I always preferred to take Amtrak from Milwaukee to home on college breaks over taking the bus. I'd usually get on the tail end of the Seattle-Chicago run (Milwaukee was the last stop before Union Station) at 3:30, and then Joliet would be the first stop on the Chicago-LA run (I'd be getting off just as they were on the PA describing all the fun stuff they'd be doing and seeing on the journey). It had a nice one-hour layover in Union Station, so I could stretch my legs some, and still be home by 7:00.

I've never owned a car and am quite happy about it. Given the cities I've lived in as an adult (DC, NY, Paris, and SF) that's not surprising, but I am proud that I managed 2 years on the Eastern Shore without one.

SF probably has the worst overall public transportation (in terms of civility, schedules, routes, time vs. distance, aesthetics) of those four, but it's still pretty good. And much cheaper.

Long bus rides are the absolute suck. I'm taking the train to Boston next month because I forgot to get a plane ticket in time for it to be cheap -- I splurged on the Acela up, so that should be nice....

SF probably has the worst overall public transportation (in terms of civility, schedules, routes, time vs. distance, aesthetics)

For aesthetics, the exception is the Market St. F-line streetcars, which are just these gorgeous restored (mostly) Art-Deco streetcars that they got from old lines all over the world... and are painted for the various cities they came from.

Lookie - pretty streetcars! [link]

edit for clarity....

Wow. Doesn't Michelle Williams look like a young and luminous Mia Farrow in this picture?

I'm watching The Price is Right, and they have a game with the yodel guy! I love the yodel guy.

I *love* the yodel guy! That might just be my favorite Price is Right game.

It's totally the best Price is Right game. I'm a Price is Right traditionalist. The golf game is pretty sweet too.

For aesthetics, the exception is the Market St. F-line streetcars, which are just these gorgeous restored (mostly) Art-Deco streetcars that they got from old lines all over the world... and are painted for the various cities they came from.

And don't forget the cable cars. Unfortunately, riding either is often not very pleasant because they are crowded and slow.

My over-priced, neo-hippie nirvana has very good public transportation. Unfortunately it has a few blank spots in its coverage, so I'd have to take 3 buses and 45 minutes to replace my 20 minute commute. It would all be free, but the extra 6+ hours taken out of my week would not be balanced by the fuel savings.

So until the routes get me where I need to go, when I need to get there, I telecommute once a week and send a check to Greenpeace.

I'm still waiting for Hec's expression of joy at that haircut.

Speaking of...I'm due tomorrow. Need to find something a little more trendy than what I've got now.