Exactly. There's a lot of hidden costs with owning a car. People that own or have access to cars are more likely to use them for shorter trips even if they could walk, bike or take transit.
The Cost of Driving to Work / Car vs. TTC
- Thread starter GameBoy27
- Start date
I know that not getting a seat is a reality of transit, but you can work around it by leaving at different times, or waiting for the next vehicle if possible. I know this isn't ideal for bus or streetcars riders though. You don't usually have to stand for that long because there are heavily used stations on the GO and TTC networks.
I've been working hybrid since the start of thi year and the GO trains are not as busy on any day except Wednesday. I guess most large businesses downtown have most people coming in on Wednesdays.
Obviously, there's been a big increase in violence on the TTC in the last 1 or 2 years, but I don't know the crowding situation as I haven't ridden it in many years. It will likely get worse because they're raising fares and cutting service at the same time.
The cost of driving vs TTC vs walking to work. Walk to work at zero cost. The benefits are exercise, less stress, and happier.
Yes, I have been walking to work for about the last 18 years, since I moved downtown. But before that, I would take the TTC from the Kipling station and always get a seat going to downtown but not always coming back(at least until the train started empting out on the way back). I go in every day, but you are right that things have changed with all the hybrid workers these days, just by looking at the food courts.
Remember that many/most people using transit passes also use it for other purposes and try to avoid any car costs entirely. Very common now to buy condos with no parking space, especially with how much that space costs now, which is another significant monthly cost.
Unfortunately time-saving is the reason why most people
can't just give away their cars. But then I suppose many of the
passengers using GO and TTC transit are car owners as well.
Depending on location of your residence and workplace using
public transit at peak hours are not necessarily time-wasting.
For long out-of-town GO bus trips which I take like eastbound
trips to Whitby and westbound to Meadowvale I found the extra time
spent on the bus a trade-off between the comfort of taking a
nap and the boredom of driving and get stuck in the traffic.
If you have friends or family out of town a car is a must. I frequently run to Keswick or Peterborough for a quick visit or lunch. To Keswick via car: 45 min. Via transit: 4hrs.
And if you've ever been in a band, try lugging guitar/amps/mics etc. via transit.
I used to get by with hourly rental cars whenever that sort of thing came up. $80 once or twice a month is still a lot cheaper than owning a car
Distantly related point.
This guy had a show about building a "sustainable" house. He built it out in the boonies, he had to get a helicopter to ship some supplies in, a fucking helicopter. So ecological.
Also he was in a band and his band mates would come to jam. Remember before, he lived out in the boonies so they had to drive a fuck ton of distance and lug their gear over because driving for hours is so ecological as would his driving to see them.
Transit is good if you're single, but doing any kind of shopping or travel if you have a family is a PITA. Good lick taking a trip to Costco on the bus. lol
If you care for elderly parents and have to take them anywhere, transit is not an option. If you can get away without a car, then why on earth would you have one. But for many, transit really does suck.
But if your transit commute takes twice as long driving, then that frees up a lot of time to do other things, that you can't do on the TTC. If it's a snooze, I'd rather do that in my own bed. I think the only time I got a decent power nap in, was when I was on the street car after too many drinks. Missed my stop by a long shot. lol
You also have to factor in things like time you're commuting, where you're commuting to and from, distance the transit stop is to your destination, parking, traffic and construction. I think most people find driving mentally draining when we're stuck in traffic.
