I'm not waking up earlier then I have to just to catch the bus. Seems more time has to be alloted to walk to the bus stop, wait for it, then get off for another bus if you have to, and then walk to you destination. Then do it again in reverse if that's how you go home from work also. And what if you have to sit beside a stinky person? Or have to stand up the whole time?
I did last year when my job was in Bellaire and gas was $4+ a gallon. It was about a 30 minute drive as opposed to an hour bus ride, but I preferred the bus. Where I'm at now would take about 2 hours to get there and about 2 and a half hours to get home, so I drive.
Oh yeah, there was one day where the driver stopped too close to the curb and the door got stuck on the sidewalk. I ended up walking a mile through Downtown to get to my next bus. Aside from that my experience was mostly good.
Hmm, I take that bus too. We've probably been on the same bus at some point. I take the Park and Ride in from Kingwood every morning, and then hop on the 313 for the short ride down Allen Parkway. It takes me about an hour from house to office, whereas it would take me about 35 minutes if I drove. But I would much rather get up a little earlier than have to drive into work every morning. I like to just put on my iPod (with noise cancelling buds) and just chill until I get to my stop. The only thing you have to deal with is bus drivers being late every once in a while and the homeless people downtown hounding you while you wait for your bus in the afternoon.
If you can deal with street life, then the bus is great. I had no car for a little over a year (in Houston, TX!) and took the bus to work every day. It was painless. My girlfriend now takes the bus from Montrose to downtown for work each afternoon. One time a bum sort of had his nuts out on the bus, but other than that it's been smooth sailing. Metro has a trip planner on its website that will tell you when to be at your stop to get to the med center on time.
