Take the Train, Save $8,691?
Bostonians can pocket $12,632 this year by switching from their trucks to the T; New Yorkers can save $12,589 by riding the subway instead of the highway. Car-loving Los Angelenos can save $738 a month, Washingtonians $811, and Clevelanders $774. Or so says the latest monthly savings report from the American Public Transit Association, released yesterday. The report arrived at its local figures by factoring the cost of a monthly transit pass in individual cities against average fuel and parking costs over the same period.
The national average savings of $8,691 is based on the May 5, 2009 average gas price of $2.079 and the national average cost to park in an unreserved place in downtown business districts—$143 a month. The cost of driving is calculated using a AAA formula that factors in both fixed costs, like insurance, registration and financing charges, and variable costs like fuel and maintenance.
The rub is that in calculating the overall savings, the researchers also presumed that the person switching to public transit would give up one car. Not what the struggling carmakers of America want to hear, of course. And those facing looming fare increases in New York City and cutbacks in places like St. Louis might decide that the convenience of driving is something they can’t give up, even in hard times. Even so, the report might carry more weight than before, given the current economic climate. Will you make the switch?
amy on Tue, May 12, 2009 at 2:47am
Public transit in Los Angeles is unpleasant and unsafe. I am scared to ride the subway in Los Angeles. The transit police and ticket inspectors on the subway are cruel and abusive. It is degrading to be accused of having not paid or having fake tickets several times per ride. The LAPD is famous for both its abuses and corruption, they are just as nasty as homeless people. There are brawls on both buses and subways in Los Angeles. If you are wearing clothing that is too nice, you may get mugged or accused of being a yuppie by fellow passengers or psychos. If you wear clothing that is too dirty, the transit cops will hassle you and make up reasons to cause problems.
It is both cheaper and safer to drive a car in Los Angeles. If you drive a car, there are fewer people that can mess with you. You do not have to wait forever to get somewhere if you drive because subways and buses in Los Angeles are slow. If you add up the time it takes to get places by public transit in Los Angeles, it is actually cheaper to go by car. Also if you get mugged or messed with by riding subways or buses, then the price of transit actually is more expensive than driving or owning a car…
DVB in Chicago on Tue, May 12, 2009 at 9:58pm
More than 40000 Americans are killed in Car accidents every year. If you are younger than 45 a car accident is by far the most likely way that you will die in America. Choosing to drive instead of taking the subway for safety reasons is absurd.
scott Olson in Los Angeles on Wed, May 13, 2009 at 10:43am
Amy might consider moving to Orange County. The LA subway is no more dangerous than the subway in NY, Boston, Chicago or any other major city. I’ve been riding it for a number of years and find it to be very pleasant. It’s a beautiful, modern system with the same kind of people riding it that you’d find in any major city. The statement that driving in Los Angeles is cheaper and safer is ludicrous. Not only is driving stressful, but it’s time consuming, expensive (gas, car maintenance, insurance, registration), and dangerous - I’ve been involved in 2 accidents; one where the other driver turned in front of me as I was entering the intersection (totaling my car), and the other where a mom on a cell phone drove her SUV smack into the back of my Nissan.