c/commute-confessions

Saw a kid on the subway last week watching a video on a tiny flip phone

Remember when everyone had those clunky phones on the train, and now it's all tablets and AirPods instead. Makes me wonder if that kid was being retro on purpose or if his folks just didn't want to buy him a smartphone.

That time a pigeon stole my sandwich at Union Station

I was standing on the platform waiting for the 8:15 train to New Haven when this absolute menace of a pigeon landed right on my bag, pecked open the wrapper, and flew off with my turkey and swiss. Half the people around me were laughing, the other half were recording it for their Instagram stories. Has anyone else been robbed by wildlife during your morning commute?

Shoutout to the podcast that finally broke my audiobook skepticism

I spent 3 years swearing audiobooks weren't real reading. Then a 45 minute bus ride through Atlanta traffic with a podcast on urban planning made me miss my stop by 4 blocks. Anyone else have a specific episode or series that flipped your opinion on something commute related?

Hit 500 miles on my e-bike commute this morning - is that a lot or not?

I started biking to work in Portland six months ago and today my odometer hit 500 miles exactly. That's about 20 miles a week just going back and forth to the office. For those of you who commute by bike or electric scooter, do you track your miles or does that seem like a pointless number?

I used to think rush hour was just bad luck until I noticed the pattern

For two years I complained about hitting every red light on my 6-mile drive to work. Then last Tuesday in Austin, I timed myself leaving 10 minutes earlier and rolled through six green lights in a row. Has anyone else found a secret pocket of time where traffic just flows better?

The guy who barked at me on the 7:15 train

This dude in a suit got on at 34th Street, looked me dead in the eye, and let out three perfect dog barks before sitting down. Anyone else ever had a stranger do something that weird on their ride?

The hidden back road I found 3 years into my commute

I was stuck on the highway for 45 minutes every morning until I spotted a tiny unmarked gravel road off exit 12. Took a chance and it shaved 20 minutes off my drive and I see maybe 3 cars the whole way. Anyone else stumble onto a random shortcut that just works?

Rant: The day I realized my morning bus stop switch was costing me 30 minutes

Every day for two years I got off at the stop near the coffee shop because I liked the vibe. Last Tuesday a tire blew out on the highway and the whole line got rerouted. I ended up walking 8 blocks in the rain and waiting 20 extra minutes. That's when I finally downloaded the transit app and saw there's a stop one block further that saves me the whole mess. Has anyone else stuck with a worse route just out of habit?

Just realized my buddy's shortcut through the industrial park actually saves 12 minutes

My coworker Jake kept telling me to cut through the industrial park off Highway 63 to avoid the morning backup near the Walmart distribution center. I ignored him for like 6 months thinking he was full of it because Google Maps never showed that route. Last week I tried it on a dare and I got to work in 22 minutes instead of 34. Now I am wondering if I should trust my own driving instincts or just listen to people who actually drive those back roads every day. Has anyone else had a local's advice totally blow your usual commute out of the water or end up being a huge waste of time?

Almost got hit by a cyclist on Market Street last week - now I actually use my turn signals

Made me think, how many close calls have I caused by being lazy with my blinker?

Wasted $45 on that express lane toll pass - total scam in rush hour

Bought one of those FasTrak things for I-75 thinking it would save me 20 minutes each way. Nope. First week it worked okay but now everyone else has one too and the express lane is just as backed up as the regular lanes. Plus they charged my card $3.50 just for the privilege of owning the transponder. Anyone else find these things completely useless or am I just picking the wrong times?

The bus driver who changed my mind about morning people

I used to HATE anyone who was chipper before 9am, thought they were faking it. Then last Tuesday on the 7:15 express bus to downtown, my driver Frank greeted EVERY single person by name as they got on, even remembered my stop from two weeks ago. He said "Morning Diana, hope that job on 5th street went okay" and I realized some people just genuinely care about their day. Has anyone else had a transit worker completely flip your mood around?

Overheard a stranger on the train say something that stuck with me

I was on the 7:15 into the city last week and this guy next to me was on the phone. He said 'people think they need a plan, but what they really need is a direction.' I kept thinking about it the whole ride. Like I spend so much time trying to figure out every step when maybe I just need to pick a lane and go. Has anyone else heard a random conversation that actually made you rethink something?

