Another Commuter Bites The Dust

Oh good, now she can pay NY city and NYstate taxes which are significantly higher than New jersey's.

Let the snarky comments commence!

ps: i love baristaville - it's not you, it's njt.

Today I was walking my dog down North Fullerton when a DeCamp pick-up truck got in a accident with a car. I was looking down at my dog when it happened and didn't see who hit whom - did anyone else see it?

Wrathos: I'm sorry to hear you're leaving our bucolic valhalla. Seriously though, you won't be THAT far away so we hope to see you around. Meanwhile, I'm still suffering from DeCampitis.

I agree the commute stinks but move out of Jersey?!? I guess this person doesn't work in finance because even though your cost of living goes down so does your salary.

She's moving to Park Slope. Don't think her COL will go down all that much.

Nice form letter you got back Wrathos. NJT they are a disgrace and so is DeCamp. They care about no one and it shows!!

I don't blame you for moving to NY. I did the same thing in December. Best move I ever made.

Someone else made the comment about higher NY taxes. My time is worth much more to me then a few extra dollars. Slogging back and forth each day and sucking up 3 hours a day just isn't even close to being worth it.

I'll take the crowded subway for 15-20 minutes over NJT any day.

At the sametime of the morning I used to stand waiting for the train I am now still in bed!

Montclair is a wonderful town. But it's just not worth the commuting hassle.

It could be so much better. But hardly anyone in Montclair speaks up and really puts pressure on NJT or DeCamp (present company included) to improve. Everone just rationalizes everything away and in the end accepts the really lousy service. And until people really speak up and do something...sadly the only way it's going to change...is if you move.

Maybe it's just me -- I started commuting via NJT bus (from the Allwood Road Park & Ride) and it's not too bad. In my former life, I commuted by car about 40 miles each way -- using Rt. 80 -- and this is a pleasure comparatively. There's room to park and it's fairly cheap. The buses run regularly and it's usually quiet enough to read, nap or just think. In the past six months, the only time I ran into problems was during a snow storm and that's to be expected. Frankly, I think NJT buses are pretty darned good!

Actually, DeCamp's Gary Pard apparently found a way to unjam the cap lock key on his keyboard...and just in time:

Ladies and Gentlemen/DeCamp passengers, the inevitable is happening. Effective April 18, 2008, DeCamp fares will suffer a 6% fuel surcharge increase. There is no explanation that can possibly satisfy anyone, but the costs of oil appear to be uncontrollable, certainly by us at least. Time will only tell! Thank you for your continued understanding and patronage.

"Oh good, now she can pay NY city and NYstate taxes which are significantly higher than New jersey's."

If you live in NJ and work in NY, you already pay NY taxes on the earned income. And given the recent failure of congestion pricing and the NYC deficit, what is the over/under on when NYC will reinstate the commuter tax? It was repealed 9 years ago, but I wouldn't bet against it coming back. Park Slope doesn't look so bad after all (well, aside from the expensive real estate and private school tuition)

Speaking of DeCamp, there's nothing on the site that explains the crazy ticketing system. If I buy more than one ticket at a time -- how long before they expire? I got kicked off the bus in NYC because I had an expired ticket.

The train is getting worse and worse. And worse.

Remember after 90 years we finally got train service. And the ride to Penn Station was going to be a remarkably fast 38 minutes from Montclair! Yes, indeed.

The train routinely takes over a hour from Montclair. Sometime closer to an hour fifteen. Mind boggling. And all the taxpayer money wasted on the Secaucus Station, where there are at most 5 people waiting to board every train.

The people on the train are almost always very nice. But the train ride is getting absurd. I rode the LIRR for the first 30 years of my life and it was like clockwork. If they say the train is arriving at 9:01 it arrives at 9:01. Every single time. New jersey transit always seems like they just got this train thing off the ground last year. I'm overjoyed when it takes only an hour. TO GO 20 MILES!!!!!!

I worked in the city for 8 years and the Allwood park n ride is pretty good if you ask me. I no longer commute into the city and work from home, however, I read that they were going to install the pay parking system like the North Bergen park n ride?

what a disaster that will be. They should expand that lot into the dilapidated old Sam Goody parking lot and keep the parking included with the price of RT bus fair.

You can buy a 40-pack, which expires in 60 days. The 40-pack is DeCamp's way of being able to offer a discount to regular commuters, while still being able to avoid the fraud commonly found whenever society proves itself unworthy. DeCamp thought about offering a monthly pass similar to the NJ Transit pass, but found that some riders would use the monthly pass to get into the city, then once in the city, would give it to someone else who would then use it to take the bus home and then give it to someone else who would then use it to get into the city, and then give it back to the original passholder, who would use it to get home in the evening.

