The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) reported last week that the average American household could save $9,596 each year by using buses, trains and ride sharing programs for daily commutes. Given these figures, why aren’t more Americans using public transportation? The easy answer is that cities throughout the United States have either cut back on public transit or failed to extend these systems to suburban areas. Every commuter concerned about gas prices should take a closer look at public transit options before dismissing them completely.
The number of express buses, highway flyers and other options available through regional transportation districts may surprise some drivers. It is critical for each commuter to look at updated maps and timetables before eliminating public buses as an option. The APTA website has links to municipal transit websites throughout the country to aid this research. I have been able to use Milwaukee’s bus system (which has been declining in recent years) to reach jobs and meetings downtown for several years.
Most commuters dislike the time wasted waiting for buses and stopping at every street corner for passengers. These drivers should think about coordinating carpools with their neighbors and colleagues every day of the workweek. These pools defray the costs of gasoline, allow colleagues to spend time with each other outside of work and act as substitutes for poor public transit systems. Employers may be willing to coordinate and sponsor carpools to help their employees save money while getting to work on time.
Many families have more than one vehicle available for daily commutes to work and school. Every family can save money during daily commutes by planning vehicle usage carefully. The driver who travels the furthest during each trip can decrease fuel usage by using the most fuel-efficient vehicle available. Remaining vehicles can be assigned based on the length of daily commutes with the lowest MPG vehicle used for short trips.
The best way for commuters to get around high prices at the pump is experimenting with all of these travel methods. Drivers should conduct trial runs on each of these methods to find the best tools for reaching work on time without wasting fuel. Many commuters may find that they can create mixtures of express buses, occasional car pools and smart vehicle usage that are flexible enough to handle different daily schedules.
