Commuting nightmare

I live 40 or so  miles from work.  So I drive like 6 miles to the train station and take the train an hour to San Francisco.  Then I walk the half mile to my office. It’s a long day, with commuting and the walking for sure. So when I get on the train, I want to go from point A to point B as quickly and painlessly as possible

I was sleeping HARD one morning, with my earbuds in, when I heard talking over the intercom. Thank goodness I woke up lol We were told to get off the train if we wanted to get to SF quickly as a different train ahead of us had hit a pedestrian (it’s a common way to commit suicide unfortunately). We were conveniently near our other mass transit (BART) so we all got off and got on that train, after figuring out where I need to get off.  I first had to figure out how to pay for the Clipper card that is now part of the ticketing system.  I have one for the train but for some reason it didn’t work.  So now I have two.  Got dropped off downtown, on Market Street and 7th. That was a nice walk, just shy of a mile and a half

I’m on the train a day or so later, after this getting off and switching to different trains, when the conductor comes by and asks for tickets.  I show her my Clipper card and she wands it with her machine and it buzzes.  That means I don’t have a valid monthly pass or something is wrong with my card.  She tries it a few times, but nothing.  I did all the right things, tagged on and off, and nothing.  I was so pissed as she issued me a ticket.  Mind you, I have had autoload for my monthly pass on my card for YEARS and this chick, while I know was doing her job, gave me a citation (I am filing a grievance because that’s some BS right there)

After I got that citation, I went to talk with another conductor so that she can explain to me what’s going on. She walked me through everything but it still showed no monthly pass.  I tagged on and off, with my Clipper card out of my wallet, and it finally showed a monthly pass

So Friday, I am dozing off as I do, it’s tough not to, I am out cold the moment the train starts moving when I heard some commotion.  I took off my earbuds to hear this conductor walking quickly down the aisle below me, yelling something about hitting a car?

Oh for the love of…

I sent Mar a text, told her what’s going on, can she please run over to check on the pup

An hour later, we’re still sitting there.  The current crew needed to get off the train due to the accident (no one was killed this time, thank goodness) and the other crew was getting off the train just arriving ahead of us at the station.  We hadn’t made it to the station so that’s why we were held captive on the train

My Friday plans were essentially wrecked.  What’s so funny is that where I was going to go was a dive bar right across the street from the train station lol.  But I was just so done with commuting, that I didn’t even want to go in, sweats and all, to see my friend’s band.

This morning, I am again on my way to work, when the conductor came by to check tickets.  And again my card buzzed.  She didn’t give me a ticket because she’s seen me on the train, but still…I was pissed.  I called Clipper, they showed me having a pass, but the train didn’t.  No one seemed to help me here.

When I got out, as was walking to work, I spoke with some other conductors and the one that tried to check my card.  Apparently we found out, my Clipper card I bought for my BART ride was behind my usual one, and the machines were picking up THAT one.  So I moved it away from it and sure enough, said monthly pass

*face palm*

If I could afford it, I would move closer to work. I am sure most folks have read about how expensive it is to live in Silicon Valley.  Most people that want to buy a house have to go even further away from their job and it’s already so far, I cannot even imagine that kind of commute every day

I consider myself very lucky that I have the means to be able to get to work without having to deal with traffic.  While I pay a crap ton every month for the train ($235, and that’s going up 20% next year), it’s still cheaper than driving.  While it would take me 45 minutes in the morning, it would take me over 2 hours at night to drive.  I just wish they would hurry up and upgrade the trains to electric so that they don’t break down or cause some weird issues.  That’s when it’s not worth any money!