Thanks complainer -- I knew I was unworthy and that's why those tickets expired. So to get the discount, I've got to commit to riding DeCamp 40 times in two months. Not sure I can stomach that. If I don't care about a discount and buy 15 tickets, are they still good for 60 days?

WOW! Makes me glad to be a resident of "way-outta-Baristaville." We live on the Bergen/Main Line for NJTransit. Our bus and rail options are many. My son takes a train to high school every week day in JC. His train is always on time. When I commuted to NYC a few years ago (I now drive to Montclair for work) I had three different bus lines to choose from. Aside from getting mildly bus sick (I was pregnant at the time), it always went pretty well. Maybe Wrathos has a point - it IS Montclair (or at least the transit options available here) that's the issue.

Y'all move to Bergen County - we no longer require you wear whale pants or docksiders to get in!

I wonder how much NJT train's woes are directly attributable to the fact that the tracks are Amtrak's. It seemed to me when I took the train in a former life, we always got delayed waiting for some (I imagine) half empty train to DC to go by first.

I'm jinxing myself here, but my Decamp bus has been mostly tolerable lately. At least the commute's been predictable.

"I'm jinxing myself here, but my Decamp bus has been mostly tolerable lately. At least the commute's been predictable."

Same here, since I switched to the 66R line instead of the 33.

Individual DeCamp tickets expire in one year.

I've been commuting via NJT train from Glen Ridge into Penn station for the last 5 years, and while not crazy about the whole endeavor, I don't think NJT is that bad. Sure there's the occasional delay and crowded train, but I can count the number of times I haven't been able to get a seat on a train. The conductors run the gamut from admirable to diabolic, but that's the case anywhere. I'm satisfied with NJT.

Decamp has 3 ticket options, (listed in order of decreasing cost per ride)

- single ride tickets, good for 1 year

- 10 pack discounted tickets, good for 30 days

- 40 pack discounted tickets, good for 60 days

I may be jinxing myself, too but I occasionally commute on the DeCamp 44. The bus drivers have been pleasant and the service on time. I commuted for 5 years to Hoboken and for the past 3 years I've been driving to Hackensack. I'd take the train any day compared to my daily commute--far more delays and traffic jams and aggravation. Driving the Garden State on Thursday/Friday rush hour in the early Summer is a nightmare.

I have to disagree that there are 5 people waiting to get on trains in Secaucus. While it's a pass-through (excuse me-transfer) station, there are thousands commuting through there every day who don't have access to Midtown Direct! The beautiful thing is that you can get on whatever train is going to Penn-maybe by the time the Montclair one comes through everyone is already on another one. In front of your train.

I have no quarrel with Secaucus stragglers, but for once in his miserable life of petty gripes mets2008 is absolutely right--one hour is an unforgivable amount of time to get a measely 12 miles as the crow flies. And that is not an exxageration for many of the peak hour routes. The average Joe could ride a bicycle faster (if it weren't for the river).

I bought a 40 pack from DeCamp as a regular commuter working as a freelancer 3 days a week. When I was laid off shortly after 9/11 my tickets expired. I couldn't believe it. I paid for the ride, why would or should they expire before a year?

Isn't the discount for buying in bulk as opposed to single tickets? It's a convenience for BOTH regular commuters AND DeCamp! Less transactions! And money up front!

I went to the office to complain and ask for a refund. The woman was soooo incredibly rude. She eventually gave me a discounted refund but insisted (or more likely snatched out of my hands) the expired and therefore useless tickets before she flung the money at me. I vowed to never again ride DeCamp. I can't believe they have the nerve to cry and threaten lawsuits when they have been so rude and cavalier in the service department.

How many times have friends complained of rude drivers who shouted at them for asking them to announce where the stop was when coming to visit us on the weekend.

The time when it was raining and they sped past the stop (and intersection) at 50 mph and left my friend in the bus shelter (at 9:00 pm) to wait over an hour for the next bus because he wasn't standing out in the rain to wave the bus down.

DeCamp is going down!

I bought a 40 pack from DeCamp as a regular commuter working as a freelancer 3 days a week. When I was laid off shortly after 9/11 my tickets expired. I couldn't believe it. I paid for the ride, why would or should they expire before a year?

