How much could you save by riding transit instead of driving?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

According to the American Public Transportation Association, an average two-person American household can save $825 a month by giving up one car in favor of public transit (those figures include parking). In New York, the city at the top of the list, savings could add up to more than $14,000 per year. In Las Vegas, it would be more like $9,000 -- still some serious change.

http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-07-how-much-could-you-save-by-riding-transit-instead-of-driving

[mawilson 2,133]

In New York, the city at the top of the list, savings could add up to more than $14,000 per year.

I believe it.

Monthly parking here is around $400-500 per month, so if you *drive* to work, you'll need

twice that amount - $10-12k per year plus another $2k for gas.

PS. Totally worth it!!!

Edited March 8, 2011 by mawilson

[Ban Hammer 13,398]

According to the American Public Transportation Association, an average two-person American household can save $825 a month by giving up one car in favor of public transit (those figures include parking). In New York, the city at the top of the list, savings could add up to more than $14,000 per year. In Las Vegas, it would be more like $9,000 -- still some serious change.

http://www.grist.org/article/2011-03-07-how-much-could-you-save-by-riding-transit-instead-of-driving

i'll let you be the one to tell nessa to walk to work.

[Dan and Judy 614]

I live close enough to work that I could walk if I wasn't such a lazy butt. I haven't had to fill up since this Libya thing started

[rika60607 215]

We have only one car, but we would not have saved anything by getting rid of it.

It pays to have a cheap reliable car with super-awesome mileage

...and perfect driving records for super-cheap car insurance

[one...two...tree 2,762]

We have only one car, but we would not have saved anything by getting rid of it.

It pays to have a cheap reliable car with super-awesome mileage

...and perfect driving records for super-cheap car insurance

What kind of car do you drive?

[mawilson 2,133]

What kind of car do you drive?

[rika60607 215]

10 year old corolla, manual transmission, 37-39 mpg

and I love my car.

What kind of car do you drive?

[one...two...tree 2,762]

10 year old corolla, manual transmission, 37-39 mpg

and I love my car.

Yeah, Corollas are great. We have a Hyundai Elantra that's about 6 years old. It's automatic and not quite as good gas mileage, but the newer ones can get up to 40mpg.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

depends on where you live/work....

it also depends on how you value your time in a monetary sense.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

2005-late 2006 I walked.

late 2006- spring 2007 I took the train from Cardiff to Bristol

Spring 2007 - Fall 2007 drove (fuel was about 90p a litre)

Fall 2007- Purchased car - drove 10 miles one way - Spring 2008.

Spring 2008 - Summer 2011 I walked.

Summer 2011 - Current, I commute 12 miles.

What I liked about walking - its cheap + cheap lunches at home.

What I disliked about walking - if you have an injury its horrible.

What I liked about the train - Free sleep time!

What I disliked about the train - unreliable ...people killing themselves screw up train time tables.

What I liked about driving - Good time to listen to music, properly awake at the start of work.

What I disliked about driving - crummy when your tired, cost.

[JohnSmith2007 353]

How much could I save? None. Only druggies and crazies ride the bus here. I would rather walk but since I have a sweet ride I think I will drive.

[rika60607 215]

It is not just the druggies...

the cost of public transportation and the trains is outrageous.

How much could I save? None. Only druggies and crazies ride the bus here. I would rather walk but since I have a sweet ride I think I will drive.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

It is not just the druggies...

the cost of public transportation and the trains is outrageous.

Here in the Bay area, if my job was in SF I'd save. BART costs about 8USD. Driving costs about 5 for fuel, 6 for Toll, and about 8-10 for garaging (per day).

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Well, with the nearest bus station over a mile from home and no efficient connection to the office I'd have to change onto another bus somewhere and the ride that takes me 20 min today would easily steal an hour and a half out of my day. One way, that is. Plus I'd depend on a very restricted schedule - there isn't any bus going from my neck of the woods towards the office aside from a couple of them that head towards the city in the am and back in the pm. No, thanks. Every dime I spend on driving myself to the office and back - on my schedule - is so worth it. And the cost comes nowhere near to even half the average quoted in the OP. Seeing that I'd also have to pay for the inconvenience to use the bus, my savings would be rather insignificant. Bad deal all around.