July 30, 2004 at 07:42 am

What were your transportation expenses over the last 5 months?

In five days or so, I will have been riding the bus for 5 months. Remember my first outing? What about my trip to Independence? (All experiences that have made me a better person, I’m sure.) But, I have come to love the bus for more reasons that I would have expected.

This morning, I was thinking about how much money I have spent for my transportation during the past five months: exactly $166.

How much have you spent? (Include car payments, insurance, gasoline, car washes, general maintenance, etc.)

I’ll bet I have you beat.

Now, I’m not going to lie to you; riding the bus is not the most comfortable or convenient way to travel. Rides take about twice as long as if you were to drive. The rides are bumpy. Sometimes you’ll sit behind someone who really stinks…

But, when’s the last time you finished three books on the way to and from work? Can you say that your trips from home to work and home again give you time to think, people-watch, or rest?

Being from Southern California, I know that public transportation is sometimes completely out of the question. But for those of us who live in metropolitan areas that have buses or subways or light-rails… Use them!

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Comments (8)

Well, let’s see, up until June sometime I was paying £4.80 return (train), five days a week. Over a period of 5 months, minus three weeks for school holidays, that’s roughly 13 × 5 × 4.80 = 312. Holy shit. That’s £312. In US dollars that’s $568.65. Considerably more than I realized.

The thinking-time is the greatest blessing of public transport. Just staring out the window and thinking. I’m a people-watcher, too.

I have a short story about public transit which I’ll share some time. You’ll get a kick out of it, especially after what you wrote about sitting next to people who smell.

» Comment by Dave (URL), on July 30, 2004 at 08:41 am

I love public transportation. When not working from home I take the MARC train into DC and it is great. I would do it even if I didn’t save money just to avoid the traffic.

» Comment by will () (URL), on July 30, 2004 at 08:57 am

Ah, if only I had a job that would allow me to take the bus to work… Actually, I’d probably walk or ride my bicycle. That sounds really nice right now.

» Comment by Mary () (URL), on July 30, 2004 at 10:43 am

Not to gloat, but my transportation costs for the last 12 months are $17. We own a car, but my wife drives it. We also happen to live in Portland, OR which has one of the best mass transit systems in the country (outside of major cities like NY, DC, Chicago, etc.). My annual transit pass is also heavily subsidized by my employer (actual cost – $600, my cost – $17).

I’ve been using mass transit for about 2.5 years now. It is also a sacred space for me. It’s also liberating to know that I can get almost everywhere in the metro area without a car. But it is slow, bumpy, and populated by occasionally smelly people.

» Comment by Brian () (URL), on July 30, 2004 at 5:08 pm

Wow, Dave, that is a bit pricey… Probably still cheaper than a car, though!

I have yet to visit the D.C. area, Will. It is on my list, though.

Mary… Already e-mailed you. I saw you running this morning — you passed right in front of my car and you didn’t even see me. I thought about honking, but I thought it my scare you. :)

That is awesome, Brian… I wish my Metro fees were that minimal. When I was working up in Berkeley for a while, I got to experience the Bart — which was actually, quick and smooth. I think that was the first time I was sold on mass transit (or maybe it was the Marta in Atlanta, I forget).

» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on July 31, 2004 at 11:36 am

Tim, I’m embarassed to say what our costs are. Until right this minute, Scott was still on our family car insurance policy, because it was cheaper. So, four cars in our family, but five on our policy. Still making payments on two of the cars. Three young adult, very expensive to insure drivers, plus Doug and me. Live too far out in the boonies to take advantage of buses. As you know, Tim, buses are the only public transport here in KC. Thirty minutes by car to anywhere from here. I’d say “you do the math” but I don’t want you to get such a severe headache so early on a Monday morning!

» Comment by Katy () (URL), on August 02, 2004 at 09:00 am

I’ve been using mass transit for about 3 years now. But it is slow, bumpy, and populated by occasionally smelly people.

» Comment by Jogos Grátis () (URL), on March 19, 2008 at 10:26 pm

Funny, Jogos, but… I never bumped into any smelly people. ;-)

» Comment by timsamoff () (URL), on April 01, 2008 at 09:29 am

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July 30, 2004 at 07:42 am

What were your transportation expenses over the last 5 months?

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