Prince William County Commute

Everyone says the Prince William County commute is a bear. And, it can be. But, it doesn't have to be.

Obviously the commute we are talking about is from Prince William County into Washington D.C. I take make that commute every day. And, for me -- it's a breeze. Really. The commute to and from work is actually one of the nicer parts of my day.

Why? Well, I never, ever drive. I either take the bus or "slug."

The bus I usually take is the OmniRide bus from Montclair to the Pentagon. I walk from my home to the bus stop -- a couple blocks. [OmniRide, OmniLink, and OmniMatch, are all different kinds of bus services provided by the Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC) which provides public transportation in Prince William County.]

The cost is currently $4.75 each way (if you use a "smart card"); $6.50 if you just pay cash.

I usually get a seat next the window; read the paper; and 45 minutes later I'm dropped off at the Pentagon. Lovely.

Sometimes while I'm waiting for a bus someone pulls up and offers me a ride. This is called "slugging." It's unique to the DC area and works because drivers need at least 2 passengers to qualify for the "HOV-3" lanes which are the key to getting north or south on I-95 during rush hour.

When I slug, I pay nothing and it's even faster than the bus. You can read more about PRTC at PRTC or Slugging.

I do the same thing on the way home. Oh, I also get a government commuter subsidy which covers the bus fare I pay. So, all in all my commute is:

• Easy
• Relatively fast, and
• Free.

What could be better than that?

So, tell us about your Prince William County commute below. Thanks.