Traffic is a driver’s biggest foe and one they encounter often during early morning and after work commutes.
Let’s face it, traffic is something we all can say we can’t stand and Atlanta traffic can sometimes be a nightmare, especially during rush hour. If you are a native of the city, you probably know traffic has no time preference in Atlanta. There can be traffic at 9 am, at 11 am, at 1 pm, and even at 11:54 pm – traffic knows no bounds. What’s great about the metropolitan area is that it offers quite a few ways for Atlanta dwellers to get around and, surprisingly, a car isn’t as necessary as you think. From public transportation to bicycling, we list the ways you can get around Atlanta while saving on gas and avoiding wasted time sitting in traffic.
Public Transportation
There’s a popular slogan for business professionals and everyday people alike that goes something like, “MARTA is Smarta.” There is a lot of truth to that mantra. MARTA is the metropolitan Atlanta area’s answer to an effective and efficient public transportation system. MARTA consists of red, gold, blue, and green lines that go as far south as the Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport and as far north as North Springs station. It has a bus that many Alpharetta commuters take from the Mansell Park-and-Ride to make their long journey to Atlanta for work a less perilous one and one that is able to run more smoothly after it’s time to clock out and traffic has commenced. At $2.50 per ride, the bus and train are a cost-effective way to get to most places in the metro area.
Walk
If you’re looking for a little bit of exercise combined with scenic views of the city, walking is your friend. It will take a while longer, but most parts of the city, especially the Downtown, Midtown, Little Five Point/Inman Park, and Buckhead areas are fairly walkable. Sacrificing your feet to walk a mile versus waiting for a bus to leave its port or meet its stop might prove to be the better alternative. Because of all of the sights there are to see and the fact that I always happen upon a restaurant or spot I’ve never seen before, I prefer walking in Atlanta from time to time, especially when the weather is nice. Fall and spring are the most opportune times to indulge in this mode of transportation.
Atlanta Streetcar
The Atlanta Streetcar is one of the newest additions to modes of transportation on Atlanta’s roads. It was developed and built to become a tourist attraction to out of towners who wanted to visit the local shops and eats that the city had to offer on a route that is mostly limited to the Downtown area. Along its line is Edgewood Avenue, Peachtree Street and Woodruff Park with attractions like the Sweet Auburn Market, Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, and Dobbs Plaza. You can be dropped off at these spots for as little as $1 for a single trip, $3 for daily passes, and $11 for a weekly. How could you beat that?
Ride-Share Services
Taxis are almost a thing of the past and it’s mostly due to the rise in ride-share drivers, especially in more metropolitan areas. Atlanta is buzzing with an abundance of Uber and Lyft drivers who can take you from Point A to Point B and sometimes Point C with the click of a button. A quick ride to a doctor’s appointment or a hair appointment, to the grocery store or back to your place from a concert are all made a lot simpler through Uber and Lyft. They are also prominent in areas on the outskirts of Atlanta which makes them dependable services especially in areas where a bus line might not extend too far, such as Marietta. If all else fails and you aren’t concerned about potentially encountering a little traffic, ride-share services might be your lifesaver and your best means of getting around Atlanta.
Bicycles
Atlanta isn’t the most bike-friendly city in the country, but bikes can be ridden and are ridden often by city dwellers, especially in areas where college campuses are prominent like the downtown and midtown areas. Speaking of which, there are also Relay hub stations located around the city that allow you to rent bicycles on either a pay-as-you go service or a monthly service. It costs $8 per hour to ride a bike and $15-20 a month to have an hour of daily rides every day for that month. Once your time is up, just return the bike at a hub station and grab a train or bus home.
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What are some of your favorite ways to explore or get around the city you live in? Share with us in the comments below!
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from Apartment Living Blog https://www.forrent.com/blog/apt_life/transportation-options-atlanta/
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