Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted to live in a city that had public transportation. My love for public transit started with my first visit to DC, it was thanksgiving… not sure what year, my aunt was living there and invited us up for the holiday. I think this was my first big city trip and she was going to show us around before we hit the Smithsonian museum.
I remember walking into the train station and being completely blown away. People were every were and I had never seen a train station terminal before. I was instructed on how to get my pass from the machine in the wall then we passed threw the gate and into the station to wait for the train. Architecture was so beautiful and I couldn’t get over the fact that this was all underground. After my first train ride I decided right then and there that I wanted to live in a city with this kind of system. Growing up in a small southern town you have to drive everywhere. This was so cool that you could travel so far with out having to worry about traffic lights and dealing with owning a car.
I’ve visited many other cities with public transportation. Paris, Boston, New York, Atlanta, DC again, Brussels. Becoming a subway connoisseur of sorts. And always dreaming of the day that I could have a city transit system all my own. July 2009 I made this long time dream a reality. I have moved to San Francisco and I can now call BART home. Since Boston the plan has been to settle into my life in whatever city I end up. Then one day just hop on the train and ride it end to end.
Last month I accomplished this goal. I took my time and savored this moment taking it one leg at a time on each line. Whenever I had time I either stayed on the line and rode a few stops up or If I was board just got on and rode the train for the sake of riding. I completed the last leg of BART not traveled one sunny day in March. It was the Fremont to Richmond line, one of the first warm days since the beginning of fall. I had hopped on the train to go home but didn’t feel like home yet. So I stayed on the train and kept on going. First I completed the south bay leg of the Dublin/ Pleasanton to Daly City line. Then I transferred and finished out Fremont.
The ride was beautiful and the hills were so green with grass and trees they looked like they were covered in shag carpet, it was such a pleasant ride. I remember it wasn’t the best day at work and because of this ride I forgot all about it. I just relaxed and enjoyed the chance to see yet another long term goal completed. If I keep this up I’m going to have to set more goals. lol
Now that this goal is completed I thinking of riding MUNI end to end. This is the system in San Francisco proper. After that maybe the bus lines. :0)
P.S. I do so want to ride the London Underground some day.
