The Newcomer

By arlene

July 8, 2008 7:57 AM | Link to this

I use the Marta train every day, and for the most part, I have no complaints. But the $1.75 fare that is posted is misleading. That fare is for people with Breeze cads; all others have to pay an additional $.50 fee. This is very unfair to people who just need to use Marta for 1 or 2 rdes. Why not just say the fare is $2.50 and stop playing games?

By Larry

July 8, 2008 8:08 AM | Link to this

Get used to waiting, get used to standing up to ride, and getused to leaving home 3 hours early to get to work

By jct

July 8, 2008 8:11 AM | Link to this

Word of Advice: If you sleep on train and may miss your stop, don’t throw your briefcase, pocketbook, bag, etc in the closing door. Go to the next stop and take the train going back to your original stop.

This happened last night on the Indian Creek train. The gentleman almost broke the door and his bagged stayed at Keningston while the train continued to Indian Creek. He then tried to get the train operator to stop the train.

Again, if you miss your stop - go to the next station and get on the other train back to your intended location.

The riders of MARTA thank you.

By Jason

July 8, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this

$1.75 + $.50 = $2.25, not $2.50. Also, the extra fifty cents is for the cost of the Breeze Ticket, which can be reused for ninety days. Why are you buying a new ticket all the time? For an out of towner who is using MARTA only twice, once from the airport and once again to get back to the airport, you might have a point but other than that, the cost of the Breeze ticket, when split over all of the rides it is used for, is not worth even thinking about.

If you use the system more than a couple of times per year, your best bet is to buy a Breeze CARD. It costs $5 and comes with two rides, making the cost of the card $1.50. The card is hard plastic like a credit card and lasts for at least five years.

Breeze tickets and Breeze cards have an actual cost to manufacture. Not charging for them would mean that everyone else would have to have their fares raised to compensate for those who don’t bother to keep up with their ticket or card. Anytime you give anything away for free, there will be people who will snatch up as many of the item as they can, regardless of if having multiple of the item is useful or not.

By marta rider

July 8, 2008 8:27 AM | Link to this

arlene… now you are misleading people. yes, there is a $.50 charge to by ONE paper card if you don’t have a breeze plastic card. That paper card, however, is reloadable and has a life of 90 days. So, unless you continue to buy a new paper card every time you get on the train, then there is only a one time charge of $.50.

By contra marta

July 8, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this

Here’s the BEST marta tip: Skip sorry, filthy, late marta and drive. I’ve used the crappy service many times and am disgusted with the lousy service, sickened by the greasy panhandlers, and wary of the menacing thugs.

By T

July 8, 2008 8:45 AM | Link to this

I guess I’ll have to wait until Marta makes it to Gwinnet, or find a new job.

By Disgusted Rider

July 8, 2008 8:58 AM | Link to this

Don’t ride MARTA under any circumstances. I am a person with a disability and have been threatened because I would not give up my seat for an able-bodied man who said he “needed to sit down more than I did”. He kicked my luggage (which was next to my seat out of the aisle), threatened to “tear off my other arm”, and none of the other passengers even raised an eyebrow while this was going on. Of course, there were no guards or police around for the entire 15 minute ride from the airport to Five Points. MARTA is a dung-hole filled with the bottom-feeding scum of the earth. I will forever discourage anyone from riding MARTA. Atlanta will never achieve the level of mass transit success that other cities have as long as we cater to this underclass that is the primary customer base of MARTA.

By John

July 8, 2008 9:12 AM | Link to this

I’ve had my life threatened more than once on MARTA just for being white. Police are scarce in the stations. Most of the trains smell of urine. It truly is an awful system.

By Mr. Nice Guy

July 8, 2008 9:16 AM | Link to this

To Disgusted Rider … the “underclass” you speak of ride MARTA out of necessity. If you and your “high class” friends would get your noses out of the air and use the service more often, you’d get the service and quality you expect at the exclusive restaurants and shops you probably visit on a regular basis.

