APTA: More People Riding Subway, Buses

[jpak]

http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/bw-other/2006/jan/18/011802953.html

WASHINGTON (AP) - One of Hurricane Katrina's legacies may be crowded commutes around the country.

More people rode subways, buses and trains last summer after gasoline prices spiked, and many continued to take mass transportation even after those prices fell, according to figures released Wednesday by the American Public Transportation Association.

Average gas prices rose all summer after breaking $2 a gallon in late March, soaring to $3.07 during the week of Sept. 5, the aftermath of Katrina.

"When it spikes, that gets people's attention," said Mantill Williams, AAA spokesman.

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[China_cat]

1. But people need to do some math.

When a bus ride costs you $2, it would be a good thing to figure out just how much gas it would take and what the cost would be to drive.

Even at over $3/gallon, if you would spend $1 to drive the distance you're spending $2 to get to by bus...and another $2 to get home...seems sort of silly, doesn't it?

[Ally McLesbian]

2. But what about...

The wear and tear on your car, and in case of places like NYC and San Francisco, parking?

Parking is expensive enough in NYC that you could move to a rural area and use that money to lease an extra luxury car.

Don't forget tolls either...

Back in the Bay Area, I hated paying the elitists at BART $8 a day for a roundtrip commute, but the alternative - driving - was much worse, with fuel costs, parking, and tolls adding up to at least $12 roundtrip. Living on a secretary's wage, $8 daily was a big deal for me already.

[China_cat]

3. That's all true

but I'm looking at it from here in Charleston...where the busses are few, far between, don't go where you really need them to and cost stupid amounts of money. Most people who live in NYC don't bother with cars at all and when I lived in SF (Sunset) there was never any question of driving. When you can get where you need to by public transport, you don't need a car.

But most places don't have good public transport and you need to do the math to see if it's really worth it.

[Ally McLesbian]

4. Got the point...

Mass transit is pathetic in most of the US, we must concede.