Cost of commuting vs driving

[seemunkee]

My car gets 27mpg in town and work is 9 miles away. The bus costs
$1.25 so when gas hits $3.75 it will cost the same as driving. I'll probably ride my bike part way so I can skip one transfer and get some exercise.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

1. Remember to figure in your car payments (if any), insurance, and

repairs.

When I lived in Portland, which has excellent public transportation, my entire transportation costs were $55 per month.

Now I'm spending about $1000 a year to drive a car that is all paid for, which I gas up only once a month. (The expense comes from insurance and repairs.)

[rbnyc]

2. How about the cost to the environment? (nt)

[Lars39]

3. They'll be raising bus fares, too.

[Ptah]

4. Actually, when gas is $1.75, driving is cheaper for you.

0.67 gallons per day * $1.75 = $1.17

[Lydia Leftcoast]

5. But only if you don't prorate your insurance and repairs

:-)

[Ptah]

6. correct, I neglected costs other than gasoline. n/t

[seemunkee]

7. I'm going to own the car anyway so insurance has to be paid

No matter how many miles I drive.

I don't understand the calculation though

9 miles is .33 of a gallon of gas. if gas is 3.75 * .33 = 1.23 for one way. So I guess gas will have to be 3.80 before the bus becomes cheaper. And if you want to really do a a cost benefit then I would have to figure in my time since it will take me at least twice as long to take the bus as to drive.