Cycling and Mass Transit
Learn to Commute Responsibly and Save Money
The Average gasoline price in the United States is $4.00 per gallon and rising. Consumers are being forced to make smarter decisions concerning when, where, and how they drive their cars. Many people are looking for alternative means of transportation to save money. One idea is to combine bicycling and mass transit.
Why combine Bicycling and Mass Transit?
Mass transit stops are not always within walking distance of desired destinations and extreme distances are prohibitive via bicycle. A combination of these two modes of transportation can make abandoning cars during the commute to work a viable option.
The Cost of Driving
According to the US Census Bureau in 2005, 77% of commuters drive alone with the average commute lasting 25.1 minutes. An ABC News traffic poll also conducted in 2005 states that the average commute to work is 16 miles one way. Assuming a generous 25 mpg and current gasoline prices, the average price of commuting round trip is approximately $5.12 per day or $107.52 per month. This does not include the cost of the vehicle, insurance, maintenance, parking or tolls (if applicable).
Benefits
There is a cascade of positive benefits from combining mass transit and cycling to work. If a modest 10% of the more than 130 million commuters (2000 US Census) abandoned their cars for a combination of mass transit and cycling, the U.S. could decrease its demand for gasoline by 20.8 million gallons per weekday or 5.25 billion gallons per year. This represents a 3.5% decrease in the annual consumption of gasoline in the U.S. A decrease in the demand for gasoline could result in a subsequent decrease in gasoline prices. Cheaper gasoline prices translate to cheaper prices for other goods. A decrease in the number of cars commuting can also decrease the U.S. carbon foot print, thus assisting the fight against global warming.
A Model System
A system to imitate is the Regional Transportation District – Denver, Colorado. This system covers a large portion of 4 counties with 34.8 miles of light rail and 160 bus routes. Both modes of transportation accommodate bicycles. The RTD promotes cycling with events such as their annual “Bike to Work Week” in which they offer discounts on services to commuters who bike. Normal fares on the RTD range from $8 for local 10-ride tickets to $144 for regional unlimited ride tickets. Some companies will subsidize the use of mass transit thus lower the costs even further. Within the RTD, Boulder and the University of Colorado have used transportation demand management to influence commuters to use mass transit.
Barriers to Cycling and Mass Transit
Convenience is the main reason for not using cycling and mass transit. Not every community or city has adequate mass transit or bicycle trails to make this a viable alternative. In these cities commuting via mass transit can sky rocket travel times from 25 minutes to 2 hours or more. Extreme weather and the lack of shower facilities at work can also deter cyclist. Even though barriers exist, not all is lost. Local governments act if there is a need and desire to use alternative models of travel. These projects take time to plan and fund. In the mean time, think outside the box. Be inventive and find a way to make it work.
