Chicago Sun-Times: Riding the train can save a bundle

[marmar]

from the Chicago Sun-Times:



If Metra passengers are driving each other crazy with their cell phones, at least everyone's saving gas.

A report by Environment Illinois found that Chicago area commuters saved 34.8 million gallons of gasoline by riding Metra trains in 2008, the amount of fuel consumed by more than 61,000 cars per year.

The report also found that Chicago area residents who use transit can save as much as $11,611 per year by avoiding the cost of vehicle ownership, parking and fuel.

Environment Illinois encouraged U.S. and state legislatures to consider policies that advance public transit systems and increase the proportion of state and federal funding sent to Metra and other public transit systems.


http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/2811058,CST-NWS-ride18a.article

[blondeatlast]

1. Siiiigh... If I had that option, I'd be so very happy to use it.

Phoenix is rapidly catching up to where it should have been in the 1950s in mass transit. :banghead:

[Blue Owl]

2. K&R

When it comes to rail travel, the Chicago metro area takes the cake.

[Subdivisions]

3. Wellll....

DUH!

[RufusTFirefly]

4. I'm amazed at the number of people -- left and right -- who wouldn't THINK of taking public transit

And I'm talking about folks who have access to decent public transit.

Also interesting is that from my experience at least, it isn't a left-right thing. I know several people with otherwise alarming political viewpoints who are nonetheless devoted public transit users.

On the San Francisco Peninsula, you can typically spend less than 12 bucks total to hop a train to and from an NHL hockey game. The station is a block from the arena. Or you can use lots of gas and frayed nerves to drive there yourself where you'll pay a whopping $20 to park your car and go to the game, knowing full well that you'll have to undergo a similarly aggravating ordeal once the game is over.

[WolverineDG]

5. Use of public transportation also reduces the number of car accidents

And what about taking the bus when traveling instead of driving your car? I recently did that on a couple of short trips out of town. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. True, a couple of the buses I was on could have used some upgrading, but I was amazed at how relaxed I was when I got to where I was going. Usually I'm all keyed up from having to deal with traffic, but on the bus? Pfft, I read a book, listened to my iPod, napped & let the driver deal with it. And a round trip bus ticket was less than the cost of gas & parking. So what if I had to walk to the conference site (less than a mile away from the station) or borrow a friend's car while he was at work? With a little planning, you can make it work.

dg

[Edweird]

6. I would love to take the local commuter train - but it stops running before I am done with my shift.

The last train is around midnight and I don't get done with my shift until 1:30am.

[bigmonkey]

7. Real societal support of transit would make it 24/7.

Some slowdown during low ridership periods makes some sense, but to cut service means that people can't count on it, and make other arrangements. That is, they buy cars.