Our Weekly Kick off the Week (KOTW) newsletter - Clever Commute

Our Weekly Kick off the Week (KOTW) newsletter

2025

17-November - What's the deal with the printed schedules ("timetables")
10-November - A reminder of our roots in crowdsourcing
3-November - MTA is crushing it / MTA is failing
27-October - What is normal? Is this normal?
20-October - Clever Commute supports the communities it serves
14-October -The headlines you need as we head into the 4th quarter of the year
06-October -This week, Clever Commute is the (News12) story + new Clever Tools features
29-September - Metro North keeps getting better + LIRR riders win!
22-September - LIRR: Good news and bad news
15-September - LIRR may strike this week!
08-September - Beyond the app: where commuters hang out
02-September - Will you and I still be in the workforce once Penn Station is overhauled?
26-August - Murder by data: Bloomberg's analysis of commuting to NYC
18-August - New Clever feature plus hostile transit providers
11-August - Changes ahead for LIRR, MNR, Clever Commute!
04-August - Why did Mikie Sherrill say she'll fix transit in NJ?
28-July - This PATH fiasco breaks my heart
21-July - Blunt talk about RTO
14-July - Let me show you "odd" (NJT-style)
07-July - 3Q 2025 - Ask me anything (AMA)
30-June - MTA is 60 years late
23-June - The heat is on!
16-June - Again with the signs? (yes)
09-June - Does 7th Avenue go to Boston?
02-June - Summer of swell?
27-May - Ten Years / Version 10
19-May - No, the NJT strike is NOT a thing (now)
12-May - Yes - the NJT strike is a thing, but...
5-May - Three sides to the NJT strike
28-April - Expanded Beta plus "Hoboken terminal vs Liberty Airport"
21-April - Red flag beta testers needed, and Trump?
14-April - Googly eyes + Beautiful data
07-April - MTA sneakerhead
31-March - More on "why CleverCommute exists"
24-March - Free Clever Commute Premium for your non-profit
17-March - 100% on-time performance (heavily caveated)
10-March - Public Transportation Deserts + The end of the Quiet Car?
3-March - PATH, nostalgia plus a new subreddit
24-February - Time travel is real!
17-February - RTO is happening
10-February - Improvements are coming
03-February - 1Q 2025 - Ask me anything (AMA)
27- January - What are you (not) missing?
20 -January - Meet the new (NJT) boss
13-January - You seeing this &*%@?
06-January - Kick off the YEAR

2024

23-December - Turn a Clever Commute Membership into Funds for Your Event
16-December - We <heart> feedback
09-December - Gridlock alerts + "Flying off the digital shelf"
02-December - Holiday shopping plus Portal Bridge
25-November - Commuter News
18-November - Understanding the business model
11-November - New version of Clever Commute app PLUS "lemons => lemonade"
04-November - Hoboken PATH to shut down for most of February
28-October - Ask me anything!
21-October - Media coverage continues
12-October - A call-out of the NY Post article
06-October - [Sunday evening edition] Heads up re: Oct 7 protests
30-September - Grand Central Terminal is gross! (well, at least it was)
23-September - Amazon did NOT consult me on their RTO plans
16-September - A special edition (welcome to the MANY new joiners)
09-September - Flipping the script
03-September - Cautionary tales of saving $$$ on both LIRR and NJT
26-August - "Enjoy" your free week on NJT
19-August - Is this *THE* story of the year?
12-August - Good content and a real question
05-August - 3 hours underground. No AC. No movement.
29-July - Summer news
22-July - Shoot your shot / AMA
15-July - In 2035, we'll look back and laugh
08-July - What does this have to do with Netflix?
01-July - Can't sugar coat it
24-June - That was a HELL of a week
17-June - A HOT week is coming
10-June - It's bad, and it's not even Summer yet
28-May - That was a crappy week for NJ Transit
20-May - Are Metro-North and NJT Flexing?
13-May - TY and heads up (NJT fares and tickets)
06-May - News for all, especially NJT riders
29-April - Back to Business
22-April - I've got a question for you
15-April - Ouch / Huh? / Ahhh
08-April - THIS is how you tempt fate
01-April - <Insert punny April Fool's title>
25-March - The view from an influencer
18-March - Welp, we officially went REALLY viral
09-March - [Saturday edition] New date for paywall is TBD
04-March - Welp, we officially went viral
27-Febraury - A new Clever product (beta) and "what falls off the trestle?"
20-Febraury - The NY Times shows why NJT is really the worst
12-Febraury - Paywall / Snow + trestle update
29-January - Paywall (I shoulda thought of this sooner)
22-January - Paywall remains down + 2023 recap (Part 2)
16-January - We took the Paywall down + 2023 recap
08-January - Gross? Expected? Both?
02-January - Kick off the YEAR!