By stilldefiant

July 8, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this

I ride MARTA 4 days out of the week (telecommute on 1) and have done so for the past 2 years. MARTA isn’t completely perfect but it serves my needs just fine. As the day goes on, you will find plenty of people on here who are going to gripe and complain about the service. I have never been attacked, never felt my life in danger, and actually never had a single problem. Same with plenty of people that I know who use the service. I would say 98% of the people who ride MARTA are working just like the rest of us and could care less about bothering the next person. Will the occasional beggar ask for change? Yep. Just say no or yes. It’s a simple answer.

People like contra marta basically live in a segregated world and generally only have contact with their own race. It’s a littledifferent when the tables are turned and he/she feels like the minority. However, like a 60 year old female passenger told me, there’s no way I would go back to driving if MARTA was a viable option.

As for tips, use common sense. Be alert, pay attention. With the rising cost of gas, more people are using MARTA so that means arriving earlier to secure better parking. It sucks but that’s the way of life. If it frightens you to ride MARTA, don’t. That’s more room for me.

By Amanda

July 8, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

I have only been riding Marta on a daily basis for three months, but I have yet to have any real problems. Yes there is waiting, take a book. Yes some people are rude, no different then being in traffic. I use to say I would never take Marta because it wasn’t safe or reliable, but if that thought continues how can Marta ever improve. Abandonment only adds to its problems. If more people use Marta they will have more funds to provide better security and maybe even extend rail service one day in my life time.

By Sugar

July 8, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this

Wen I first moved here from the West, I rode a MARTA bus ONCE. That was back in 1977. Scariest thing I have ever done. I have not, nor will I ever, set foot on a MARTA bus since.

Now, I only ride MARTA train once a year, and that’s from Doraville to Peachtree Center, when we go watch the Christmas Parade.

Other than that I don’t go anywhere MARTA goes. I don’t go downtown, very rarely inside the perimeter. I live in Gwinnett and DO NOT want MARTA anywhere near me. Go ahead, and start slamming me now.

I don’t want the stinky buses snarling up the roads, as I have an easy commute. I drive no more than 15 miles one way to work, and it takes me less than 25 minutes in the mornings. Add MARTA to that, and my drive time would increase by 20 minutes. NO THANK YOU!!!!!!

By Disgusted Rider

July 8, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

Mr. Nice Guy: You make a lot of assumptions, don’t you? No where in my comment did I mention my “class”, where my nose is, how often I use MARTA, or where I eat or shop. Why don’t you use your crystal ball and tell me my gender, how old I am, my race, where I live, my occupation, my marital status, and my sexual orientation. If you get all of those correct, then maybe I’ll consider having a dialogue with you.

By Sylvia Lang

July 8, 2008 9:43 AM | Link to this

my 2 daughters live in Atlanta and being just 18 and 23, I was worried about them( we live in Maryland). One daughter attends Morehouse School of Medicine (using the west end stop of marta, and the other attends the Peterson School of Tennis and uses the College Park stop of Marta), although they have had their share of delays and other minor problems, we have never had to worry about their safety. Our daughters use common sense safety practices and focus on what’s important. Although Marta could be improved, so could our system, which is named Metro.

By zeke

July 8, 2008 9:44 AM | Link to this

To MR. Nice Guy:

Why the hell would I want to ride on a system(lol) that is crime ridden, otherwise not safe, inconvenient, wastes lots of my time, does not go where I need to be without many transfers, is not cost effective,and, taxes the productive citizens to subsidize the fares?? I use marta once a year! For the Peachtree Road Race! Otherwise, it is useless!

By JENNIFER

July 8, 2008 9:46 AM | Link to this

Here are some tips for newcomers:

Please allow the patrons who are on the train to exit before you try to get on the train. The conductor is not going to leave you standing on the platform.

When you are on the escalators, stand to the right. There are people who walk up the escalators and they do so on the left side. Slower traffic should always stay to the right.

