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For many persons, transit is much more economical than driving to work alone, especially those commuting, as illustrated by the following examples for a ten-mile trip*:
Daily Cost
(Dollars)
Walking to transit stop and taking transit
Fares $2.00
Driving Alone
Gasoline & Oil $1.12
Maintenance & Tires 0.70
Parking 3.00
Total $4.82
Driving 3 miles to a Park & Ride Lot and using
transit for the remainder of the trip
Fares $2.00
Gasoline & Oil 0.34
Maintenance & Tires 0.21
Total $2.55
Examples are based on American Automobile Association 1994 gasoline and oil cost estimates of $0.056/mile and maintenance and tire costs of $0.035/mile. Estimate of $3.00 per day parking cost is assumed, and a $2.00 bus fare is assumed. (Purchase of a monthly pass could reduce the fare even further.) This does not include the fixed costs to own an automobile that is estimated by the AAA at $4,551 per year or $12.47 per day. This includes insurance, license, registration, depreciation, and finance charges. Also excluded from the costs above are the costs to build, maintain and operate highways, parking facilities, and transit systems. These costs are paid by all citizens through taxes and are not directly related to the use of an automobile or transit.
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