Personal transportation is important, but, the easiest way to save on fuel costs is commuting. It is simple and the culture is available to make it pleasurable. Commuting by rail also provides prep time before arriving to work to catch the latest news, sports updates or finish the project report.
Community to a single destiny is the easiest way to save money. The same train to work and home again, with healthy walking if the train is not a long distance from home. But, most modern commuter lines have large parking lots at rail side. It is silly to do it any other way and it adds to personal time, quality of life and consistency in a daily schedule. No more traffic pattern worries, accidents or frustration.
I lived in Boston for a year and I loved it. I never took a car to that city. I flew in, took a taxi to a high rise in town and the train took me everywhere else. It was no problem and there was never a destination within the city and local burbs I could not get to without a hassle. You don't know how nice it is until you've tried it.
The future is here, Congress needs to stop their politicking around the money pouring out of every American's budget when it comes to transportation and fuel cost.
Ten years is not that far away. Plan now. Be proud of your potential to avert disaster when the global petroleum industry fails.
May 15, 2012, 11:47 a.m. EDT
Volatile Gas Prices Point to Increased Use of Public Transportation (click here)
WASHINGTON, May 15, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Public Transit Industry Teams With Building America's Future to Call Upon Congress to Act Now and Ensure Public Transit Systems Have the Resources to Handle Added Demand
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) and Building America's Future (BAF) today released a study predicting that record numbers of Americans will turn to public transportation as a cost-cutting measure in the face of volatile gas prices. To meet this impending surge in demand, APTA and BAF are calling on Congress to pass a multi-year, fully funded surface transportation bill as the Senate and House begin Conference Committee negotiations.
The analysis used historical trends and independent research data to make predictions on the impact gas prices would have on public transit ridership across the nation. It showed that on average, nationwide public transportation systems will add nearly 200 million new trips this year even as gas prices fluctuate by as much as 50 cents per gallon.
For example, as gas prices approached an average of $4 a gallon nationally this year, the analysis predicted an additional 290 million passenger trips could be expected on average for the year, resulting in more than 10.7 billion trips per year. Even as gas prices drop to $3.75, the analysis predicted there would still be an additional 240 million passenger trips because of the volatile up and down nature of fuel prices. These behaviors show that Americans are looking for a long-term, sustainable alternative to driving....
