Bmore · 703 weeks ago

I live in Maryland too and my fiance and I used to drive all the way to Greenbelt and then into the Dupont area for work. We were spending a combined total of about $450 a month to ride the Metro (fares from/to the end of the line, plus parking), and that's not even including gas. For about a year now, we've just driven the rest of the way into DC and got a monthly pass at a parking garage that cost $215 a month. Yes, we're spending more on gas, but it's still cheaper than the Metro. Traffic is annoying, but at least consistent. With Metro, you never know if you're going to have to stand on the platform at Farrugut North for 30 minutes waiting for a train at rush hour. And for those who say that upkeap, maitenence, blah blah on a car make it more expensive than Metro, we use our car for other things, not just commuting back and forth to work, so not having a car is not a practical option for us. I've been Metro-free for a year now and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

"yet my work only covers about 2/3 of the cost taking $100 out of pocket every month."

Umm, what? I think you're looking at this backwards. Most people would look at your situation and say something like "my employer is paying 2/3 of my commuting expenses every month! As a result I only pay $100 per month in commuting costs!"

Outside of the Federal Government, it's not typical for an employer to pay an employee's expenses. Sounds like you've got a pretty sweet deal.

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DCESQ · 703 weeks ago

Not when the fed gov't pays their employees JACK SQUAT. idiot.

Guest · 703 weeks ago

Huh? What federal agency do you work for? Mine pays the full cost of my Metro commute. It's the only reason I don't get as angry at Metro as I used to.

RGG · 703 weeks ago

Last I heard.......The Feds were paid MORE than their civilian counterparts in similar jobs. I know it didn't used to be this way, but that's what the last media report I heard implied.

And I'm not knocking Feds, I used to be one in the old "not comparable" days.'

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

Whatever. Fed jobs seem cushy to me for a bunch of reasons; here are a few:

1. Better job security than in the private sector
2. Generous vacation and sick leave
3. Healthcare including dental and vision
4. Pension contributions
5. No crazy hours required for most positions
6. Job priority over non-governmental employees when applying for other Fed agency positions
7. And, apparently they pay 2/3 of an employee's transportation expenses.

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KJK · 703 weeks ago

Fed gov't employees for the WIN! Anon5 for the loss!

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

Everything I said is true.

William J. Simmons · 703 weeks ago

You're complaining about the fact that your work covers 2/3 of your commuting cost?!?!?!

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

There's just no pleasing some people.

('That's what Jesus said, sir!")

Telecommuter · 651 weeks ago

My company doesn't reimburse any metro expenses so in order to avoid $300 a month, I've pushed for a better telecommute option and succeeded. Effectively I' ve now been boycotting metro for two years and will continue to do so indefinitely.

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Suck it metro! · 703 weeks ago

Good for you! I had a very similar experience to the one you described that led me to decide no more with WMATA... I refuse to contribute anymore to the broken system and the incompetent crooks who run it. Best decision I ever made. I actually drive (live in Fairfax work in DC) and I still pay less than I did riding metro. Not to mention I am actually making it to work on time (could not count on metro for that).

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F'n JD · 703 weeks ago

Jogging in to work tomorrow from Silver Spring. Take that WMATA.

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This is a GREAT story! One question I have for the author: how did you handle wardrobe issues? How do you bike to work and have clothes there? Is there somewhere you can take a shower at work once you get there?

Also, what did you do on days with horrible rain storms or blizzards?

I also live in Alexandria and have considered biking to my work in Silver Spring but I don't want to be smelly all day after I get there.

Thanks for sharing!

8 replies · active 703 weeks ago

mike · 703 weeks ago

I have the same questions. I have considered biking in from East Falls Church to the Navy Yard area, but not sure how I would keep my clothes from getting wrinkled.

biker x · 703 weeks ago

Can you bring your clothes to work, say over the weekend and then change there? That's what I do.

Do you have somewhere at work to shower? I can't imagine you smell pretty after biking to work in July.

mike · 703 weeks ago

I have access to a shower at work. Sometimes after a sweaty ride in on a train I have thought about using it on those days too.

