Does your city have frequent transit service?

[dabuddha]

Well I was pretty conservative with the other numbers, and a lot of states are pretty brutal these days on insurance costs...especially with newer cars and full coverage.

My public transport costs are based on the 2 zone unlimited pass I get here in Denver (taking into account the IRS tax deduction). Obviously that cost could vary depending on your situation (which is why I specifically mentioned living near public transport in my previous post)

Even if you doubled the public transport costs and reduced insurance costs, you will still see substantial savings in a given year.

I guess it really depends on the individual. Alot of folks that use mass transit tend to own cars anyways. There's probably 1 person out of my office of 50+ folks here in Silver Spring that doesn't own a car. But at least 90% of us use the metro system in one way or another.

 

[PricklyPete]

I guess it really depends on the individual. Alot of folks that use mass transit tend to own cars anyways. There's probably 1 person out of my office of 50+ folks here in Silver Spring that doesn't own a car. But at least 90% of us use the metro system in one way or another.

Totally agree. As I said, I am sure that the study was biased towards trying to convince people they should be using public transport. It VERY likely assumed the best possible situation for the public transportation option (live near rail station with no car) and an average to worse than average option for the commuter.

I certainly do not think it is good for everyone, but I wholeheartedly support the expansion of systems in crowded metropolitan areas. It has certainly been a highlight of moving to Denver. As much as I love cars (listening to The craptastic AUTOBLOG podcast as I type this), I've realized that I'd rather funnel my money elsewhere than spend countless hours and money commuting.

 

[Lifted]

American who has easy access to public transport, there are real savings.

And those savings go straight into the pockets of the landlords. :|

 

[Anubis]

Live in a small town there is no pub trans. I think all we have is a regional bus.

 

[bigrash]

I live in NYC. Trains run pretty often on a regular basis.

 

[PricklyPete]

And those savings go straight into the pockets of the landlords. :|

For some, sure. There is PLENTY of real estate along the rail here in Denver...and they are just about to open a new line to Golden that will open up even more (April).

 

[BoomerD]

I don't take "public transit" very often, but it looks like here, buses run hourly. To get to
Seattle, the ferry runs between 50 minutes and an hour & a half intervals.
(and for a single person, cost is $7.70 round-trip...or $26.30 with a vehicle)

 

[Platypus]

Every 6-7 minutes or so, less during rush periods.

I barely drive because my city has fantastic public transportation that's cheaper and much faster than driving anyway for most locations.

 

[tokie]

Why would I do that? I have my own vehicle.

If you did the suburban commute and it was feasible to get to work in the same time using transit, would you?

For me the great thing is just being able to browse my iPhone, play games, etc. I know some people will do that (dangerously) while driving anyways, but my mind can be completely free.

 

[ponyo]

I live and work out in the suburbs. I could care less about mass transit. US has fantastic interstate and roads and ample wide parking pretty much everywhere. Americans love cars and it's easy to see why. Some things are worth paying for. Car is freedom.

 

[Brainonska511]

I could care less about mass transit.

How much less can you care?

I live and work out in the suburbs. I could care less about mass transit. US has fantastic interstate and roads and ample wide parking pretty much everywhere. Americans love cars and it's easy to see why. Some things are worth paying for. Car is freedom.

A car is not freedom in a city. It's slavery to random parking rules, exorbitant parking charges, and wasted time finding parking.

There are areas where driving a lot doesn't work well. There are areas where mass-transit will not work well.

 

[IronWing]

Just be glad you don't live on Venus. Transit there is just terrible. You just wait and wait for the next one.

 

[Jimzz]

I love DC's metro system and my only complaint about it is that it shuts down at midnight on weekdays (cept Friday). That and the occasional stabbing.

That and the occasional times the driver kicks everyone off since someone blocked a door.

"Please don't block the door, let it close we can't move till then." 3 seconds later "EVERYONE GET OFF THE TRAIN!!!". Then the empty train leaves the station with 100+ people there trying to find the 1 person who was holding the door.

Glad I don't have to ride the metro train anymore.

 

[waggy]

mass transit? not where i live.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

We have an excellent bus system that connects all the places poor people live, and prevents them from leaving those places after hours.

Nice neighborhoods have limited bus service if at all.

There are separate express commuter bus services between the downtown business district and the 'burbs, so the children and part-time-paralegal-trophy-spouses of the wealthy suburbanites (as well as those fortunate to plan their 6-hour workday in between the bus schedule so they can work on the bus instead of driving themselves) don't have to ride with the poor people.

 

[Atomic Playboy]

My city (Portland, OR) consistently ranks as one of the top public transportation systems in the US. I basically never use it, because who the fuck wants to?

 

[waggy]

My city (Portland, OR) consistently ranks as one of the top public transportation systems in the US. I basically never use it, because who the fuck wants to?

when i lived in Portland i used it often (well when it was raining. otherwise i road a bike). it wasn't that bad