MrsVox wrote:I took the Acela to NYC for work because work paid for it, and it was 75 minutes each way that I didn't have to be "on". But it's cheaper and easier for me to drive to NYC on my own dime, especially when taking people with me.

I'd like to take BabyVox on the train sometime because he likes them, but not at even what the non-Acela train costs.

Which is fine, I'm not implying a should. I almost always drive to New york myself for the same reasons. The train is really best for those traveling alone and from the city center.

Fare to NYC from Philly though is at $36 right now. For people in the right situation that doesn't sound bad, given the economics tv listed earlier.

Where are you seeing 36? Is that NJTransit?

Pretty sure Amtrak is at least 69 each way unless you go in the middle of the night

Houshphandzadeh wrote:Where are you seeing 36? Is that NJTransit?

Pretty sure Amtrak is at least 69 each way unless you go in the middle of the night

Nope, Amtrak site

Edit: See now, that's booked in advance with a discount. Regular fare is $48.

Yeah, looks like that's booked way in advance. Even that $48 is better than I thought, though. A few weeks ago, I couldn't seem to find anything less than 69 but I might not have been looking too hard since it was paid for

I got an Amtrak round trip to DC for 70 bucks. Shit you not. I ordered the ticket more than a month in advance though.

Port-a-John bumblebee almost jacked my month up

Houshphandzadeh wrote:the Chinatown bus thing is pretty much over. for the same price, BoltBus and Megabus are offering nicer buses, better pickup and dropoff spots (30th St Station as opposed to 12th and Arch or whatever), and representatives who will actually speak to you

do bolt bus and mega bus also serve as transports for drugs like chinatown buses?

i cannot stand the sites with the ads you can never find to turn off the sound. i am trying to watch a video and it just keeps playing this worthless ad. you really have no other choice but to close it down.

CalvinBall wrote:

Houshphandzadeh wrote:the Chinatown bus thing is pretty much over. for the same price, BoltBus and Megabus are offering nicer buses, better pickup and dropoff spots (30th St Station as opposed to 12th and Arch or whatever), and representatives who will actually speak to you

do bolt bus and mega bus also serve as transports for drugs like chinatown buses?

I'd bet there are some drugs are being transported, yes

so these flowers I ordered to show up at my Mom's tomorrow, since she will be in California until tomorrow, showed up today instead. when I call, what do I aim for in negotiations?

Houshphandzadeh wrote:so these flowers I ordered to show up at my Mom's tomorrow, since she will be in California until tomorrow, showed up today instead. when I call, what do I aim for in negotiations?

full refund. they literally did not deliver

is it ironic that this kind of stuff (shaming customer service reps) is exactly the kind of thing I need Mom for?

Yeah, moms are great like that.

Houshphandzadeh wrote:is it ironic that this kind of stuff (shaming customer service reps) is exactly the kind of thing I need Mom for?

do a Mom voice on the phone, you'll be less self-conscious. Maybe wear a housecoat.

swishnicholson wrote:Somehow the use of tax dollars for this purpose has been positioned as some sort of daft romantic socialist scheme, while building new roads and runways is acceptably American.

I like the train, and think it's a damn fine way to get up and down the northeast corridor and I sometimes splurge on it rather than the bus. And I understand that they lessen usage on roads and demand for flights which is important and all that good stuff. I think the main reasons why people get that way about public spending is a lot (most?) people live in places where there is no train service whatsoever, many that do live in train accessible regions don't use them, and the tax dollars used for building and repairing roads and building and repairing mass transit comes from gas taxes, which are paid for by the folks buying the gas to drive on the roads.

Houshphandzadeh wrote:even the non-Acela Amtrak train to NY is only 1.5 hours now

not NYC to DC

Hobos embraced rail travel a long time ago.

Grotewold wrote:Port-a-John bumblebee almost jacked my month up

minimum members using this post as a signature by tomorrow: ~7,499

jerseyhoya wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:I think the main reasons why people get that way about public spending is a lot (most?) people live in places where there is no train service whatsoever, many that do live in train accessible regions don't use them, and the tax dollars used for building and repairing roads and building and repairing mass transit comes from gas taxes, which are paid for by the folks buying the gas to drive on the roads.

Yes. It's very hard to persuade people that spending to make those cityslicker services more efficient is a good use of their resources, even when it is. Americans don't get social insurance programs, or insurance programs generally. A very small fraction of anyone understands how insurance works, even though (maybe because) it's very, very simple in principle.

jerseyhoya wrote:

swishnicholson wrote:Somehow the use of tax dollars for this purpose has been positioned as some sort of daft romantic socialist scheme, while building new roads and runways is acceptably American.

I like the train, and think it's a damn fine way to get up and down the northeast corridor and I sometimes splurge on it rather than the bus. And I understand that they lessen usage on roads and demand for flights which is important and all that good stuff. I think the main reasons why people get that way about public spending is a lot (most?) people live in places where there is no train service whatsoever, many that do live in train accessible regions don't use them, and the tax dollars used for building and repairing roads and building and repairing mass transit comes from gas taxes, which are paid for by the folks buying the gas to drive on the roads.

Gas taxes, of course, do not cover the cost of building and maintaining roads as well as mass transit, although they contribute towards these things. You're right that this misperception contributes to the feeling of resentment.