Bringing my clothes in on the weekend does not appeal to me. I guess I could ride my bike 4 days and bring my clothes in on the one day I don't ride.

k p · 703 weeks ago

I bike to work and when it's hot or wet out, I carry my clothes with me in my bag (I do have to choose fabrics that won't wrinkle too badly, and fold them carefully, and I did have to buy a large messenger bag for my commute so I always have enough space for whatever I need to bring back and forth).

I keep baby wipes, a stick of deodorant and some hair product in my desk to freshen up when I get to work. I also keep my work shoes at work and commute in in flip flops or rain/snow boots (depending on weather) - this is something I did pre-biking, in my metro-riding days.

Totally worth it to get off the metro, IMHO. And I use capital bikeshare - cheap, convenient, and fast.

Jon · 703 weeks ago

I've managed to stay mostly metro-free for a year and a half now. I live south of Alexandria (very close to the Huntington metro), and commute to Metro Center daily. I keep my work clothes at work, and take advantage of the fortunate fact that my building has showers in its basement. Rain isn't really all that bad with a decent raincoat on, though I do sometimes say "meh" and take the train if I'm feeling particularly crummy. What stops me between roughly thanksgiving and valentine's day is cold and ice. That, I find, is just not worth the hassle.

Beyond that, though, I couldn't be happier. I lost 20 pounds, I'm in active control of my vehicle, and I can roll out of bed, get on my bike, and be at work in 45-50 minutes (65-70 including the shower). I get some fun outdoor time every day on the trail by the river, which is just lovely. Sometimes if the weather's good, I'll stop at Gravelley point park and watch the planes take off!

The shower is what makes it all possible, though. If my work didn't have them, I'd have to find a nearby place where I could change. At this point, I'd say that that would be worth the effort for me, but it might be enough to discourage someone who doesn't yet know if they enjoy riding.

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

This is an excellent question.

For me it would be unthinkable to commute to work via bicycle and then proceed to work without first taking a shower. If your commute is long enough to warrant a commute by bicycle, then it is long enough for you to work up a sweat.

The way I see it, there are two groups of people who can plausibly commute to work by cycle:
1. Persons with gym/showers at their office; or persons who cycle to a private gym and shower there, and;
2. Filthy people who don't care enough about personal hygiene, or their co-workers olfactory senses to bathe before work.

Tara · 703 weeks ago

Having showers at work or at a gym is certainly helpful, but most people can commute by bike without one. It really depends on how long your commute is and the weather. If it's the middle of August, then yes, you're going to get disgustingly sweaty and should shower/change. If it's not (like the beautiful weather we're having now), if you bike just a little slower, you can significantly cut down on your sweating. Millions of Europeans bike to work in their work clothes, so it can be done. (Though I understand that they've got the infrastructure and are generally going shorter distances than Americans.)

Anyway, if you're motivated to bike to work, there are a ton of resources out there on the web to help you figure out how to do it and what you need. It's surprisingly little.

Soylent Green Line · 703 weeks ago

Can we talk about how the URL www.unsuckdcmetro.com (minus the blogspot.com - which I just forgot to type) now directs users to www.wmata.com?

This is weird. There used to be some other site, but now it's Metro's official home page?

6 replies · active 703 weeks ago

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What's there to talk about? Someone (Metro or otherwise) bought the URL and pointed it there. There's been a whole article about this... who cares? Go buy unsuckdcmetro.net or .info or .org and point it here if it bothers you so much.

Soylent Green Line · 703 weeks ago

It doesn't bother me you crazy person. I hadn't noticed it before, apparently I missed the post (can you link to it, or are you too upset?).

Furthermore, why would WMATA buy the URL and then point it at their own site? They could have just made it a blank screen or something, but instead they point it at their own page?

Because that makes sense. To crazy people.

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=site%3Awashingtonpost.com+un...

Soylent Green Line · 703 weeks ago

Haha, well played sir.

F'n JD · 703 weeks ago

I reported that via twitter a month or so ago. Dan Stessel's got chops.

Soylent Green Line · 703 weeks ago

Damn you kids and your Twitter!

