Getting used to having my own car again has felt weird each morning and evening when I drive it. There's some guilt when I see the Durham Transit 922 bus, but then I feel vindicated when I cross paths with the Durham Transit 411 bus and notice it's running late. I thought I could stop caring. But I can't.
It's only been a week, but on average, it has taken me 18 minutes to get to the GO station each morning. I leave the house 20 minutes later than when I left for when I took the bus (two buses because there's a transfer). So I can sleep 20 minutes longer (and I have ... and it's glorious). It doesn't sound like much, but I'm not waiting for a bus that may, or may not, be on time, which was the reason for breaking down and buying a car.
Parking at Oshawa GO has not been an issue because my car is so ridiculously small. I can easily find a spot next to a parking donkey with a pickup truck who has left no room beside it and the vehicle one over from it for a sedan or larger. I fit. I've been scoring some premium parking spots.
I've been averaging 25 minutes to get home (some days, exiting Oshawa's parking lot is a breeze, and other days, it's a nightmare) compared to 30 minutes on the GO bus and a 20-minute walk, because I am unable to use the same bus sequence with Durham Transit I would take in the morning for the evening bus ride home. In total, I'm getting back over an hour of my time every day by driving.
There are pros and cons to this decision I've made. So far, the pros are outweighing the cons. It's still early. I'll get back to you on this in six months...
1 comment:
Ajax isn't as bad getting out in the evening - as long as you take any train up to the 4.40 or after 5.35. The ones snugged in this time frame makes getting home a huge burden.
Not a problem in the morning getting to the station and getting a parking spot, but I normally catch that first express train. The best thing is that I can leave my house anytime up to 6am and get there will plenty of time before the obnoxious women get to the platform and hog the whole thing.
And it beats having to race out the door by 5.50am on Monday mornings because that one day is the one day the bus was perpetually early by 7 mins.
Getting home is different. Normally catch the 4.10 or 4.40. I can get home in 15-20 mins (I can walk it in 25-30). But it has taken me over 45mins to do the same drive if I catch the 5 or 5.15 train. Not worth it.
Another plus for driving (which I learnt this past summer) is that you have your vehicle at the station and are not reliant on the bus schedule. When there are delays (like last summer) you would have to wait until a bus came. No more.
How I justified it was: My time is valuable. Is it worth driving and saving that time for me? Yes.
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