Public Transit vs Driving Costs

Posted on by Emily in General, Uncategorized

Public Transit vs Driving Costs

Believe it or not the public transit vs driving costs is somewhat of a heated debate. We all know that using public transit is better for the environment and often dubbed as “money saving” but there are people out there who argue that this isn’t always the case. These skeptics say that for the most part public transportation fare is comparable to driving costs– and they’re right. Both are somewhat equally affected by the cost of fuel.

In addition to this argument, it could be argued that public transit costs more in time. Let’s say someone has to travel 10 miles– which would cost $2 in public transportation and maybe $4 in gas. It might take them 15 minutes in a car to travel those 10 miles or 1 hour by bus or train. That 45 minutes in difference could easily outweigh the  $2 difference in savings the public transportation boasts. I know 45 minutes is a lot of time for me to be wasting– precious time where I could be earning money.

Public Transit vs Driving Costs

Now, realistically public transit is still cheaper than driving. With cars you have to worry about gasoline and a whole slew of other expenses. Let’s break it down as it might be in New York City, my home.

Public Transit:

- MTA Monthly Pass $104

- Time (45 min commute, 2x daily) 1.5 hrs X 20 working days = 30 hours a month.

Depending on how you value your time, this can be very expensive.

- Books, music, etc to read. $25 a month

Driving Costs:

- Gasoline $3.50/gallon $200 a month

- Monthly Parking $200

- Insurance $50

- Other Car Maintenance $25-$100

For the most part I think that driving is more expensive than public transit. Unless you find your time on the train/bus is a money loss,   as you need that time to continue working and bringing in money. Realistically, however, I think that there is a way to use that time productively, especially nowadays with iPhones, tablets and netbooks.

Not only will you be saving money with public transportation, but you’ll also be doing wonders for the environment. Driving a car daily is absolutely terrible and will have long-lasting negative effects on the future. Taking public transit is cost effective and better for the planet. This shouldn’t be underestimated.

If you’re still struggling with justifying the time loss on public transit, consider car pooling with colleagues. This is a great way to lower your environmental impact, be frugal and time efficient.

Public Transit vs Driving Costs

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Public Transit vs Driving Costs

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