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@DCAutoGeek · 703 weeks ago

I'm hellbent on finding a job that will allow a 5 day a week telework schedule. My personal view, as an avid automotive blogger and car nut, we (the collective society) should be focused less so on how to make commuting easier/greener/cheaper and more focused on "Why in the hell do we commute?" Think about it, you can walk around on your laptop and talk to anyone in the world face-to-face. Why do I need to "report in" to work to sit in a cubicle?

9 replies · active 703 weeks ago

AMEN!

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Oh... unless you work in a service industry job like retail, restaurants, transportation, or public safety.... which is probably a rather heavy number of people.

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Calabria · 703 weeks ago

Yes, I'm an RN, so I can't exactly telecommute. I commute to work 3 days per week... and (usually) on at least 2 of the 3 days, there are delays SOMEWHERE on my journey. Unacceptable, given that lateness is not tolerated for my line of work, especially when lives are on the line. I'm seriously considering buying a car next year.

Who the F thumbed down this comment? Are you saying people who HAVE to go to another place to work don't? Please... I'd love to hear how you think people like Calabria below are supposed to telecommute to the hospital. "Now, take the IV and insert it into your wrist..." - I don't think so.

Happy Tuesday · 703 weeks ago

@@DCAutoGeek

Your statement on why do we commute is correct, in that it is possible to communicate with anyone anywhere in the world with technology the way it is. I agree, and often telecommute on Friday's.

However, the pro's of telecommuting, and it becoming common occurance for all of working American's, I feel, doesnt outweight the con's that would arise if telecommuting becomes more wide spread. I'm not interested in talking politics or economics as it's still a little too early, but my thinking is that it could have a profound economic effect on certain aspects of a community that rely on workers who visit/use establishments/transportation. Think if tomorrow, 30% of the people stopped riding metro because they were telecommuting..

Anywho, good luck finding a 5 day a week telecommute job!! Hope it works out for you!

horseydeucey · 703 weeks ago

" Think if tomorrow, 30% of the people stopped riding metro because they were telecommuting.."
I tried... got nothing... so nu? What happen if 3 out of ten stopped riding metro in your opinion?
I'm genuinely curious what finishes that thought.

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Happy Thursday · 703 weeks ago

Ok. Dick. Let me ask you something: Was yesterday just a bad day or do you always have your panties in a wad?

I think its cute that you think of 30% in terms of 3 out of 10. Really, that is the way I learned it in 1st grade too, so I can see where youre coming from. With that said, let me use big boy math to explain what I was talking about:

30% = 3/10 Correct
But, what about 30% of the average number of metro riders on a given weekday?

30% of 700,000 (I rounded down for you) = 210,000 people a day
210,000(5) *Passengers not riding(days in a work week)= 1,050,000
That's 1 MILLION people not taking metro in a given week. Think that would hurt the bottom line a little?

Secondly, those 210,000 people not traveling into DC (or DC area) each day to work, also arent spending money in the local economy buying lunch/coffee/whatever the hell else.

That was my point. Dick.

horseydeucey · 703 weeks ago

I'm sorry I asked you to elucidate. Are you not capable of turning psychotic when asked a question? It was asked in all seriousness.

And because I have empathy for your plight, and am adept at cross-cultural communications, I'll save you some time by translating the above words for you into something more your speed:
Fuck your mother, cunt.

If your internet posts represent even one tenth (or, 10%) of how you live life, I pity you.

Elizabeth · 703 weeks ago

Yeah...except for people like me who work in child care... kind of important to be there in PERSON to guide 2 and 3 year olds...especially when it comes to diapering/pottying...

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anon · 703 weeks ago

I've cut my Metro usage by 80%. I bike three days, and telecommute another. Today, was my Metro day, and it again reminded me about why I avoid it.

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Shaker&Mover · 703 weeks ago

Like another commenter, I moved closer to work based solely on Metro's constant delays and unreliability. I now walk 15 minutes to/from work and take Capital Bikeshare to get around the city to avoid Metro at all costs...

Metro turned into my primary mode of transportation to my last ditch effort to get around. I would much rather pay $10 for a cab than $3 for Metro and wait 35 minutes for a train...

