Tim here... How goes it everyone..?
By "preparing for law school," I more closely mean "figuring out the best way to commute to downtown Baltimore while considering parking fees, gasoline, valuable time, safety, etc." So, on this rainy, melancholy day, I decided to try the Light Rail. For those unfamiliar with public transit mechanisms, Light Rail is basically a subway above ground. Like cable cars but faster?? I don't know... Anyway, I drove 15 minutes to the airport (BWI), the nearest Light Rail station to our house. As soon as I exited the car, I saw the train approaching. Should I rush through the large drops of windy rain, leaving my book bag and umbrella and try to make it before the doors slam on and embarrass me? Nah. I'll just catch the next one because surely it'll be here soon. After all, I don't feel like getting wet, and today is just a trial run.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER....!!!! ..the next train approaches. I'm kicking myself for not rushing to the previous train. I've now spent 45 minutes on my commute and I'm not even halfway to my destination. Had I driven, I would have been there in under 30. Okay, that's fine. NOT gonna lose my patience yet. Mind you, I was thinking all along that the trip to my stop (University Center/Baltimore Street) would take no more than 15 minutes. I'm used to my route in DC that took me from Union Station to Dupont Circle- five minutes. So, it turns out, my route from BWI to University Center takes a standard, whopping THIRTY-TWO MINUTES. No way, Jose. There's no point in this. I finally make it to my stop, after 32 minutes of dodging rain drops falling from the stellar ceiling above. Now I must walk to my building. No trouble there. I enjoyed not having to drive through downtown traffic and hopelessly find a parking spot, then resort to paying $8 in a parking garage. Never mind the fact that the 10 minute walk to the school brought my one-way commute to a striking one hour and twenty-seven minutes. (pardon me while this thought and the germs from the train make me vomit)
So I did my business at the university, dodging the tourists, homeless people, doctors, nurses and other professionals to drop off some paperwork at the Law School. Now I'm headed back to the Light Rail station, having no idea when the next train will show up. But I'm in luck this time! As soon as I turn the corner of Baltimore and S Howard, the train met me at a slow speed coming to a stop just 10 feet ahead. YES! I get to cut down 30 minutes of wait time on my way home!
WRONG. I mistakenly got on the wrong train - the route which bypasses BWI altogether - and found myself in Glenn Burnie, staring at the map and reflecting how stupid I am. Who knew that two different routes went through my station?? Well, apparently everyone but me. What happens next? You guessed it. Thirty minutes of waiting, sitting in my seat until the train took off in the opposite direction. After two stops I deboard, wait 10 minutes for the BWI train, board, spend 10 minutes en route, then finally reach my car. Fifteen minutes later, I round off a return trip which was supposed to beat the first trip but instead lasted an hour and forty-five mintues, 18 minutes longer.
Suffice it to say that beginning Aug 22nd, I'm leaning towards driving to class.
By "preparing for law school," I more closely mean "figuring out the best way to commute to downtown Baltimore while considering parking fees, gasoline, valuable time, safety, etc." So, on this rainy, melancholy day, I decided to try the Light Rail. For those unfamiliar with public transit mechanisms, Light Rail is basically a subway above ground. Like cable cars but faster?? I don't know... Anyway, I drove 15 minutes to the airport (BWI), the nearest Light Rail station to our house. As soon as I exited the car, I saw the train approaching. Should I rush through the large drops of windy rain, leaving my book bag and umbrella and try to make it before the doors slam on and embarrass me? Nah. I'll just catch the next one because surely it'll be here soon. After all, I don't feel like getting wet, and today is just a trial run.
THIRTY MINUTES LATER....!!!! ..the next train approaches. I'm kicking myself for not rushing to the previous train. I've now spent 45 minutes on my commute and I'm not even halfway to my destination. Had I driven, I would have been there in under 30. Okay, that's fine. NOT gonna lose my patience yet. Mind you, I was thinking all along that the trip to my stop (University Center/Baltimore Street) would take no more than 15 minutes. I'm used to my route in DC that took me from Union Station to Dupont Circle- five minutes. So, it turns out, my route from BWI to University Center takes a standard, whopping THIRTY-TWO MINUTES. No way, Jose. There's no point in this. I finally make it to my stop, after 32 minutes of dodging rain drops falling from the stellar ceiling above. Now I must walk to my building. No trouble there. I enjoyed not having to drive through downtown traffic and hopelessly find a parking spot, then resort to paying $8 in a parking garage. Never mind the fact that the 10 minute walk to the school brought my one-way commute to a striking one hour and twenty-seven minutes. (pardon me while this thought and the germs from the train make me vomit)
So I did my business at the university, dodging the tourists, homeless people, doctors, nurses and other professionals to drop off some paperwork at the Law School. Now I'm headed back to the Light Rail station, having no idea when the next train will show up. But I'm in luck this time! As soon as I turn the corner of Baltimore and S Howard, the train met me at a slow speed coming to a stop just 10 feet ahead. YES! I get to cut down 30 minutes of wait time on my way home!
WRONG. I mistakenly got on the wrong train - the route which bypasses BWI altogether - and found myself in Glenn Burnie, staring at the map and reflecting how stupid I am. Who knew that two different routes went through my station?? Well, apparently everyone but me. What happens next? You guessed it. Thirty minutes of waiting, sitting in my seat until the train took off in the opposite direction. After two stops I deboard, wait 10 minutes for the BWI train, board, spend 10 minutes en route, then finally reach my car. Fifteen minutes later, I round off a return trip which was supposed to beat the first trip but instead lasted an hour and forty-five mintues, 18 minutes longer.
Suffice it to say that beginning Aug 22nd, I'm leaning towards driving to class.
Why did I read this? Too much math, too much chaos!
ReplyDeleteWhich is why I'll be driving!!!
ReplyDelete