On board a VTA bus. Photo by Takashi Matsumoto

My car was in the shop most of this week, so I got a chance to try out our local public transit system, and overall I was reasonably happy with the service, and impressed with improvements since the last time I rode on VTA.

Driving, I can get to work in 40 minutes, or 20 if I’m working odd hours and there’s no traffic. Riding VTA, it took me about an hour and 15 minutes to do the same trip. First I’d walk a few blocks (about 15 min.) to the bus stop. Then wait an average of 5 minutes for the bus to appear, then ride for 57 minutes, according to the official schedule. So that’s twice as long commuting each day, but I could read, or review my work day during the ride; something I can’t do when driving.

Furthermore, that’s a big improvement over the last time I rode the bus. A year or two ago, I thought I’d save the planet a little bit and ride the bus a couple of times a week. Going in normally worked out okay, but coming home was disastrous. One time my bus, which was scheduled 20 minutes apart, didn’t come for 45 minutes. Also, I’d have to transfer from the cross-town route 23 to the local route 17 (If I can remember) to get close to home. With the transfers and missing busses, it could take over two hours to get home.

Now, route 23 has been extended: instead of ending in downtown when going east, it continues out to Alum Rock, getting within walking distance of my house and saving me having to transfer. Also, route 23 now runs every 10 minutes at peak times, and at 20 minute intervals most other times, cutting time spent waiting at the bus stop.

I still wouldn’t look forward to doubling my commute time, but these changes over the last year or so have made the bus a viable option for me when I just can’t drive. Kudos to the VTA for these service improvements!

Most of the Bay Area transit systems are offering free New Year’s Eve service; BART is offering a $6.00 flash pass.

VTA will provide free service on all light rail and bus lines from 7:00 pm Wednesday, December 31 until 3:59 am Thursday, January 1, 2009. VTA will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday and Sunday/Holiday schedule on Thursday.

Caltrain will offer free rides beginning at 11:00 pm on New Year’s Eve. Caltrain is adding three post-midnight, southbound trains that will depart the San Francisco station at 1:00 am, 1:45 am, and 2:15 am. Caltrain does not allow open alcohol containers on trains after 9:00 pm.

On New Year’s Eve, SamTrans will offer free rides beginning at 11:00 pm running until 2:00 am. SamTrans will operate on a regular weekday schedule on Wednesday and a Holiday schedule on Thursday.

BART’s “New Year’s Eve Flash Pass” costs $6.00 and is good for unlimited rides on BART from 6:00 pm Wednesday, December 31, 2008 through 3:00 am Thursday, January 1, 2009. To accommodate New Year’s revelers, service will end around 3:00 a.m. on Thursday, New Year’s Day, including stand-by trains to accommodate crowds throughout the evening. BART runs a Sunday/Holiday schedule on New Year’s Day.