The good thing about Medtrade is the entire industry coming together. The bad thing is that sometimes, they all need a cab at the same time.

If you’re looking for an alternative to the long and winding (not to mention expensive) taxi line, consider the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA).

Each ride on MARTA is $1.75 per person, but if you plan to make MARTA a commuting habit during your Atlanta stay, you can buy a four-day pass good for unlimited rides Sept. 18-21, 2006. Each pass is just $12, no matter how many trips you take between your hotel and the Georgia World Congress Center, CNN Center, restaurants and other Atlanta diversions.

You can purchase individual tokens at vending machines at each train station, or you can purchase the specially priced visitor’s pass starting on Sept. 18 at RideStore locations at the Airport, Five Points, Lindbergh and Lenox Stations.

If you decide to purchase individual tokens, plan to use smaller bills, as the vending machines dispense combinations of tokens and quarters — no other change. So if you insert a $5 bill into the vending machine, for instance, it will dispense two tokens (each good for one ride) and six quarters. Tokens are non-refundable.

For more MARTA information — including maps, schedules, using bus/rail transfers and group sales — go to www.itsmarta.com/howto/special/eventdetails.asp?id=98