Why I Ride MARTA

I’m not the most obvious advocate for MARTA ridership. I grew up in a small town in northwest Georgia, I’ve never traveled abroad to experience world-class transit, and I have four kids and a minivan. I’ve enjoyed taking public transit while visiting places like New York and Washington D.C., but what really sparked my interest was a book: City on the Verge by Mark Pendergrast. It explores Atlanta’s future through the lens of the Beltline and urban design. I was captivated by the ideas of human-scaled cities and walkable neighborhoods. That inspiration led me to buy a commuter bike, then an e-bike, and eventually to start riding MARTA one to two times a week.

Exploring D.C. on the Metro with my daughter.

But the real reason I’ve continued riding MARTA came after giving it a try: It made me happy - while driving made me angry.  And apparently, I’m not alone. A national U.S. survey found that relying on a car for more than half of your weekly trips is linked to lower life satisfaction. When I drive, I tend to become the worst version of myself—impatient, irritable, judgmental. But when I ride MARTA, I slow down. I breathe. I notice the people and places around me. I feel more connected and more compassionate. My commute no longer feels like a competition and I’m reminded that we’re all in this together.

We live in Chamblee, which is on the Gold Line.

There’s also something deeply satisfying about getting where you’re going without a car. It feels like beating the system. When I arrive, I’ll text my wife, “30 minutes door to door!” and she’ll lovingly pretend to care. It takes a little planning, but I actually enjoy that part—it feels like urban hiking.  Two helpful apps are Breeze Mobile 2, which lets you reload and scan your fare from your phone (no more Breeze Card and vending machine), and MARTA On The Go, which helps you time your trip and reduce waiting (weekday and weekend schedules are the same).

Photo credit: MARTA

The health benefits are compelling—but so are the costs of car dependency. According to AAA’s 2024 Driving Cost Study, the average cost of owning a car exceeds $1,000 per month, and 37% of American families own two cars. And then there are the hidden costs—like the $4,000 it takes to create a basic urban parking spot or up to $60,000 for an underground space. As Jeff Speck points out in Walkable City, we all pay for these spaces indirectly, through nearly every commercial transaction. Don’t get me wrong—I’m grateful for our minivan and how it supports our family of six. But convenience comes at a price. And for many, car ownership isn’t even an option. That creates real barriers—social, economic, even emotional.

The traffic-inspired Atlanta adage, "We Full", is really an indictment on our planning, not our population. Atlanta ranks 143rd in population density in the US. Photo credit: Atlanta Regional Commission

At ATL ADU, our focus is housing. And housing and transit are inseparably linked. More housing increases transit ridership, and stronger transit supports more housing. It’s a virtuous cycle—and a necessary one if we want to build a healthy, thriving, inclusive Atlanta. We believe Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) are part of the solution. They can be built by right, don’t require off-street parking, and often sit near existing transit lines. Not everyone can build an ADU—but everyone can ride the train. It’s not perfect, but it’s a meaningful step—for your health and for the health of our city.

This 2 bed, 2 bath ADU in Kirkwood is near the East Lake MARTA Station. The primary homeowner's parents live here full time.

If we can help you build an ADU, or celebrate your first MARTA commute, let us know. We’d love to ride alongside you.

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