Save Money On Gas With Public Transportation

Honda Civic Hybrid almost 74 mpg and I hit traffic

With gas prices soaring to the highest ever in February many people need to cut back on expenses.  Add on the additional cost of food and unemployment at record levels and you have a need/reason to save money and penny pinch.

Here in Southern California gas is about $4 per gallon and normally the higher fuel prices kick in around Memorial Day.  So it is possible gas prices will go higher. (slightly different opinion as this is being typed up)

How much money can you save?  Well let’s run the numbers:

• Gallon of gas:  $4
• Cost per one way bus ride on Metro:  $1.50 = .375 gallons of gas
• Day pass:  $6 = 1.5 gallons gas
• Weekly pass:  $20 = 5 gallons of gas
• Monthly pass:  $75 = 18 gallons of gas
• Monthly EZ pass:  $84 = 22 gallons of gas

Now in order to find out how much you will save simply figure out how much gas you will use for the month or time.  Then subtract the amount paid for gas from the fare or pass.

Two cars I have personal experience with are:

• 2004 Scion XB which averaged 33 MPG
• 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid which averaged 52 MPG

Potential gas cost for me @ 2400 miles per month:

• Honda Civic Hybrid  2400 miles /52 MPG = 48 gallons of gas ($192)
• Scion XB  2400 miles /33 MPG = 72 gallons of gas ($288)
• Typical SUV 2400 miles / 20 MPG = 120 gallons of gas ($480) (yes I know most SUV’s don’t get 20 MPG I’m being kind)

Most people are like that is not a really big difference and it’s true to an extent but, we have not calculated any maintenance expenses, insurance or saved depreciation of the vehicle yet.  There is also a factor of getting work done while riding.  The final decision will be up to you of course but, I found sometimes it is faster for me to ride public transportation.  In the game of saving money every little bit counts.

Southern California Public Transportation
Metrolink Commuter Rail Network

Metro Bus and Metro Rail System Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transit Authority Metro Bus and Metro Rail System

Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica Transit – Provides Service to West Los Angeles)

LADOT Online – L.A. Dept. of Transportation Getting around Los Angeles with Commuter Express, DASH, CityRide, etc.

Go511 – Dial 511 from anywhere in California, or browse to www.Go511.com (Los Angeles, Orange and Ventura counties) for one stop traffic, transit and commuter information.

Other Public Transportation Services In California

Antelope Valley Transit Authority
Barstow Area Transit
Carson Circuit Transit System
Culver City Bus
Foothill Transit
Glendale Beeline
Gold Coast Transit (Ventura County)
Golden Empire Transit District (Bakersfield)
Long Beach Transit
Montebello Bus Lines
Monterey Park Spirit Bus
Morongo Basin Transit Authority
Mountain Area Regional Transit
Municipal Area Express (South Bay)
North County Transit District (San Diego, Includes Sprinter and Coaster Service)
Norwalk Transit System
Omnitrans (San Bernardino County)
Orange County Transit Authority
Pasadena Area Rapid Transit System (ARTS)
Palo Verde Valley Transit Agency
Palos Verdes Peninsula Transit Authority
Riverside Transit Agency
Riverside County Transportation Commission
San Bernardino Associated Governments
San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (Transit 511)
San Luis Obispo County Regional Transit Authority (SLORTA)
Santa Barbara Metropolitan Transit District
Santa Clarita Transit
Santa Maria Area Transit (SMAT)
Simi Valley Transit
SunLine Transit Agency (Palm Springs)
Torrance Transit
Ventura County Transportation Commission
Victor Valley Transit Authority
Amtrak California
Amtrak Main Website
Greyhound Lines
Bay Area Rapid Transit District (BART)
San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency
Santa Clara Valley Transportation Authority (vta.org)
Caltrain
Fresno Area Express
Sacramento Regional Transit District
Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (Las Vegas)
California High-Speed Rail Authority (intercity high-speed rail that is in planning stages)
FasTrak/Transportation Corridor Agencies (Orange County SR-73, SR-133, SR-241 and SR-261 toll road information)
FasTrak/Orange County Transportation Authority (Riverside Freeway SR-91 Express Lanes)
FasTrak/San Diego Association of Governments (I-15 Express Lanes)
FasTrak/South Bay Expressway (San Diego County SR-125 toll road)
FasTrak/Bay Area Bridges (San Francisco Bay Area)