Isn't the discount for buying in bulk as opposed to single tickets? It's a convenience for BOTH regular commuters AND DeCamp! Less transactions! And money up front!

I went to the office to complain and ask for a refund. The woman was soooo incredibly rude. She eventually gave me a discounted refund but insisted (or more likely snatched out of my hands) the expired and therefore useless tickets before she flung the money at me. I vowed to never again ride DeCamp. I can't believe they have the nerve to cry and threaten lawsuits when they have been so rude and cavalier in the service department.

How many times have friends complained of rude drivers who shouted at them for asking them to announce where the stop was when coming to visit us on the weekend.

The time when it was raining and they sped past the stop (and intersection) at 50 mph and left my friend in the bus shelter (at 9:00 pm) to wait over an hour for the next bus because he wasn't standing out in the rain to wave the bus down.

DeCamp is going down!

Spicoli - The commuter tax is not necessarily on it's way back. NYC does not have the ability to levy it on it's own. It must pass the NYS legislature. This is a very much hated tax in the NYC suburbs and will not likely win the support of suburban and upstate legislators that it needs for passage.

I do think that the dynamic with Amtrak can complicate...or even worsen things...but then again, I believe Amtrak owns the "last mile" for LIRR, too (so maybe its just as challenging today?) I grew up in Port Washington...and that was a great service. Took it last week from Shea...and it's still like another world compared to NJT. New cars, wide platforms...
I'd also add that you can't really appreciate how draining the commute is until you stop doing it. For about 8 years I was in the groove of Watchung-Hoboken-World-Trade-Brooklyn ...yes Brooklyn. I all honesty, it was usually about the same 1:15 that it is to today's desk at time square. But man - that three-legged thing (NJT, PATH, N/R subway) was a killer. Even when it morphed to NJT plus A train, it still felt so good when I got a new job where the only machine I ride is the midtown direct...and I walk on both ends.

Cool. Good timing. Conan gets to use his recently awarded (okay, purchased on the Internet), Doctorate in Psycholinguistics to interpret the response from NJT:

NJT response: "Good Morning, I'm sincerely sorry to hear that you're leaving New Jersey as a result of your commuting experience with NJ TRANSIT."

Interpretation: "Do not let the door hit you in the ass on the way out."

NJT response: "The feedback we receive from all of our customers, particularly the regular and loyal customers like yourself, is the key component in our mission that drives improvements, enhancements, and change that ultimately results in a better transit experience for our customers."

Interpretation: "Horse puckey, blah blah, spin, spin, horse puckey redux."

NJT response: "Best wishes and thank you again for your feedback and patronage."

Interpretation: "Please don'let the train door open on you as you lean against it whilst the train has overshot Watchung station. Or whatever."

To respond to your comment about the "rude and unhelpful staff", I understand completely. I am in the business of teaching people to improve their social skills whether to eliminate bullying in schools, increase business relationships, or improve family dynamics.

Usually it is the "unwashed" that think they are in the least need of reform and are also the most self-righteous. But when they go out of business, or loose their jobs, or begin to loose the things they hold dear, like their respect from others, maybe they will realize that we all have a duty to treat others as we would have them treat us.

Sadly, it seems to be the new american way of doing business, the new way of conduct and behavior. Take the Florida cheerleader beating which SocialSmarts has responded to and in one day had over 6000 hits.Think we hit a nerve?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=shes0PCx2a4

Especially customer service. Americans invented it! In one generation, we've destroyed one of the main underpinnings of our economy. Hopefully, social skills and manners will become as fashionable as "going green". Do not wonder why China -- which has committed genocide in Tibet murdering 1.2 million innocent people -- is taking on the economic, and yes, someday political world lead. All global politics is local. I guess we don't mind if they're in the driver's seat for our future, huh?

Hopefully businesses will "get it" that reforming customer service begins with the man in the mirror.

The simple 2 step process goes like this:
1) Out with the ego
2) Think of others first

"Usually it is the "unwashed" that think they are in the least need of reform..."

Q.E.D. That tells me all I need to know about you, Ms. Finan. Perhaps you should have your own social skills examined.

Right there with you Conan. Not to mention the spelling issues (one does not loose their job).

Read the dictionry sweetie, then read Miss Manners.

Right there with you Conan. Not to mention the spelling issues (one does not loose their job).

Read the dictionary sweetie, then read Miss Manners.

apologies for my typos and double post! ;)

Is there any way to flag Ms Finan's comment as spam?

