| 7 ways to slash commuting costs |
|
|
|
Determine the true cost of driving
The first step to commuting savings is looking hard at your
current spending. You may be shocked to find the true cost of getting
to work.
You can tally your daily mileage, the per-gallon cost
of gas, parking, tolls and insurance premiums with a pen and paper,
or you can use an online
calculator.
After seeing your total, you may want to look into
car pooling, public transportation or alternate driving routes.
But, if you can do it, the cheapest options are walking, biking
and telecommuting.
Take a hike
The cheapest way to get to work is to walk. Angela Balcita,
a graduate student at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, saved
$80 over a semester by walking 20 minutes to school instead of buying
a bus pass at the student-discount rate. And Laura Crossette, a
recent graduate, takes advantage of the university's free Cambus
service, which transports passengers around the downtown area. Similar
free shuttles are available in many college towns and tourist areas.
Ride a bike
If you're able to bike to work, you'll eventually save almost
as much as you will by walking. The initial costs can run several
hundred dollars, but after that, the savings will pile up.
Piet Canin, Bike to Work director in Santa Cruz County,
Calif., says you can buy a bike at all price levels, but if you're
looking for equipment that will last, it's an investment of several
hundred dollars.
"The cost of starting up biking is $300
for a bike and $30 for a helmet," Canin says, emphasizing that
this cost is for good-quality choices. "For lights and rear
red blinking light, it's about $25, and a half decent U lock is
$35. The cost in these is not the very low end, but decent durable
products versus something you might find at Wal-Mart or Target."
Then there are optional accessories that can make
the ride more pleasant.
"From the basics you might want a good wind/rain
jacket, gloves, rear rack, carrying bags," Canin says. "This
might cost you about another $150 to $300, depending on quality."
Many local bike-to-work organizations will help you
find the right bike and even match you up with a bike buddy.
The Bike
to Work Web site has an "issues and answers" page
that deals with concerns such as arriving to work with wrinkled
clothing, the cost of buying a good bike and the importance of a
helmet. The answers include a bike bag for a change of clothes and
the quick payoff from buying a bike.
Jump in the carpool
Carpool matching services are available free in many communities.
A Web search or a call to your local government can lead you to
a carpool center.
Valley Metro, which provides public transportation
in Phoenix, also coordinates carpools, van pools and bike buddy
systems through its Web
site.
In some municipalities, you may get an extra bonus
from your employer, or from the city, for not driving. Phoenix,
in its effort to promote ride-sharing, gives a discount card to
people who fill out a carpool application through their employer.
The Commuter Club card has discounts from more than 100 area merchants
-- including restaurants, bookstores, florists, museums and bike
stores.
|
