Okay MARTA, I take that back

Fresh from the Big Apple, I owe MARTA an apology.

MARTA isn't nearly as hot down in the tunnels as New York City's Subway. Whew. On a recent business trip, there wasn't an ounce of air moving down under and I thought the financial crisis was going to wipe me out when earlier the same week, Americans witnessed the most insane economic gyrations in perhaps the history of the country.

DC Commute Scene

On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., my big plan to get around was to use Metro. I lived in and around the city from 1984 to 1996. For a short period during those years, I owned a car - and it was just after graduation from college. However, when I made the jump across the Potomac from Arlington to Georgetown, things dramatically changed and so did my perspective about owning a car.

I encountered six auto break-ins within a two-month period and decided to sell my Volkswagon Fox. It was for the best, too. Not only were the break-ins costing my bottom line, I was really broke. At the time, I was working my first newspaper job (as a glorified paper pusher) and while it seemed like decent money at the time, it wasn't nearly enough to live on when you factored in rent, expenses and college loan payments.

Not owning a car changed my perspective. Every trip was planned in advance. If I needed to get to point A, then needed to commute to point B, every detail was considered from carrying groceries home to what time the last Metro train pulled out of the station. It was a great lesson that taught me many things - including how to get your pet to the animal hospital on public transportation, ie: walk.

But a lot has changed since that time. More people live in the city and more people live in the metro area.

So back to my commute on a recent Wednesday earlier in the month.

I slid into the Metro station in Arlington, Va. and went down to wait for the train. What I encountered was absolutely stunning. The Metro cars were about as jammed as metro Atlanta's MARTA and Metro trains run more frequently. Had Washington, D.C.'s metro area grown that much - yes. My brother reminded me when we discussed real estate prices not long after this experience.

So I couldn't hop on to the first Metro train. It was another few until I actually began my commute in to the city's center. 

Lucky for me, I planned to get to my destination early so I could explore and find a latte.

Yes, a lot has changed. It was great to be back.

Turn Up the Air

MARTA is "Smarta" as the old slogan says. But is it really if Atlanta's main publication public transportation does not add new train cars during rush hour travel and consumers are forced to wait at times for the next train?

Economic woes are gripping consumers' wallets. People are turning to MARTA -- and other forms of transportation -- to save on gas costs and they are jamming the trains in Atlanta's sweltering temperatures.

Total ridership in May jumped 13 percent compared with the year earlier, according to MARTA spokeswoman Cara Hodgson. 

While MARTA is lining its own pockets after years of struggling to attract riders, can they at least turn up the air conditioning?

MARTA Car Rage

Apparently MARTA causes "car rage" just like driving around metro Atlanta can.

Southbound MARTA train delays, brought about by a medical emergency heading Southbound from the Lindbergh station on Monday, pushed people to the outer limits of their tempers.

Commuters were jammed on the platform at Midtown. Some had waited for more than a half hour. MARTA announcers constantly updated passengers, citing the medical situation and continuously provided information to riders.

Though MARTA handled the situation well, some of its riders did not. When the first train arrived, people pushed into an already packed train, even though a second was immediately behind.

At Five Points, as people changed trains, the car rage ensued. One passenger began yelling at people, demanding they wait until everyone gets off the train. Then two passengers started cussing each other out. It's the type of behavior we've come to know on highways and roads in metro Atlanta, not the kind you would expect to see on a MARTA car.

Then, another flare up. Just after arriving to the Eastbound platform, riders got a whiff of more yelling. This time, it was just one man holding a bottle in a bag screaming at the top of his lungs, "We're all going to hell."

Maybe so, though we all did our best to ignore this unfortunate and seemingly crazy character.

Unfortunate for the rest of everyone: the rage of rush hour can sit with us long after exiting the last car.

I admit ....

I cheated. My husband flew into town after a very frustrating business trip to Chicago and though it was late and I was in the process of putting our daughter to bed, he begged me to cheat on my Zip Car diet and I was too easily swayed.

I jumped in the car and landed at the airport in less than a half hour. He saved a trip on MARTA, but it cost me in the end.

I also ended up driving my car the five blocks to MARTA Tuesday to Thursday because I couldn’t risk not being able to pick up my daughter on time. Instead of renting Zip Cars the rest of the week, I drove my VW to MARTA and her school (only one mile from my house).

