Almost 3 years after launching, SunRail still hasn't quite "taken off". In the most recent rush…read morehour trip, the train was maybe one-quarter capacity full - not sure if you're allowed to stand, but in the carriage I occupied, you could be completely anti-social, with no one sitting next to you, no one across from you. It's still earthbound because old habits are hard to break, driving is too easy, the fare is too high (for what you're getting), there's a stigma to taking the bus (if your home/destination isn't near a station), frequency is non-existent (30 min. wait during rush hour, REALLY!), no service on weekends... there are myriad reasons. IMO, none is good, and none is insurmountable.
Eager to walk the talk, I've resolved to use it as often as I possibly can, as much as I enjoy driving my car. I look at the positives: no stressful driving during rush hour is the primary one, putting steps on my Fitbit, fostering a habit to plan ahead and around ("I'm NOT the center of the universe!"). Yesterday, I learned to take my bike, which, too, is quite hassle-free. As a result, I biked a total of 10 miles, and put in 26,000 steps (even if Fitbit short-changed me by 6,000, since their stupid app doesn't give you 'step credit' for biking). I know this rating is about the Longwood station, but those thoughts have to go somewhere.
This station is about 2 miles from home: a half hour walk or a 10 min. bike ride. In or near the peak of the summer season, it's a bit of a challenge - I'd drive to the station and hop on. This time of the year, it is very manageable. There are no bathrooms at this station, and the walking route to it coming from the north on 427 can be a bit challenging. Arrive early - in my experience, the train has never been late yet. It's been early by a minute or so a few times.
We as citizens of the Orlando area need to decide - do we want to go forward, or backward? Unlike the auto transmission indicator in your car, in this decision "D" for "Drive" is the same as "R", for "Reverse".