2023

18-December - I'm calling "Bull"
11-December - Penn Station is beginning to look a lot like...
04-December - 7th Avenue entrance reopened
27-November - Announcing even more improvements
20-November - NJ Transit really is OUTSTANDING (and that's good for us)
13-November - NJ Transit is OUTSTANDING
06-November - Real examples of the value
30-October - Kicking off the week on Monday makes sense
24-October - Sometimes, you just gotta vent
17-October - Monday Monday (a rough commute)
10-October - Clever Commute supports the communities it serves
03-October - A freebie
26-September - Awwww, isn't that cute?
19-September - "Back to the office" - still a thing?
12-September - The solution to the writer's strike?
05-September - Name one thing
29-August - Dog Days
22-August - Hollywood!
15-August - It's time
01-August - Gone fishin'
25-July - I am thankful for your support
18-July - IMPORTANT: An appeal to you (see a trend?)
11-July - IMPORTANT: An appeal to you
05-July - I'm not an influencer (yet)
27-June - No dog days! 20K hits on our latest tip!
20-June - Important (and interesting) news
13-June - Railroaded! Rail <space> Roaded?
30-May - (Version) Eight is Great!
23-May - Memorial Day Friday getaway advice
16-May - Sometimes, you just gotta vent
09-May - Records shattered and (more) helping non-profits
02-May - Clever Commute supports charities and non-profits
25-April - A new normal
18-April - How's this for a guarantee?
11-April - Our #1 TikTok evah
04-April - One question
29-March - Penn Station tonight and DeCamp last week
21-March - What's the opposite of slow news week?
14-March - We took down the paywall due to the weather
07-March - LIRR's chaotic rollout at Grand Central Madison
28-February - The differences between Metro-North, LIRR and NJT amaze me
21-February - Short week, but we're always here for you
14-February - The media is funny about commuting
06-February - Commute with me to FiDi
30-January - Things ARE happening in the world of commuting
23-January - Quick! What train is #1009?
17-January - 9 ways to get Premium service for free
09-January - Imagine a .0024 cost increase
03-January - Kick off the Year (KOTY)

2022

19-December - Not just TikToks
12-December - 10K TikToks
05-December - "Funny" and "Serious"
28-November - The perfect gift
21-November - Thoughts about "Getaway Day"
14-November - Not to be braggy, but I am now an influencer
07-November - Our top TikToks
31-October - Insert Halloween Pun Here
24-October - Baby Boom?
17-October - How did YOU hear about Clever Commute?
11-October - How to keep on growing
03-October - I asked. You answered.
26-September - One question
19-September - 1 Picture = 1,000 words
12-September - More on back-to-work
06-September - Some back-to-work challenges and some good news
29-August - 90 seconds of edutainment
22-August - Conductor Josh is fame-ish
15-August - MNR/NJT/LIRR will never do this
08-August - STILL the not-so Dog Days of Summer
01-August - The not-so Dog Days of Summer
25-July - Elon Musk says remote workers are just pretending to work. Turns out he’s (sort of) right.
18-July - TikTok vs YouTube (Goliath vs Davey)
11-July - The answer may depend on who you ask
05-July - Consider becoming a sustaining sponsor
27-June - Ready or not, a surge is coming
20-June - The NJT job action last Friday
13-June - Penn Station is changing
06-June - "The commute" vs "Commuting"
31-May - Things are looking normal, don'thca think?
23-May - LIRR is changing. Penn Station is changing.
16-May - Still on the fence (re: CleverCommute has changed)
09-May - CleverCommute has changed
02-May - (Extended) Changes to how CleverCommute works
25-April - Thanks as April winds down
18-April - Sounds of 2022
11-April - Lid blown off - and other superlatives
04-April - Seventh Heaven
28-March - Two asks
21-March - Spring sprang!
14-March - I picked the wrong week to skip a KOTW
28-February - What Motivates Me
22-February - Jokes and Truths
14-February - MTA and NJT - Credit where credit is due
07-February - The funniest thing I've seen in a while
31-January - Things are looking up!
24-January - Yeah, so what is next?
18-January - Let's talk about What's Next?
10-January - App Stores: Publishers need to run just to stand still
03-January - It's 2022 - Get involved!

