Exploring Public Transport in the Bay Area

Inspired by my experience with the newly electrified Caltrain, I decided to take on an unusual challenge: commuting by public transport. My home in Palo Alto is about seven miles from my office in Redwood City, a drive that typically takes around 20 minutes. However, I recently realized that it's just two Caltrain stations away, taking less than 10 minutes by train.

Last week, after handling some family errands, I needed to head into the office later than usual. Since my office parking lot is usually full after 9:30 am, I thought it was the best chance to try public transport as a backup plan. The entire trip took one hour and 10 minutes door-to-door, a somewhat disappointing result. However, I spent about 30 minutes waiting at the Caltrain station, leading me to think that this option might be more viable if I could time my arrival at the station better.

The highlight of my journey was using Palo Alto Link, the city-operated rideshare service. Essentially, it was an Uber/Lyft alternative provided as a public service; it only costs $3.50 per ride ($1 for students). This was my first time using the service, and it exceeded my expectations. Although it’s not a true door-to-door service — I had to walk to Loma Verde, a major road near my home, but it was just a one or two-minute walk, which makes sense for streamlining the service. When I got into the car, I noticed a senior couple already inside; as expected, it was a shared ride. The car wasn't particularly fancy, but the service was both valuable and efficient. The mobile app was user-friendly and far better than I anticipated for a public service app.

Overall, I believe it’s a promising solution to the limited public transportation options in Bay Area suburbs. Although the journey was less time-efficient than driving, services like Palo Alto Link have great potential for enhancing mobility in these areas. I hope to see even more improvements—the Bay Area deserves it.