Alex · 703 weeks ago

I have cut out my Metro usage by 100%. I Bike to work 5 days a week
22 miles a day and take CaBi in DC or walk. I will use any method other than the Metro
when i did take metro i found myself in a bad mood almost every morning and would dread the evening commute home. it was often depressing and metro trains unreliable.

I am now happier and healthier and continue to ride even in the rain and dark.

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Katie · 703 weeks ago

We got a parking pass close to our offices and are paying about $100 less per month than we were for daily Metro rides and Metro parking. We don't leave any earlier, and we actually get to work on time. The Metro was becoming a constant source of stress and anxiety, and now we have peaceful rides into work complete with air conditioning! I am all for public transportation in most cases, but the Metro is not worth $10 a day.

Happy Tuesday · 703 weeks ago

I have often thought about biking to work, but as one commenter mentioned above, not sure what I would do with my sweatyness/stinkyness once I got there. I dont have too many problems with Metro as I simply hop on the yellow line from Crystal City to GP-Chinatown, and there isnt much they can screw up between here and there.

I have only been in DC a little over a year and a half, so I am sure that as time goes on, I will most likely have encounters with metro and/or its employees that will no doubt change my view.

Has there ever been an well organized, official "Boycot Metro Day?" I mean one in which the vast majority of metro riders purposefully dont ride metro so as to show them how f'd they would be without us?

Would anyone be interested in trying to put one together? I'm all ears!

nick · 703 weeks ago

I really hate paying metro $167 a month for my WFC-McPherson commute. However, I have to live the 11.2 miles away or so because my wife commutes in the opposite direction. I suppose I could bike that distance, but it would probably (assuming no delays on metro, lol) take longer and I'd be sweaty.

However, even with the delays, I don't think its TOO terrible. I am now accustomed to having 1 out of 10 of my weekly treks being double the 20 minutes it should be, on a normal week. Bad week, 2/10, really bad week, 3/10. It's definitely cheaper than me acquiring a car, with payments/insurance/gas/parking (unless the car was extremely cheap).

But when I leave DC in 2013 I will never have to deal with this region's horrible congestion and failing public transportation ever again. Win

1 reply · active 703 weeks ago

Jon · 703 weeks ago

It would take longer, especially at first, but not nearly by as much as you might think. I live 10.5 miles away from DC myself. When I started biking, metro would beat me by about 10 minutes or so, on average. These days it's more like 3-5, when waiting for the train is taken into account.

And of course if there's any delay at all, the bike wins.

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task · 703 weeks ago

I'm annoyed with WMATA like the rest, but it's not their fault that people choose to live obscenely far away from work or vice versa.

6 replies · active 703 weeks ago

Happy Tuesday · 703 weeks ago

Well, its also not the fault of the people that "choose" to live obscenely far away from work.

Are you aware of what a one bedroom apartment goes for at any half decent complex inside the beltway? Add $150-$200 a month to that if you want to be anywhere near a metro stop. Add another $150 if half decent (which only means you can expect not to be mugged in broad daylight) isnt quite as safe as you would prefer, thus going for a safer area. Add another $200 if you want to live in a building built after 1975. My point is, at $1600-$1700+ for only a one bedroom, nevermind if you actually have a family and require more than 500sqft, people are forced to "choose" between living further from work or not being able to eat.

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task · 703 weeks ago

Then don't live in DC. Or I guess we could just keep blaming WMATA for an economy that both raises city rents and forces people to take crappy jobs.

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James · 703 weeks ago

How about we just blame WMATA for obscenely high prices and shitty service and leave it at that?

Happy Tuesday · 703 weeks ago

The economy has nothing, notta, zilch to do with the rent inside the beltway. And I didnt say DC, I said inside the beltway, all the way around the beltway.

Why are you sticking up for Metro? Dan?

@VeggieTart · 703 weeks ago

I might also add that in this economic climate, people might have to take a job that's not near their homes so they can afford to live. I would love to live closer to work and be able to walk or bike, but that's not an option. So I grit my teeth and ride a couple of buses, which are somehow more reliable (usually) than the trains and get me to work in a fairly decent amount of time.

task · 703 weeks ago

And I grit my teeth and ride Metro, because personally (and for most people in my demographic) even with its faults and in terms of time, money and stress, it's cheaper than owning a car or biking to work.

