As we’ve seen recently, Minneapolis-St. Paul and surrounding areas are regularly nominated for “Best of” lists: from quirkiness to bike-ability, the Twin Cities have made an appearance on many a list in the past several years. The accolades are nice validation, but for those of us who live here, we already know we’ve got it pretty good.
While many of these lists focus on activity and lifestyle, a study released in October 2014 by the University of Minnesota’s Accessibility Observatory ranked the Twin Cities thirteenth overall for of accessibility to jobs by transit—not bad, considering the cities in the top ten consisted of major urban centers like NYC, Boston, Philadelphia, and San Francisco.
Not only are our jobs accessible, but Twin Citians take advantage of the transit system: according to the 2010 census, more than 15% of Minneapolis residents, and nearly 9% in St. Paul utilized public transportation options for their daily commute. And the numbers have only gone up in the past five years, with Metro Transit announcing this January that ridership in 2014 was the highest recorded in three decades. But public transportation is about more than the daily grind and utilitarian usability: public transportation can be a fun way to engage with your city, and to explore!
Hop on!
With the prevalence of smartphones, getting around on the train or bus is simple. With a simple app download of Google Maps, or a similar transportation app, you can plug in your destination (either by address or by dropping a pin on the map), select your arrive-by or depart-at timeframe, and voila! The app will calculate the best/fastest/shortest route for you to take. Google Maps will give you a route play-by-play on your phone, which will all but guarantee you will get to the right bus stop. To do the research online, use the desktop version of Google Maps or Metro Transit’s Trip Planner or Interactive System Map
Pay your Dues
Since not many of us carry around actual currency these days, a simple solution is buying a Go-To card from Metro Transit—buy it online and have it shipped, or pop into an affiliate retailer. Similar to a gift card, Go-To cards can be re-used and have value added online or at station kiosks. If you do carry cash, buses accept cash but can’t make change; light rail kiosks accept cash and credit cards. Other cards and forms of payment are accepted, too. See the Fares section to learn more. A single fare is valid for two-and-a-half hours, with reduced fares applicable in downtown zones.
Explore!
There’s something about exploring by train, or bus—even the simple act of walking to a bus stop or train station—that offers a different perspective on the surroundings you think you already know. Driving, we often zone out when taking the same routes or when focused on other, car-related matters. By leaving the driving to someone else, you have the opportunity to look around, to experience different areas than you’re accustomed to seeing. Or use the time to catch up on reading, chat with a friend, knit or crotchet…
One of the biggest benefits of using public transit is not having to park, especially when heading downtown or to venues where parking is spendy or sparse (like concerts or sporting events, for example). It can also be a life-saver (possibly literally) if you’ve enjoyed a few too many cocktails!
So, where can public transit take you? (Besides work, that is!)
Angela Anderson, 612-396-3654
Realtor, Results Support Services: EMAIL — BIO
Licensed Associate Working with Sharlene Hensrud of RE/MAX Results, and HomesMSP — Sharlene, John, Angela
