Beers and the MARTA Bus

While I lived in New York, riding the subway system was my only mode of transportation (minus the few cab rides). The trains came every few minutes and I never really thought twice about riding them.

The public transportation system in Atlanta is called MARTA. The train system consists of 4 lines, 2 that run north to south and 2 east to west. Unless the place you are going is directly on the line, you must take a bus to get where you are going. Seeing as this would consist of almost ALL places in Atlanta, taking public transportation is a pain in the butt. Atlanta is very car friendly with alot of places to park, and once you are in the neighborhood you want to be in- everything is walkable- downtown, midtown, the highlands, ect. (the list goes on).

There is nothing wrong with taking the MARTA train. Its how I get to the airport, to my boyfriends apartment if I don't want to drive, baseball games and almost all concerts/special events in the city. If it were possible, I would take the MARTA train everywhere. I think public transportation is amazing: it saves money, time and is good for the environment.

But there is one issue with MARTA. That one issue is: The MARTA bus. No one takes the MARTA buses unless its to a special event. YOU WILL NEVER FIND ME ON A MARTA BUS UNLESS ITS FOR A SPECIAL EVENT- EVER. Sorry, i might sound like a snob, but I'd rather walk.

Case in point: Yesterday, my boyfriend, a co worker, his friend and myself went to the East Atlanta Beer Festival. If you know nothing about Atlanta, East Atlanta is a mix of hipsters and the ghetto- a very interesting mix. Its kinda of near the airport.

But anyways- imagine this, myself and crew get off the MARTA train to transfer to the bus (which I wanted to take a cab, but was overruled). We hunt down the bus stop because none of us have ever attempted to catch the MARTA bus- asked a man for directions and then he proceeded to tell us he was poor and asked for money in return for directions, and finally, get successfully onto a bus to the event. We get on the bus and stick out like sore thumbs. Any one could plainly see that we did not belong. Well, almost didn't belong, until we saw a few other festival goer's in the back of the bus. All wearing sun dresses and baseball hats- could totally tell they were going the same place we were.

We made friends with the other group and after a 10 minute ride on the MARTA bus, the driver announced, "Beer festival, you kids in the back, this is your stop." He clearly knew we didn't belong as much as we did. The festival was so much fun, beautiful weather, fun friends and a lot of beer- the best Saturday.

When it came time to go home.... Lets just say that we took cabs. Riding the MARTA bus after dark really wasn't in the cards for us.

Lesson learned:

MARTA trains are ok- think twice about the buses.

Peace, love and public transportation,

b