2021

27-December - The final KOTW of 2021
20-December - Could this be my favorite feature?
13-December - It's beginning to look a lot like gridlock
6-December - How's your shopping going?
29-November - Give the perfect gift (to yourself)
22-November - Getaway week and a reason to smile/cringe
15-November - Schedule changes on LIRR and NJT Trains (sent Sunday 14-Nov)
08-November - Thanksgiving one year later: What a difference!
01-November - What does any of this have to do with Indian food?
25-October - How I commute (Chapter 1 - my bag)
18-October - The data is in: Return to Office is happening
11-October - Share-ers now automatically get Premium for free
04-October - What about a Commuter's Bill of Rights?
27-September - I want to give you something
20-September - What makes Clever Clever? THIS!
13-September - I commute by boat + a HUGE bump in ridership
07-September - Welcome (partially) back to commuting
30-August - Let's share Return to Office stories
23-August - LIRR puts on a clinic of how to NOT treat paying customers
16-August - Summer homework for both of us
09-August - Staying focused during the Dog Days
02-August - Let's talk about hybrid (3 of 3)
26-July - SPECIAL TOPIC: I eat my dogfood
19-July - Let's talk about what's new (2 of 3)
12-July - Let's talk about what's new (1 of 3)
28-June - Things are happening...changing on the commute
21-June - Honest (and provocative?) thoughts from me as a commuter
14-June - Resources for the Return to Office
07-June - One Question
01-June - Tunnel vision
24-May - I still got it
17-May - A personal experience working from office
10-May - A personal note about work from home
03-May - The Big Dogs Speak
26-April - Millions vs Billions
12-April - (Interesting) Stats and Lists
05-April - 8,000 Cameras in the subway
29-March - Special Edition - My return to the office
22-March - Special Edition - "Crisis = Opportunity"
15-March - LIRR retreats on Covid-19 service cuts
08-March - Has LIRR gone mad?
01-March - Things are better. Things are worse.
22-February - Vax Transit
16-February - The Japanese want a train to nowhere
08-February - Longer hours = New Normal
01-February - Something sad...something funny
25-January - It's a fact: NJT is not a good way to commute
19-January - 20+ years behind schedule but somehow right on time
11-January - How the cool kids get to the city
04-January - KOTW? KOTY...with lots of news

2020

21-December - Why can't we have nice things?
14-December - I'm obsessed with the fake commute (and more)
07-December - "Commute" tips / Oversleeping on train
30-November - How does Clever Feierabend sound?
23-November - Getaway day touchstone
16-November - Now we're making progress
09-November - Smooth the lumpiness
02-November - RTO Course Correction
26-October - Revisiting Oct 5 KOTW - an update
19-October - Is this encouraged vs horrified ...part II ?
12-October - Let's pick encouraged over horrified
05-October - One idea for what happens next on Clever
28-September - 30 seconds of your time can really help
21-September - FYI AKA XBL (what?)
14-September - Skipping last week was a bad decision
07-September - Labor day...no KOTW published
31-August - Will LIRR cut service in half?
24-August - New app version and some insane commuting news
17-August - Trying to get to the new normal
10-August - Green shoots but also worrisome news
03-August - A few logistics during these dog days of Summar
27-July - NYC Phase 4 - What it means for Clever Commuters
15-June - Lies, damned lies, and statistics
08-June - Paywall is down due to Phase 1 of NYC reopening
01-June - 1st batch of COVID-19-related app enhancements are in place
26-May - Preparing for re-entry and a call for ideas
18-May - You buying this?
11-May - I looked for good news, and I found it
04-May - The agency lost 98% of its ridership
27-April - Tears of sorrow. Tears of joy
20-April - News for you...news from us
13-April - We're using this window to improve the product
06-April - News for work-from-home commuters 🙂
30-March - Staying connected even though we may not be commuting
23-March - Clever Commute guy is working from home. And you?
16-March - How to cancel your monthly LIRR/NJT/ Metro North ticket
08-March - Special Coronavirus notice
02-March - Can Train Daddy fix NJ Transit?
24-February - Clever wins Twitter!
18-February - A "commercial" and a Twitter battle
10-February - 131, 30, 1264, 41, 0, 797 (Not a typo...not a snap count)?
03-February - What exactly is Clever Commute Premium?
27-January - News on rail fares and "being social"
21-January - Kick off the (short) week!
13-January - Can we talk?
06-January - Kick off the year!