If the train is crowded, please move to the center of the aisles and away from the door. People can not get on or off the train if you are blocking the entryway.

If you choose to stand, be mindful of your posterior. No one wants your butt in their face.

There are compartments in each car for luggage. If people stand in the area, people will not put their luggage there. That goes for the handicap section as well. I have actually seen an episode when a man did not move for a person in a wheelchair. The spot is reserved for everyone’s safety.

If the train is crowded, do not put your bags, purses or luggage in the seats. If you do not like people sitting next to you, drive your car. Your presence will not be missed.

Do not put your feet on the seats. I have no idea what you stepped in today and I do not want to wear it all day.

Do not talk on your cellphone with an outside voice. No one wants to hear your conversation.

If I can hear your music while you have your headphones on, I promise you will be stone deaf in a couple of years. TURN IT DOWN!!

Do not encourage the panhandlers. If you continue to support them they will continue to solicit. Donate to a local shelter, Red Cross or United Way.

If you park your car in a MARTA parking lot when you travel, please remeber to bring/find your ticket to pay for your extended stay parking. Do not think that everyone wants to wait for you to find it once you get to the cash register .

MARTA is only subsidized by two counties: Fulton and DeKalb. Every county in metropolitan Atlanta had an opportunity to participate and the others declined. It is not funded by the state. With the limited funding they receive, they are doing an excellent job. This is not New York

My monthly MARTA card is cheaper than a tank of gas. I now fill up twice a month, versus every four days. There are occasional breakdowns, however it beats sitting in traffic, paying for gas and parking. If you commute on I-285, there is an accident or breakdown EVERYDAY.

MARTA is SMARTER

By Joe

July 8, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

I only ride MARTA when I have to, like the airport or a one time event downtown. I have never had a bad incident happen to me but then again I am not a regular rider of the train. A co-worker of mine had someone grab his laptop bag once but two other men stopped the thief before he could leave. He said he never did see a MARTA police during the entire episode.

By Mugglemikki

July 8, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

Jennifer,

Those are some GREAT tips! I don’t ride MARTA, I commute using an Xpress bus, but if I had to use MARTA, I would—with no hesitation! MARTA is the way to go. Yes, it does have it’s problems..but it’s a lot cleaner and safer than the subway in NY or the transit system in Chicago…MAN UP PEOPLE!

By stilldefiant

July 8, 2008 9:53 AM | Link to this

great tips, JENNIFER!

By olliesmom

July 8, 2008 9:55 AM | Link to this

Thank you, Jennifer. You summed it up perfectly!

By The Vice Prizzle

July 8, 2008 9:56 AM | Link to this

Public transportation is a key issue, and a key weakness in, our national infrastructure. I will be addressing this in an upcoming policy statement. Thank you in advance for any donations.

By dawgbees

July 8, 2008 10:01 AM | Link to this

Great tips, Jennifer!

One more to add to the list. If you are sitting in the outside seat and are not exiting but the person sitting next to you on the inside does need to exit, please stand up when the train stops to let them out. We hate to crawl over our fellow passengers to get off at our stop.

By add14jazz

July 8, 2008 10:37 AM | Link to this

I”m tired of these silly, complaining people who always want to down MARTA as if its full of criminals and thugs. It isn’t! It is full of all types of people, many of them who aren’t from some toney suburban area and don’t dress in Polo shirts and khaki shorts. Some may be loud, young, silly and rude ghetto teens. And some definitely are loud, rude and obnoxious suburban teens… But none are thugs. Message to idiots who think thugs ride MARTA — the thugs are out on the streets where they live, terrorizing the black community.

I take MARTA to work everyday and I have three complaints: some of the passengers are rude; the buses are late too often and the downtown bus stops are far from clean! The rail system is efficient and nobody in the eight years that I’ve ridden the bus or rail here in Atlanta has EVER bothered me — except for the panhandling.

By Hey!