As for NJT, I take the GR to Hob line every day and think it's fine. Unless the NYC train is late, the Hob train is on time. Even when the NYC train is late, the Hob train is sometimes able to make up the time lost. I wish they would add another car to the train so that there would be more seating options, but it's a rare day that I don't have a seat.

The NYC trains are usually delayed because of Amtrak trains. They have priority because they own the tracks. There isn't much you can do about that.

Honestly, this woman must've never ridden the NYC subway before! NJ Transit is 100 times better than the subway, any day, hands down. Stop the whining, please!

i love it when i see someone politely ask if they could sit in the empty seat next to the person and that person looks at person like they asked them to take off their clothes. It is a seat that anyone is entitled to sit in. Riding the train is amusing. Watching people huff and puff b/c they can't slide over and they have to get up step out of the way to let someone sit next to them..geesh

I think you might have been referring to me, kharinglover. But what you probably didn't realize is that I buy a second montly pass for my briefcase. But if you did actually ask me to take off my clothes...that would be a different matter entirely.

Well, the person moving to Park Slope will pay a lot less in commutation costs. And I'm pretty sure real estate taxes in the city are much lower than our state's.

Re the politeness (or rudeness) of train passengers -- I used to commute via train between Bay St. and Newark. In the evening most of the 3-seaters or 2-seaters had at least 1 person already there when I would get on. Invariably, even those occupying THREE SEATS sould be extremely annoyed when I asked them to remove whatever was taking up a seat. Pigs!

"In my former life, I commuted by car about 40 miles each way -- using Rt. 80 -- and this is a pleasure comparatively."

With the traffic on Rte 3, MontclairMom, I bet the 10 or so mile commute is about the same or longer than your old 40 mile commute. By bus or by car, rush hour is seriously an hour or more.

"I've been commuting via NJT train from Glen Ridge into Penn station for the last 5 years... I don't think NJT is that bad. Sure there's the occasional delay and crowded train"

I think you may be confusing "occasional delay" with "occasionally on time," mother_of_i. The 7:36 from Watchung rarely arrives before 7:44 (the scheduled Hoboken train) and VERY rarely gets to Penn anywhere close to it's scheduled 8:24.

complainerpuss - is that an invitation?

NYC taxes more than Montclair? No way. The tax base in NYC is so much larger than the dinky NJ municipalities. I get the bills for my father's house on Staten Island which total a little over $3K for the year. The house has been assessed at over 500K. How does this even come close to being more than anywhere in NJ?

Lived in the Slope, then Long Island.

LI Commute is a nightmare compared to ours.

Park Slope is only good commute if you work downtown/wall street, otherwise its 45-50 minutes on the F.

Do we need to start an NJ Transit support group?

In fact, a group of us are starting to do just that! We're a group of riders in Bloomfield, GR, and Montclair associated with the New Jersey Association of Railway Passengers (www.nj-arp.org). Send me a private message if you're interested in joining.

George

NJ transit doesn't give a hoot this lady is not riding anymore. They are practically a monolopy. Try the bus - the great unwashed, road traffic, and yes reclining seats so you can get REAL personal with that guy in front of you. You'll be back to the train in no time.

The train from Montclair to NYC takes 50+ minutes because it stops every other freakin block!! But the over-entitled won't let that change, so stop your bitchen.

Face it....your livelihood, and your ability to afford montclair requires you to work in the city. As for miss goodbye - there are 4 people willing to take her place and are probably bidding on her place right now.

I think the response from Mr. Grieco at NJ TRANSIT was a sincere one - it doesn't appear to be a standard form letter that I'm used to seeing. He was obviously responsive to this person in the past - what is he supposed to do, beg? I ride NJ TRANSIT every day and it sure beats driving.

I totally agree with Wrathos about NJT! I don't know how many emails I've sent them about the horrible service, the late trains, and mechanical failures. All I get back from them is a form letter where they just blame Amtrak for everything! I don't understand how a train ride that SHOULD be 30 mins climbs to 1 hour or more. I used to travel my LIRR in the good old days -- the ride was pleasant, on time, and 25 mins. I want to rally NJT riders to petition New Jersey Transit, but I don't know where to begin. Oh, btw, the commute is going to get even worse when the Northeast Corridor construction starts in May.

nochooches writes:

I want to rally NJT riders to petition New Jersey Transit, but I don't know where to begin.

Yes you do know where to begin - join our local commuters' group! Email me at georgejr at musser dot com. A webpage specific to the Montclair should be up at nj-arp.org before long.

George