2019

16-December, 2019 - Verified! We have the perfect gift for commuters.
09-December, 2019 - What you REALLY want for the holidays
02-December, 2019 - Paywall taken down due to pending weather
25-November, 2019 - Thanksgiving getaway guide
18-November, 2019 - (2019) New Year's Resolutions
11-November, 2019 - Seeking sign-up spikes
04-November, 2019 - New "heads up" feature plus Reddit karma
28-October, 2019 - Things are/are not happening
21-October, 2019 - The worst acid trip on NJT
14-October, 2019 - A good read...even if you are off for Columbus day
07-October, 2019 - Our latest free app version, plus other news
30-September, 2019 - "the very worst commuter train in America"
23-September, 2019 - Now arriving on track 17 - MEASLES!
16-September, 2019 - New LIRR cars, HoBo crash news and Clever charity
09-September, 2019 - About that 1/2-hour commute
03-September, 2019 - "You can't ____ here. This is the quiet car"
26-August, 2019 - Jet-ski guy
19-August, 2019 - NJ TRANSIT Got It Right – Again!
12-August, 2019 - Follow the money...and be human
05-August, 2019 - Special Edition: 1 thing and 8 ways
29-July, 2019 - Things are rough all over
22-July, 2019 - NJ commuters can't catch a break (LIRR and MNR: Don't laugh)
15-July, 2019 - NYT: "Is 'Summer of Hell' back?" NJT: "Hold my beer"
08-July, 2019 - About that getaway day, Advocacy and Being Social
01-July, 2019 - LIRR changes, Getwaway guide, crazy headlines
24-June, 2019 - Venting, free Premium service, and "Worse than NJT"?
17-June, 2019 - Oh, no. Summer of Pain/Summer of Hell
10-June, 2019 - Important updates for ALL commuters
03-June, 2019 - Pole Dancing Rat
28-May, 2019 - Google Guy Dinghy Commute
20-May, 2019 - Special Edition: Memorial Day 2019 Getaway Guide
13-May, 2019 - Fore! You just lost your parking spot!
06-May, 2019 - More info about rough Summer commutes at NYP
29-April, 2019 - LIRR worker earns $344K in overtime? Meh.
22-April, 2019 - Another rough Summer for NJT commuters
15-April, 2019 - Dog bites man
08-April, 2019 - A book as your ticket...plus a question for our Android users
01-April, 2019 - LIRR fare-beaters, new PATH chief...and an "ask"
25-March, 2019 - Spring Sale EXTENDED (and NJT runs on Dunkin')
18-March, 2019 - Spring Sale (and other news)
11-March, 2019 - Another dog post?
25-February, 2019 - Puppy on the tracks!
19-February, 2019 - Shame? Savage?
11-February, 2019 - Nicknames, inflation and train numbers
04-February, 2019 - Maybe use duct tape on track fires?
28-January, 2019 - "Penn Station is proof that the Devil is real...and he is winning"
22-January, 2019 - "Soul-sucking" commute. Really? Show us the numbers. Oh 🙁
14-January, 2019 - Knitting as a top story for commuters
7-January, 2019 - Kick off the YEAR...and "So much news"