July 8, 2008 10:49 AM | Link to this

GREAT tips, Jennifer!

Another one: people are animals and can smell fear. If you look like a gazelle in a cage with a lion, you’re going to be treated as such! Stand up straight, stop looking & acting so scared of your own darn shadow. Criminals only target those who look weak and scared. And ladies, I love a good pair of Louboutins and Manolos as much as the next girl, but DON’T wear them on the train! I see more chicks teetering on heels and it makes me want to push them over, but I guess I’m just evil that way.

By Sandra

July 8, 2008 10:52 AM | Link to this

I have been riding MARTA since 1999. I’ve had no problems. Yes, the train is usually late once a week; there are some beggars but none of them are menacing; and very often, you get a passenger talking loudly on their cellphone. The basic problem with MARTA is consistency. Sometimes the train drivers will wait for you and sometimes they won’t. As for cleanliness, I’ve seen far worse in other cities so I think MARTA is really pretty clean. Unfortunately, it takes me 20-30 minutes to get to the train station but I would never consider driving downtown. I enjoy reading a book and if a passenger is too loud on their phone, I turn up the volume on my iPod. Another great thing is my job pays for the transportation costs.

By West Cobb Dad

July 8, 2008 10:54 AM | Link to this

With a car in the shop for 2 months (mech kept finding things), I took CCT from West Cobb to Perimeter. My day started at 4:45 so I could get a shower and to the xfr station by the civic center in Marietta (a 7 mile drive that my wife would drop me off at). I could have caught the bus that stopped at the end of my street, but the bus only goes to perimeter 3 times in the morning (and leaves 3 times in the afternoon) and it never made it there in time for me to catch it (an hour wait for the next one). It was a pleasant 50 minute ride to work (what I normally would spend in morning traffic). In the afternoon, it would depend which bus I caught as to what time I got home (I would catch the xfr to the stop close to my house). To sum up, my day would start at 4:45 am and end usually anywhere between 6:30 to 8:30 (buses ran at 6, 6:30, 7, then 8). I stopped riding because of this when I got my car back. Working 9 hour days and travel time of anywhere up to 3+ hours made for a VERY long day. They need a rail that goes around the perimeter and rail that goes 20 miles out the interstate spokes. But that makes too much sense.

By Sobecat

July 8, 2008 11:16 AM | Link to this

Anyone see “Marta girl” on You tube? That really wasn’t that unusual.

By JENNIFER

July 8, 2008 11:25 AM | Link to this

West Cobb,

Unfortunately, your inconvenience is the price you will have to pay because Cobb residents did not want to pay the extra penny sales taxes for MARTA funding.

By lea

July 8, 2008 11:26 AM | Link to this

I am so amazed at these small-minded people who “will never ride Marta”. I’ve traveled all over the world and I think Marta is a fine alternative to driving or high parking fees. All world-class cities have a strong mass transit system .. cities like Paris, London, Milan, New York, San Francisco, etc. Sure, Marta could stand improvement, but so can MOST THINGS, including your small-minded, xenophobic neighborhoods in the far out suburbs. Frankly, I’m tired of seeing Gwinnett and Cobb tags causing all the congestion in metro Atlanta. I wonder what these “tiny-minded” people will do when gas costs $8/ gallon…. (And it’s coming, unfortuntately) I guess they’ll have to crawl back to their little cave in the mountains and stay there. Fine… more room for me.

By Get A Clue

July 8, 2008 11:29 AM | Link to this

Sobecat - stay off of the internet and get a real life. I’ve ridden MARTA almost 8 years now and I’ve never encountered anything like that. You people see something on the news or the web and swear things are like that everyday. Or you know someone who knows someone who knows someones roommate who saw it. Whatevs… take my user name to heart.

By Frank

July 8, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

I also would like to suggest that you use the MARTA web site. It has quite an easy to use PDF map of the entire cities bus routes. If you know your route it does not take any longer than most cities transit systems.

