The pandemic changed a lot. And now that life is returning to its new normal, I’m returning to
old behaviors, like public transportation. Yes, yes. I’m one of those who stopped riding the buses
and trains when Covid turned the world upside down. For the first time in a few years, I am back
to walking through the turnstiles and boarding our public transportation in the San Francisco Bay
Area. And, now that I’m back on board figuratively and literally, it’s worth bringing up the
plusses and minuses, for anyone who’s on the fence.

Fewer Passengers

Because of the pandemic, public transportation ridership went down, and the numbers on the
trains have never fully returned to what they were pre-COVID. This isn’t a bad thing for the
commuter. In fact, I’d say this is a bonus. I have been on our streetcar sniffing armpits and
being elbowed in the back more times than I can count. Crowding hasn’t been an issue in recent
times. It’s also quite nice to step aboard a train and have a decent shot of getting a seat. I can’t
complain!

Adventure

While adults use public transportation as a means to get from one place to another, children view
this experience as an adventure. Both of my young boys LOVE to ride the train to their dental
appointments in downtown San Francisco. Everything about the experience is enthralling to
them. They love walking through the turnstiles, stepping aboard the vehicle, choosing their seat,
and observing the world pass by as we zoom through tunnels.

Cost

Public transportation is an important and convenient way to get around cities and towns, and it's
often cheaper than taking a car. You don’t have to pay the fees of the parking garage, and you
don’t have to cover the cost of tolls.

Sporting Events, City Excursions

Buses, streetcars, and trains are my preferred mode of transportation for excursions into city
centers, mostly because it cuts down on cost and wasted time in traffic and parking. If I plan to
do retail shopping in downtown San Francisco, I prefer to have a car, where I can unload my
items and not be burdened hauling them from one place to the next. I prefer public
transportation when attending sporting events: I can get to the main doors of the arenas without
the hassle of parking and walking long distances. Using public transportation during
the day is to be considered safe when travelling with children but I’m not a big fan of taking buses or trains at night with them. Happily we have all our kid-friendly-venue destinations timed for the optimum sunshine hours.
One of the greatest competitors to public transportation are citizen taxis, such as Uber and Lyft.
While these services fill a need in society, they aren’t always the best solution for transportation.
The fees are super-high, you must still contend with traffic, and you are also putting trust in a
stranger behind the wheel. Trains and buses are much safer and more predictable means of
travel.

Speed

Traffic can be a beast, and because of its unpredictability, it’s difficult to plan a trip around this
factor. How much time should be allowed for a trip? What if there is an accident on the freeway
or bridge? Public transportation helps ease the stress by taking the guesswork out of the
equation. Provided the train doesn’t break down or there’s some other setback, a person can
gauge the time to get from one place to another quite predictably.

Hygiene and Smells

I don’t know if my sense of smell increased in the last couple years or if there are more people
eliminating themselves in the streetcar stations, but WOW, it stinks. I also notice more zombie-
like drug addicts loitering about. Perhaps increased foot traffic diluted out the smells and visuals
of the underworld, but now they are on full display. I can put on my blinders, but shielding my
children from this is much more difficult. The smells in the stairwells and along the walls of the
streetcar lines is pungent. I know there is no easy fix for this other than to either avoid it or to
breathe through one’s mouth. Children will need to be reminded not to touch anything nor lean
up against the walls. At least, not in San Francisco.

Crime Awareness

Crime is rampant these days. If using public transportation to do some retail therapy, please be
aware that you are being watched. On our transbay public transportation, thieves will be waiting
for the perfect opportunity to snatch any -or all- of your belongings. It’s tough times out there,
and there are no repercussions for these crimes. Please be aware that fare evaders are
everywhere as well. During my simple trip on public transportation to the city center, I witnessed
multiple people jumping the turnstiles to avoid paying for their ride. And where were they
going? They certainly did not look like they were heading to work. During my brief train ride, I
saw multiple characters walking train car to train car, when there were plenty of seats. What
were they looking for? Who knows. But it’s best to be on guard. If traveling with children,
keep your belongings close to your body and do not leave anything of value on display.

Laura D