2018

17-December, 2018 - 10th and final app release of the year
10-December, 2018 - The press takes notice
3-December, 2018 - THE best review? and is PATH "dangerous"
26-November, 2018 - Plastic wrap causes major NJTransit, Amtrak delays
19-November, 2018 - A lookback at last Thursday plus getaway day advice
13-November, 2018 - Autumn leaves
05-November, 2018 - Vote and Vent
29-October, 2018 - Cuomo and Trump in scary YouTube drama
22-October, 2018 - Cocktail Parties and Field Hockey Games
15-October, 2018 - ANOTHER special message for NJ commuters (surprised?)
15-October, 2018 - Sometimes, the commute can make you crazy. Here is what to do.
9-October, 2018 - A special message for NJ commuters
9-October, 2018 - A message (actually a question) for all non-NJ commuters
1-October, 2018 - I waited 12 years to send this mail
24-September, 2018 - NJT Fall (and Winter) of Hell plus so much more
17-September, 2018 - I don't know what to say
10-September, 2018 - More tough times for NJT
04-September, 2018 - Summer is over. Here come the crowds.
27-August, 2018 - Labor Day Getaway Advice plus "Free Premium" is Extended
20-August, 2018 - Premium is currently free for all NJ commuters
13-August, 2018 - New verson and old joke
05-August, 2018 - Ugh, Summer of Hell is back
30-July, 2018 - Why I love doing this
23-July, 2018 - Take me to your leader (board)
16-July, 2018 - Lessons learned as an app publisher
09-July, 2018 - Trick Question
02-July, 2018 - Turn on, tune in, drop out
25-June, 2018 - Thought I've seen it all
18-June, 2018 - The Recent Alerts page does not show anything new or helpful
11-June, 2018 - Spring Social
04-June, 2018 - 3..2..1..Blastoff
29-May, 2018 - You'd tell me, right?
21-May, 2018 - Memorial Day Getaway
14-May, 2018 - Data is beautiful
07-May, 2018 - The Long Haul
30-April, 2018 - 8 Ways to get Premium for Free
23-April, 2018 - Can you keep a secret?
16-April, 2018 - How to fix YOUR transit provider
09-April, 2018 - One question...many answers
02-April, 2018 - Easter Monday
26-March, 2018 - Spring Sprang!
19-March, 2018 - The "feature" we don't want to add
12-March, 2018 - March came in like a lion
05-March, 2018 - So, how was YOUR Friday PM commute?
26-February, 2018 - Welcome NY Times readers...and info for all users
20-February, 2018 - Get to the latest version (3.1.5) and get social, too
12-February, 2018 - Help us help you help them
05-February, 2018 - We give and we give
29-January, 2018 - New year...new version of the app
22-January, 2018 - There's an old joke in technology...
16-January, 2018 - The Most Awful Transit Center in America Could Get Unimaginably Worse
08-January, 2018 - Winter of Hell?
01-January, 2018 - NJ Transit is a 'national disgrace'

2017

18-December, 2017 - Twenty minutes late? No! 20 seconds early!
11-December, 2017 - Grassroots and Bootstrapped
04-December, 2017 - Could the T-Rex make our commuting headaches extinct?
27-November, 2017 - This may surprise you
20-November, 2017 - Prepare for the Thanksgiving Getaway
13-November, 2017 - New phone model and new business models
06-November, 2017 - Get out (in) and vote!
30-October, 2017 - Boo! And "best practices"
23-October, 2017 - It's always 'busy season'
16-October, 2017 - Sometimes, you gotta scream
02-October, 2017 - New Version, New Deal
25-September, 2017 - Nicknames for fellow riders
18-September, 2017 - FYI CC is also B2B
11-September, 2017 - Summer Of ??? / September 11
05-September, 2017 - Summer Of Hell is Over. Get Premium for Free!
28-August, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 8) - Summer Of Hell Ends (?)
21-August, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 7) - Eat your own dog food
14-August, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 6) - Challenge, verify and vote
07-August, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 5) - More Data, 1%, Sharing
31-July, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 4) - You control what you see
24-July, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 3) - Vacations!
17-July, 2017 - Summer Of Hell (Week 2)
08-July, 2017 - SPECIAL Summer Of Hell Starts now
05-July, 2017 - Less than 1 week until Summer of Hell
26-June, 2017 - 2 weeks until #Transitgeddon...and don't be an anti-vaxxer
19-June, 2017 - Commuting by the numbers (includes info about 10 NJT trains to consider avoiding)
12-June, 2017 - Hot off the press: the transitgeddon version of the free app
05-June, 2017 - Your source for #transitgeddon news
30-May, 2017 - We are nothing if not Social
22-May, 2017 - Getaway Day + Transitgeddon
15-May, 2017 - frightening, fragile, ugly and vulnerable