Dont worry about the safety of MARTA. I always like how scared everyone who never rides MARTA is of the trains and buses. Then when you ride it you see the little Woodward Private School kids riding it in SW Atlanta. It makes me smile to think that a little 80lb middle class 14 year old kid is less scared of it then some burly suburban Gwinnitian.

By GaLiberal

July 8, 2008 11:38 AM | Link to this

By West Cobb Dad@10:54 AM stupidly said: They need a rail that goes around the perimeter and rail that goes 20 miles out the interstate spokes. But that makes too much sense.

No WCD, it costs too much money. Instead of putting money into mass transit, GA dumped BILLIONS into roads just so whiners like you could drive and foul the air. Of course it would be great to have the rail system you proposed, but you don’t want to pay for it. Typical Snob County Rethuglicon. Provide me services but don’t expect me to pay. It’s because people like you make up most of Snob County that I would NEVER live there. And the rednecks; don’t what to leave them out.

When you vote Rethuglicon, you vote against your own best interests. And WCD is living proof.

By Just So You Know

July 8, 2008 11:54 AM | Link to this

MARTA won’t tell you, but the .50 paper Breeze cards CAN BE RELOADED and are good for use for up to three months. Most folks spend the extra .50 each time they buy a round trip. KEEP the paper card for the next round trip and simply add the cost of the fare.

By MARTA Evangelist

July 8, 2008 2:38 PM | Link to this

“Just So You Know”…actually MARTA does tell you the 50 cent Breeze tickets are reusable for 90 days. It clearly states that when you buy the ticket at the Breeze machine.

As is the case with every one of these blogs, it is so easy to spot the people that never use the system because they are the ones saying how dangerous it is. People that use MARTA everyday, like me, go years without encountering anything more dangerous than a loud cellphone conversation or a quiet panhandler.

By jgumbrecht_0508aa

July 8, 2008 4:16 PM | Link to this

I have to agree, MARTA Evangelist; I’ve been using public transportation almost every day since I moved here, and I’ve had one negative experience, but it could’ve happened just as easily on the street. I understand that people’s sensitivities to crowds, messes and unexpected delays differ. I was just bothered more by crowded roadways, my messy car and the unexpected delays that come with car ownership. The transit system has its limitations, but I hope people will give it more than one or two tries before they write it off.

By James

February 25, 2009 9:03 AM | Link to this

Hello! I am a regular user of the marta transportation system, and i rely on marta to get back and forth to work.One main issue i would like to bring forth to you and who else needs to know this,is the professionalism of the marta bus drivers. I am from Baltimore Maryland and i used the system there to on a regular basis.One thing i noticed about the marta bus drivers is that they have bad attitudes towards there passengers and they are very rude when asked a question concerning the system in regards to why the bus is late or why a bus has not arrived.There are bus drivers flirting with male and females on the bus and bus drivers are eating on the bus which is against the marta rules,if the passengers can not eat on the bus,then this rule should be for the bus drivers to.Marta needs to get a better quality of bus drivers that perform and communicate with its passengers on a professional level.Also a bus system is a very important source to the city,it generates a lot of money and good for people that don’t drive.Atlanta needs to run its system 24 hours to serve the public and upgrade its quality of buses on each route,as far as more buses to a route,and this will eliminate people waiting 30 minutes to an hour for a bus.Marta is behind time and old fashion,and needs to upgrade its system and eliminate its original formulation of serving the public.Thank You for your time.

