Okay, so I love public transportation, really, I do!  When I lived in New York, I made it a habit to take the subway everyday, going so far as to even taking the Shuttle into Grand Central, which was so packed you couldn’t even read your newspaper.  I even wrote an essay for b-school apps on a woman directing pedestrian traffic down there.  (I found her inspirational.)

Sure, there’s the environmental consideration, and cost, but I see the bus/subway/train as a major productivity enhancer.  Let me explain:

For 35 minutes, I get to sort through emails, review attachments, schedule meetings, and manage my priority action list.  A cab is too fast and too jerky, resulting in nausea and diminished activity, and driving yourself is, well, a waste of time.  By the time I get to the office, I’m roaring to go on projects that require more mental stamina and can tune out for the better part of the morning, which is my most productive time.

Plus, when I do lift my head up, there are another 20+ people are consuming technology in different ways, and I get to observe their activities.  Is the occasional delayed arrival or live chicken in a plastic bag worth it?  Absolutely!

Think the Google Bus is a nice perk to their employees?  No chance, it’s a calculated ROI – extracting additional productivity from their workforce instead of them listening to talk or sports radio during a lousy commute on the 101.

So try it out, tell me what you think!

Find Michael on the 41/45, MUNI trains to SOMA, BART and an occasional CalTrain!