I tried the bus for a month after years on the train and it's not even close

Everyone on my route says the 7:15 train is the only way to get downtown, but I gave the number 42 bus a real shot for 30 days. The bus costs $2.50 a trip versus the train's $5.75, but the train is 22 minutes faster and I never got stuck in traffic. The bus was late three times last week alone, once by a full 15 minutes. I saved money but lost over an hour of my week just waiting around. For a reliable schedule, the train wins every time. Has anyone else switched back after trying to save cash?

3 comments

3 Comments

oliver_anderson2mo ago

So you paid half price to be a part-time traffic watcher? Sounds like a great deal.

jesse2902mo ago

The real cost is in the small daily stress. That 15 minute late bus means you miss your morning coffee stop, or you have to explain being late to your boss. The train might cost more, but you can actually read a book or close your eyes instead of watching traffic lights. I tried the bus for two weeks and my whole morning routine was messed up because I could never trust it. Saving cash doesn't help if you start every day already annoyed.

owens.nancy1mo agoMost Upvoted

@oliver_anderson nailed it with that part-time traffic watcher line lmao. It's crazy how we normalize buying cheap stuff that just stresses us out more. Like people bragging about a cheap phone that crashes all day, or cheap shoes that hurt your feet. You're paying with your mood and energy, which is way harder to replace than a few dollars lol. Eventually you realize the real cost isn't the ticket price, it's the little daily friction that builds up until you hate your whole routine.