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Cost of auto-commuting in the US

Came across this stuff about the costs, time, and volume of commuting in 90 US cities.


Sweet infographic: http://tinyurl.com/2bx889y

Page: http://tinyurl.com/28ehaxk


I'm sure the level of these numbers is no surprise to a lot of you urban-transportation-studies-savvy folks, but wow, $340 a month to commute by car? And it says the average commute distance is 15 miles, so perfect for a bike. I WISH my commute were that long - sometimes I feel bored with my little 1-mile bike ride.


alnilam
2010-12-21 18:28:56

I recently acquired enough data to be able to say with confidence that my personal annual car costs, without biking involved, were approximately $3000. This year I saved over $500 in fuel by taking my bike as often as I did (annual fuel costs, without biking, is roughly $900 not including vacation road trips). Total spent going from no bike household to up and running on my current bike was a both embarassing and humbling $1400. Next year I've got a $200 budget for biking, and a $1500 budget for the car. The year after, I just get my bike budget.


My commute is twisted, it's 10 miles to the shuttle, or 37 miles to work. Both take about an hour and a half from front door to desk. I don't pay for parking, I don't have a car loan.


$340/month seems low. I'll trade your 1 mile bike commute for my 10 miles of hills any time :D One mile can't be far enough to get bored!


ejwme
2010-12-21 19:24:22

i have to say that my 1.5 mile commute is too short in the summer and too long in the winter. well, if it were longer, i guess i'd have the opportunity to warm up


erok
2010-12-21 21:19:43

>sometimes I feel bored with my little 1-mile bike ride.


Pick a longer route?


bikefind
2010-12-21 23:15:34

i compared my auto-related costs for the past 3 years (mostly commuting ~20mi/day each way by car) to this year (riding my bike basically everywhere).


2007-2009 avg yearly spending vs 2010 actual:


gasoline: 1708.62 vs 182.77 (1525.85 saved)

auto service: 1406.29 vs 601.92 (804.37 saved)


salty
2010-12-22 06:41:26