Finally managed to read a whole book on the subway without missing my stop lol

Three years of trying and last week it finally happened. I was deep into chapter 7 of this mystery novel and somehow my brain just knew when to look up. Right as the doors opened at my station. Felt like a superpower. Has anyone else ever pulled this off or am I just easily distracted?

Wasted $60 on a parking app that double billed me for a month before I noticed

I saw all these people in my city using that ParkMobile app and figured it was easier than feeding meters. I set it up for a garage near my station downtown and used it for about three weeks. Then I got curious and looked at my statement, and it had charged me for two spots at once on three different days. One of them was from a previous session that somehow never closed and kept running. I tried their customer service and they did refund $18 after I argued, but the rest was just gone. So now I keep physical change in my glovebox and only use the app if the lot is card only. Has anyone else gotten stuck with phantom charges from these parking apps?

Had a talk with a bus driver that made me completely change my morning route

I've been taking the 7:15 AM bus for like 2 years now, always hating how packed it gets. Last week the driver actually recognized me and said 'you know the 6:45 runs half empty and gets you downtown 10 minutes faster.' I just assumed the earlier one would be worse but I tried it Monday and he was right. There's only like 12 people on it and I get a seat every time. Now I'm wondering what else I've been doing wrong just out of habit. Has anyone else had a stranger just casually drop wisdom like that?

That one lady who sang opera at the train station every night for 2 weeks

There was this woman in her 60s who'd set up at the 14th Street subway stop around 6:30 PM, right in my exit path. She wasn't busking for money, she just belted out opera arias at full volume (like, windows-rattling loud). One evening she stopped mid-song, grabbed my arm, and said 'you have no idea how much this keeps me going.' I never saw her again after that 14th day. Has anyone else had a random commuter make an impression like that?

Remember when train cars had actual bench seats?

Was on the 7:15 express last Tuesday. Saw a guy sprawled across three plastic bucket seats. Made me think. Three years ago those trains had those long brown bench seats. You could fit five people easy. Now everyone's hunched into their own little pod. I miss the old metal grab bars too. These new rubber coated ones just feel weird. Anyone else miss the pre-reno trains?

Can we talk about the guy who brought a full breakfast on the bus?

So I'm on the 7am route downtown in Austin last Tuesday, right. This dude gets on with a whole plate of scrambled eggs, bacon, and toast, no joke. He sat down and started eating with a fork like it was a restaurant. It took him 15 minutes to finish while the bus was packed and people are dodging his elbows. Has anyone else seen someone treat public transit like a diner?

Bus driver called me out for blocking the back door and I had no idea I was doing it

So I take the 42 bus downtown every morning and I always stand near the back door so I can get off quick at my stop. Last week the driver actually yelled "hey you in the blue coat, stop leaning on the door" in front of like 20 people. I was so embarrassed because I never realized the door has a sensor and my weight was causing it to not close properly. Now I stand by the middle pole instead and honestly the bus moves faster at my stop now. Has anyone else gotten called out by a bus driver for something you didn't even know was a problem?

Wasted $60 on a parking app premium pass that was completely useless

So I fell for one of those parking apps that promised to find me cheap spots in downtown Austin and I paid $60 for their 'premium' pass. Turns out the spots it showed were either already taken or in sketchy lots that charged extra fees anyway. I ended up paying even more for parking on top of the app cost over two weeks before I deleted it. Anyone else get tricked by one of those parking apps that claim to save you money but actually make things worse?

Pro tip: take the local train for a quieter morning read

Ride share driver told me to take a side street to save 10 minutes

Some Lyft driver in Austin last week swore up and down that cutting through Zilker would shave 10 minutes off my trip to the airport. Ended up stuck behind a school bus for 15 minutes and missed my flight check-in by 2 minutes. Anyone else ever take bad advice from a stranger and regret it right away?

Found out my train ride home is exactly 37 songs long

Rant: Took me 2 hours to get home because of one dumb pothole

I hit a pothole on I-95 near Philly last week and it blew out my tire. Sat there for an hour and a half waiting for a tow because three other people hit the same hole and we all needed help at once. Has anyone else had their whole day wrecked by one stupid road defect?