If I can't afford to city rents and I'm spending what I consider too much time/money/stress to get to work, I look at moving, working elsewhere, or changing cities.

WMATA is just another method of transportation. I doubt people would be like "fuck yeah, OP!" if he wrote some manifesto about how he switched from biking to running. Because nobody gives a shit.

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· 703 weeks ago

By extending to dulles (now there's even talk of extending to PW county) metro is catering to sprawl.

who comes up with these ideas?

1 reply · active 703 weeks ago

http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/sep/27/geral...

dumb and dumber · 703 weeks ago

Anon · 703 weeks ago

I used to drive to Springfield or Vienna (depending on traffic/class schedule), park, and take the Metro to Foggy Bottom. When commuting from Springfield (more pleasant driving and convenient for work/class schedule in Alexandria), I was paying about $15/day ($5.15 in/out plus $4.50 to park). On days I had class, it was $5.15 in, rush hour fare to King Street and regular fare from King Street to Springfield, plus parking. It took me 45 minutes to get from Centreville to Vienna or 30 minutes to get from Centreville to Springfield, plus an average of 45 minutes to get in from the end of the line to FB. So $15ish (plus gas) and 90 minutes.

I now drive through the Park and Ride lot on Old Keene Mill Road, pick up two slugs going to FB or Pentagon and take the HOV lanes into the city. It takes about 45-60 minutes each way and it costs be $12 (plus gas) to park at my office. I'll move closer in eventually when I can afford it and maybe give biking a try, but for right now, this is a no-brainer. (My bike ride would be 26 miles each way so... not going to happen.)

Anon · 703 weeks ago

Oh, and in response to some of the comments regarding showering:

I work at GWU and we have our own gym, so that makes it easy, but faculty and staff still have to join the gym to use the facilities. GWU is working on a plan (should be up in the spring) where the shower facilities are made available for free to those who register as commuter walkers/runners/bikers so that they can clean up before work. GWU is a special case, but it might be something to approach someone at your office (supervisor, PR, HR) and see about setting up a similar situation with a local gym or fitness club as part of a healthy initiative for employees.

Steve · 703 weeks ago

I complete agree with the writer of this post! I travel on the Red Line and pay $10+ a day. With all the delays, escalator break-downs and other metro issues, I make it my goal to try and avoid the metro even if it will cost me a few dollars more (using my car). I rather spend $13 dollars on gas a day and listen to my music. I do have to face the DC traffic, but the DC traffic is more reliable than the metro.

5 replies · active 703 weeks ago

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

$13 on gas PER DAY? $13 is more than what it would cost me to drive from Hagerstown to DC, and back (140 miles total).

Where are you commuting from, exactly, and what kind of car do you have?

SJ88 · 703 weeks ago

i commute from west virginia and drive a friggin tank. you must drive around in a moped.

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

I have a 2010 Volkswagen Golf, turbo diesel. It offers the best fuel economy of any real (non-hybrid) car sold today. 48-50 mpg on the highway is typical. It also has 240 lb-ft of torque- more than a 2011 Ford Ranger pickup or a 2011 Cadillac CTS.

I even got a fat $1300 Federal tax credit for buying a fuel-efficient car.

James · 703 weeks ago

WTF are you, a car salesman? hahaha. Thanks for going to your car and typing out the manual for us.

Anon5 · 703 weeks ago

Nah, I just like cars, working on cars, and VWs in particular.
I've been a VW enthusiast for 13 years and I know my car inside and out.

I know how to do things like replace the shocks/struts/springs, replace and flushing brakes, replace o2 sensors, replace ignition coil, spark plug wires, dist cap and rotor, replace valve cover gasket, drain coolant and replace, replace power window motors and regulators, replace parking brake cables, etc etc.

About the only maintenance I haven't done is replace the clutch and change the head gasket.

Kara · 703 weeks ago

I do not have the option of biking to work, much as I would like too. What I do is walk home if it is good weather and I am in no huge hurry that evening.