And we paid for it. Although gas prices dropped to a mere $3.88/gallon of regular gas, the total setback was $50. Ouch!

Maybe my husband should have taken a $40 cab from the airport. He could have put the expense toward business purposes on our taxes next year.

This weekend, though, I made up for it. I carpooled with friends to the mountains for a much-needed GWR – or Girl’s Weekend Retreat – in the Ellijay, Ga. area. (I chipped in of course).

And I’ve got a new plan on the horizon. My husband fixed up my bicycle with a child seat and once I test it out, I’ve got my new set of wheels.

Mini Heaven

So this week, there was another bright spot: I loved driving the Mini Cooper and now I want one!

I scheduled a business meeting located off I-85 and Chamblee Tucker Road. MARTA may have its challenges at times, but there’s an upside to this “Low Car Diet” with Zip Car. I just walked out of my office, headed two blocks away to the nearest Zip Cars, where I found my cute Silver Mini Cooper waiting for me. It was so fun but I felt pressured to get to my meeting and didn’t get to figure out all the gadgets. Note to self: next time take car for extra hour-long spin (on my lunch hour of course).

Shiny, Happy, People

On MARTA, you see all walks of life.

Few complained about the homeless man whose off-putting smell stunk up the entire MARTA car during a hot and crammed rush hour earlier this week.

In the city too busy to hate, MARTA is not a disappointment in some ways, though I could do without the odor. In my first week riding MARTA, men regularly gave up their seats for women. I’m not a hyper feminist and chivalry apparently isn’t dead. So I’m reveling in this perk …. I was about to give up hope for MARTA’s future in my life.

I’m just a sleep-deprived mom who needs to sit down. I'm constantly on the go – whether heading to my PR job, shopping at Target, meeting friends (with their kids) or playing with my toddler at the pool. By the end of week one of the Zip Car Low Car Diet, I’m pretty optimistic. I might actually continue doing this commute, though I’m looking forward to crisp, fall weather.

The heat can be unbearable at times (can MARTA turn up the a/c please!!). I think I’m possibly committing to myself that I might do this beyond the diet. My husband will be thrilled about saving the money.

Jammin' on MARTA

While I’m no stranger to public transportation (having commuted regularly in past years), there are too many commuters with the same idea. We’re all trying to beat the pinch of higher gas prices and Atlanta’s worsening commute times.

MARTA is really jammed. When you add a broken down train to the mix, it’s downright stressful. Why am I doing this again?!

On most trips, I had no place to relax and enjoy the ride, take in a book or even people watch. The packed MARTA trains were frustrating.

For my trip, the commute by MARTA only adds 10 extra minutes. But is it worth the hassle? The jury is still out ......

Code Orange

Things definitely became more challenging as the week reached a close. While nothing completely turned me off of this diet and I’m not giving up the challenge, I discovered some ugly realities about Atlanta’s air quality.

I discovered what code orange www.AirNow.gov really means to pedestrians. I’ve been sheltered far too long in my air-conditioned Jetta Station Wagon.

At one point, I thought I was going to choke on bad air. My lungs literally stung when I breathed in the not-so-fresh-air while walking back to the Midtown MARTA station late in the afternoon rush. The stagnant air was drenching to boot. Luckily, by the time I arrived back to Decatur, the fumes were much less overwhelming. Also, lucky for me – my husband picked up our daughter from daycare.

Low Car Diet

Earlier this week, I decided to ditch my car for a month (or at least try) and I joined the Zip Car Low Car Diet. I’ll be taking MARTA, walking and cycling more, and borrowing Zip Cars. For this month-long, self-induced diet, Zip Car is picking up the tab for my MARTA pass and they also offered a certain number of dollar credits to supplement where MARTA does not go.

Diets can pose challenges and this one is no different. I need to pick up my daughter by 6 p.m. from daycare every weekday. For the first day, I reserved a Zip Car just in case until I get the new commute down to a system.

I’m not stranger to public transportation. I used it for years until I moved south.

So my first day on the Zip Car diet went reasonably well. I left the house, walked to MARTA, and got to work ten minutes early. What a great start.