Today, I am on the West Cost Express traveling to Fairmont Airport for a two day meeting with the UBCM . Today is an example how the transit system works. So, here is the rundown of my commute.
Leave Port Coquitlam at 7:00 am on WestCoast Express, 7:35 Canada Line to Richmond Airport (so far so good). Meetings from 8:30 – 11:30. Back on the Canada Line to Vancouver transfer to the Expo Line to ride to Metro Vancouver office (Metrotown) for an Intergovernmental Committee meeting at 12:30. At 2:30 I'm back on the Expo Line to Canada Line to YVR for UBCM meetings from 4:30 – 9:00 pm. A full day!
Tomorrow, I have meetings until 12:00 pm, and then I jump on the Canada Line, Expo Line, and Millennium Line to the Braid Station. They I jump on the 159 bus, I will be back in my office at City Hall at 2 pm.
The cost is also a good reason to take transit. My total cost will be about $15 for both days. However, if I was to drive the cost would be about $71, this does not include the depreciation of my vehicle. Of course there are environmental benefits.
This blog is not meant to brag about taking transit, it is to demonstrate that with a little thought, planning and extra time the transit system works. In my opinion, the major drawback is the amount of time transit takes. For example, when I commute from Richmond to Burnaby it will take me about one hour; however, by car it would take less than 30 minutes. But the other side of the coin is when on transit I can work at the same time, use the phone, computer and email. The car is a waste of time, especially now that you can not use your phone.
The debate between the freedom of a car and the cost effectiveness of transit will continue forever, or at least until there are no options. For those of us that live in the suburbs, a car is a necessary evil. The transit system is adequate but not effective enough for most people to be car free. We have come a long way over the years but we have a long way to go. The Evergreen Line is the first step to making transit a viable option; we need to continue to keep the pressure up on TransLink and the Provincial government.
As a transit bonus, there is great people watching and listening, which provides some comic relief at no extra cost.
