Public transport a viable alternative to a car for you?

[digitalwolf]

If I wanted to get to work on public transport:-

5 mins walk to bus stop
10 mins bus journey to bus station
10 mins wait for the bus
35 mins journey on bus to work.

Only takes 10-15 mins in the car.

 

[JRS]

A picture paints a thousand words......


Red dot is my house. Green dot is closest mass transit location.

Notice the scale.......

pic


So, no. Public transit is NOT an option for me. AT ALL!!

Indeed. And most of those thousand words that it paints are "Oh my God, public transport in this state sucks beyond all belief"

Interesting responses so far. Figured I'd get a lot of replies in the negative with regards to using public transport.

 

[ajgoodfellow]

To go by car, it takes about 35 minutes at rush hour (20 minutes otherwise). It's a 17 mile trip each way

Assuming 34mpg average, that's one gallon per day. Five gallons per week, at 99.9 p/litre will cost me £22.67 per week

To take the train though,

40 minute walk to the train station
30 minute train ride (at 7:30 - next train isn't until 8:18!)
30 minute walk from the station to work

Total - 1 hr 40. I'd need to leave the house at 6:50 and I'll be 30 minutes early for work. If I take the later train I'll be 20 minutes late every day unless I pay for a taxi at about £5 each way!

Cost - £5.90 return. Cost per week: £29.50

It's not a comparison really. The car is far cheaper, far more convenient and I can leave the house at 8:20 instead of 6:50

 

[AndrewP]

I could get the bus (2 each way actually), but I'd be leaving home at 0700 and returning at 2000 as opposed to 0815 and 1815 when driving. Fuel/wear and tear and bus fare cost roughly the same.

When I had my car and was working in London, the car didn't move from the hotel car park once and I only really used my car when a student if I had stuff to transport. Public transport in most cities is pretty good, but in rural areas it generally sucks.

 

[oweneades]

Public transport is absolutely rubbish around this area. There are buses but the charges are ridiculous. I *think* the charge from the nearest bus stop to wells bus station is about £6 return per day. So thats £30 a week. Or twice as much as running my car for the week (including weekend trips).

However the worst thing for me is not the price its the attitude of either the bus driver or some of the passengers.

Couple that with the bus companies inability to even get there on time I would rather drive.

 

[penski]

Public transport is absolutely rubbish around this area. There are buses but the charges are ridiculous. I *think* the charge from the nearest bus stop to wells bus station is about £6 return per day. So thats £30 a week.

Christ - in Tyne And Wear, you can get an unlimited day travel pass for less than £4.

*n

 

[RiPz]

atm i have no taxed, mot'd and insured vehicle.. so public transport for me it is..

£17.50 a week to get to/from uni on the train, isnt bad..

IF i were to drive to uni it'd cost me £7 a day parking, plus petrol..

WHEN my car is done, i'll drive to the local station, park there (free), and get the train in, easy, cuts 10 minutes off my morning journey