Even with a job I'd rather spend an hour on a train than 35 minutes in LA traffic. (30 minutes... I guess I'd prefer the stress + a little more time for breakfast. But I'd put a 2x multiplier on not having to drive myself)

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rkomorn 3 days ago | parent | next [-]

Having spent lots of time in LA traffic, I'd be surprised if an hour on a train didn't get you significantly farther than 35 minutes in traffic.

Used to take an hour to drive 11 miles down 101 to downtown vs 25 minute on the B line.

	▲	gcanyon 2 days ago \| parent [-]
		Hello, fellow LA traffic sufferer! I used to do the 210 to the 2 to surface streets to Century City, and the 210 to the 118 to the 405 to Santa Monica. There was no transit that was going to tame those beasts :-) but a commuter motorcycle in Los Angeles is a wonderful thing.

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bluGill 4 days ago | parent | prev [-]

Your goal is still being there though, not riding the train. After a few trips you have seen the scenery out the window and just want the trip over with (though maybe you can enjoy the book you are reading most days or whatever you are doing and call it relaxation)

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tensor 4 days ago | parent | next [-]

Reading a book is being productive. You can also write, work, or nap. In contrast driving is the biggest waste of time in a persons life. I feel so strongly about this that I’d accept a vastly smaller house just to minimize time travelling. Second best to that is not driving so that I can make use of my time.

	▲	bluGill 3 days ago \| parent [-]
		What I can't do is start making supper for my family. I can't play games with my family. I can't practice my drums. I can't make chips on my lathe. There is a very long list of things people want to do in life that cannot be done. If what you happen to want to do at the moment is something you can do on transit good for you - but for many they are doing that as a second best because they can't do whatever it is they want to do. Time matters in the above. If your trip is 15-20 minutes time to unwind seems to be universal and so almost nobody really has anything they want to do. If you trip if an hour that is cutting into other things in life. (Note that I didn't mention how you take the trip in this part, people who drive fast the same time concerns for longer trips)

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tim333 3 days ago | parent | prev [-]

I ride the train kind of recreationally. Not just to ride it but to go into town, have a coffee and check the scene, then go back, so basically recreational.

I think a lot of the non rush hour usage is like that.

The train itself is pleasant off peak - table, wifi, I drink coffee and websurf. It's a bit squished in during rush hour though.