By James

February 25, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

Hello! I am a regular user of the marta transportation system, and i rely on marta to get back and forth to work.One main issue i would like to bring forth to you and who else needs to know this,is the professionalism of the marta bus drivers. I am from Baltimore Maryland and i used the system there to on a regular basis.One thing i noticed about the marta bus drivers is that they have bad attitudes towards there passengers and they are very rude when asked a question concerning the system in regards to why the bus is late or why a bus has not arrived.There are bus drivers flirting with male and females on the bus and bus drivers are eating on the bus which is against the marta rules,if the passengers can not eat on the bus,then this rule should be for the bus drivers to.Marta needs to get a better quality of bus drivers that perform and communicate with its passengers on a professional level.Also a bus system is a very important source to the city,it generates a lot of money and good for people that don’t drive.Atlanta needs to run its system 24 hours to serve the public and upgrade its quality of buses on each route,as far as more buses to a route,and this will eliminate people waiting 30 minutes to an hour for a bus.Marta is behind time and old fashion,and needs to upgrade its system and eliminate its original formulation of serving the public.Thank You for your time.

By James

February 25, 2009 9:04 AM | Link to this

Hello! I am a regular user of the marta transportation system, and i rely on marta to get back and forth to work.One main issue i would like to bring forth to you and who else needs to know this,is the professionalism of the marta bus drivers. I am from Baltimore Maryland and i used the system there to on a regular basis.One thing i noticed about the marta bus drivers is that they have bad attitudes towards there passengers and they are very rude when asked a question concerning the system in regards to why the bus is late or why a bus has not arrived.There are bus drivers flirting with male and females on the bus and bus drivers are eating on the bus which is against the marta rules,if the passengers can not eat on the bus,then this rule should be for the bus drivers to.Marta needs to get a better quality of bus drivers that perform and communicate with its passengers on a professional level.Also a bus system is a very important source to the city,it generates a lot of money and good for people that don’t drive.Atlanta needs to run its system 24 hours to serve the public and upgrade its quality of buses on each route,as far as more buses to a route,and this will eliminate people waiting 30 minutes to an hour for a bus.Marta is behind time and old fashion,and needs to upgrade its system and eliminate its original formulation of serving the public.Thank You for your time.

By James

February 25, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

Hello! I am a regular user of the marta transportation system, and i rely on marta to get back and forth to work.One main issue i would like to bring forth to you and who else needs to know this,is the professionalism of the marta bus drivers. I am from Baltimore Maryland and i used the system there to on a regular basis.One thing i noticed about the marta bus drivers is that they have bad attitudes towards there passengers and they are very rude when asked a question concerning the system in regards to why the bus is late or why a bus has not arrived.There are bus drivers flirting with male and females on the bus and bus drivers are eating on the bus which is against the marta rules,if the passengers can not eat on the bus,then this rule should be for the bus drivers to.Marta needs to get a better quality of bus drivers that perform and communicate with its passengers on a professional level.Also a bus system is a very important source to the city,it generates a lot of money and good for people that don’t drive.Atlanta needs to run its system 24 hours to serve the public and upgrade its quality of buses on each route,as far as more buses to a route,and this will eliminate people waiting 30 minutes to an hour for a bus.Marta is behind time and old fashion,and needs to upgrade its system and eliminate its original formulation of serving the public.Thank You for your time.

By James

February 25, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this

Hello! I am a regular user of the marta transportation system, and i rely on marta to get back and forth to work.One main issue i would like to bring forth to you and who else needs to know this,is the professionalism of the marta bus drivers. I am from Baltimore Maryland and i used the system there to on a regular basis.One thing i noticed about the marta bus drivers is that they have bad attitudes towards there passengers and they are very rude when asked a question concerning the system in regards to why the bus is late or why a bus has not arrived.There are bus drivers flirting with male and females on the bus and bus drivers are eating on the bus which is against the marta rules,if the passengers can not eat on the bus,then this rule should be for the bus drivers to.Marta needs to get a better quality of bus drivers that perform and communicate with its passengers on a professional level.Also a bus system is a very important source to the city,it generates a lot of money and good for people that don’t drive.Atlanta needs to run its system 24 hours to serve the public and upgrade its quality of buses on each route,as far as more buses to a route,and this will eliminate people waiting 30 minutes to an hour for a bus.Marta is behind time and old fashion,and needs to upgrade its system and eliminate its original formulation of serving the public.Thank You for your time.