@deafinthecity · 703 weeks ago

I live in Alexandria and right by the Mt. Vernon Trail. Would love to bike to work but I'm waiting for Capital Bikeshare to come to old town so I don't have to shell out for a bike.

2 replies · active 703 weeks ago

Jon · 703 weeks ago

Is that supposed to be happening soon?

DCRider · 703 weeks ago

You're shelling out more over time for bike share than if you get a good bike and actually use it.

Caity · 703 weeks ago

yup, I bought a bike. will only ride metro in inclement weather, but once I'm more comfortable on it, I'm sure some drizzle won't stop me. It's exciting. Cut my travel time in half, getting exercise, and just knowing my commute is in my control is a wonderful feeling.

washingtondcmetro 20p · 703 weeks ago

Does living far from the city really save money?

I can understand people who grew up in the suburbs or exurbs (or moved there years ago) deciding to 'grin and bear it' (the commute) -- they might have family in the area, kids in school, ties to the community, etc -- what I really don't understand are people who take a job in the D.C. area and then buy or rent a place in say Frederick County, MD, or points north and west --Washington County, MD, or even PA or WV, knowing they are going to have an epic 3 to 4+ hour round-trip commute every day. That's insanity. They may think they're saving money, but by the time one figures the cost of commuting, not to mention whatever value they place on their time away from their spouse and/or family, and the stress and risk involved, there's just no way it's worth it. Not even close. Most people apparently do not value their time much at all (unless they are at work, then of course they want to be paid for every minute) and they think the cost of driving is just the cost of gas. That's not even half of the cost! The April 2011 CR Auto Issue lists the cost per mile of a range of cars. The _cheapest_ is the Honda Fit at $0.44/mile. The most expensive is the BMW 750Li @ $1.81/mile! An ordinary Chevy Impala is $0.69/mile. That's for the first 5 years when there is a lot of depreciation, so it's possible that the cost/mile would go down some if a person kept their car until it had say 250K miles on it. Then again, while older cars don't depreciate as much as new cars they need more repairs and maintenance. In any case, let's say it's $0.50/mile (IIRC, that's about what the IRS allows in some cases). For many people who live in outlying areas, it's common to drive 100 miles per day. 100 miles a day = $50 per day! With 22 work days per month that's $1,100 per month -- in after tax money. It's even more if they ride Metro, which can easily cost $12-$14+ per day for parking and a round-trip ride. So that "cheap" house or apartment miles from the city isn't so cheap after all. $1,100 after taxes is the equivalent of at least $1,500 before taxes. That means that if a homeowner has a newer mortgage that is almost entirely deductible interest, they could afford to spend $1,500 more per month for a house near where they work! $1,500/month!! A renter would have $1,100 extra per month. That is counting _nothing_ for their time. Nothing for the reduced stress, aggravation, and risk to their life of commuting.

Something to think about.

1 reply · active 703 weeks ago

DCRider · 703 weeks ago

I put an enormous amount of value of not having to live in Washington DC. Yes, I might have a longer commute, but I'm a hell of a lot happier living where I do.

varun · 703 weeks ago

Thanks for posting this Mr. U - I'm really glad to hear that I'm not the only one who has given up Metro happily. While I don't think I'm in shape to bike to work yet, my girlfriend and I found a garage in NW that cost $129/month. Given we live in place where the car was inevitable, and we were paying $380 (after work subsidy) for the privilege of riding Metro, we switched to driving in together - and we've been offering our friends and colleagues who live near us a free ride in or out. It's been one of the better decisions we've made and though the car we currently have has lower per-passenger mile emissions than the Metro at peak, we're looking to go even better with our next car. And because we're no longer spending that extra ($380 Metro - $130 Garage - $120 Gas=) $130, we can put that much extra towards a better, lower emission car - maybe even all electric.

@SchuminWeb · 702 weeks ago

Thought I recognized that photo from somewhere. Can I get a photo credit, please?

lavonda · 702 weeks ago

I hate metro for non of the above reasons and find this site inspiring to know that people are taking a stand against WMATA