Bus vs Car
Are you debating which is cheaper: bus vs car? Driving to work no longer means simply jumping into your car and driving to your office. Instead, with the cost of gas continuing to climb, commuters have had to begin thinking of ways they can cut back on their expenses. While many people still prefer driving to work, others are switching to the bus as an alternative way of getting there. To determine whether it’s cheaper for you to drive or take the bus, it requires a little math and a comparison between the costs of each option. But, that’s not as bad as it sounds. It’s easy once you know how. In this article we’ll help you get started by providing some basic tips and information regarding both alternatives so you can make an informed decision about which is more affordable for you in light of your individual circumstances.
Estimate the Cost of Driving to Work
The first step in calculating the cost of driving to work is to figure out how much you currently spend on gas per month. This will allow you to determine how much you’ll save by switching to public transportation. You can do this by keeping a record of your monthly gas expenditures. Or if you prefer, you can use an online calculator to do the math for you. You can find this calculator at GasBuddy.com. You’ll need to know how many miles you drive per month, as well as the average price of gas in your area at the time. After entering this information, the calculator will tell you how much money you spend on gas each month. In addition, some online fuel cost calculators can help you estimate the cost of maintenance and repairs on your car as well. If you have a car payment, insurance, or any other vehicle-related expenses, add these to your totals as well to get a more accurate picture of what it costs you to drive each month.
Estimate the Cost of Taking the Bus or Train to Work
To determine how much it will cost you to ride the bus or train to work each month, you’ll need to find out how much your local transit company charges for a one-way fare. You can call your city or county transit authority to find out, or look up the information online. Also, factor in the additional cost of purchasing a monthly bus or train pass. In addition, if you travel with a car or have children who ride the bus as well, you’ll need to consider the cost of parking at the transit station as well as the cost of carpooling with other riders. If you have a car payment, insurance, or any other vehicle-related expenses, add these to your totals as well to get a more accurate picture of what it costs you to ride the bus or train to work each month.
Which Option Is Cheaper?
Now that you have estimated the cost of driving and taking the bus or train to work, you can compare the two figures to determine which is the less expensive option for you. If you drive, add up all the expenses you listed above, as well as the cost of purchasing and maintaining a parking pass for your office. If you take public transportation, add up the cost of purchasing and maintaining a monthly transit pass. Whichever option comes out to be less expensive is the more affordable choice for you.
Converting from Driving to Public Transit
Once you’ve determined that public transit is the less expensive option for you, you may want to consider converting to taking the bus or train to work. You can start by using public transit some of the time, such as on your days off, or the days when you have fewer meetings or appointments. This will allow you to get used to the new way of traveling and get a feel for how long it takes to get from point A to point B. It will also allow you to get a feel for how often the buses and trains are running and how much time it takes you to get from one stop to the next. You may also want to consider carpooling with other commuters who are taking public transportation. This may help to reduce your overall expenses, as well as help to alleviate some of the stress of driving in heavy traffic.
Final Words
Driving to work is convenient, but it is also costly, since most people have to pay for their own gasoline and car maintenance. Taking public transportation can be a less stressful way to commute, and it also can save you a lot of money that can help with you budget. You can use the tips in this article to estimate the cost of driving versus the cost of taking public transportation.