Living Car Free - Bus/Train Fares Increase Forcing You On Bikes More?

The fares that will increase on July 1, 2007 on my local transit company (see my blog below for a partial article and commentary by me) has got me thinking about some things. Have any of you switched to bikes exclusively because of the increases in fares and/or the lack of frequency of buses on your route? I now pretty much depended on my bikes since the buses/trains are too expensive and are not too reliable around here.

The fares that will increase on July 1, 2007 on my local transit company (see my blog below for a partial article and commentary by me) has got me thinking about some things. Have any of you switched to bikes exclusively because of the increases in fares and/or the lack of frequency of buses on your route? I now pretty much depended on my bikes since the buses/trains are too expensive and are not too reliable around here.

Your fares are dirt cheap compared to a lot of places, here cash fare is $2.75, you can buy tickets or tokens 5 for $10.50 or 10 for $21, weekly pass is $30, and monthly pass is $99.75 there are discounts for seniors, students and children, and some discount passes are available. The passes however can be used by more then one person, just not at the same time. A day pass is $8.50.

Now, of course, even that's cheap, compared to trying to park a car in the downtown core. In fact many people who live in less transit savvy parts of outer suburbia find that paying $4 - $6 for parking in a transit lot, and paying $4.20 in transit fares (one token downtown, one back) to take the subway downtown is still cheaper then paying the parking rates downtown. Although you can save some of that, by buying the monthly pass, and using one of the lots where pass holders can park for free. Just near me is a subway station with over 600 spaces, and it fills up. Although they also have kiss and ride, where there is a loop that if two people are going in different directions, one can drop the other at the station, and drive to their own destination.

Personally I use a mix of transportation, walking, biking, transit, and (gasp) even driving. Depending on cost, convenience and safety, I often find that very short trips, it's not worth getting the car or the bike, so I walk, a little further, I'll bike, although sometimes that doesn't work. I haven't driven downtown in years, I'll take the subway there, although sometimes I'll bike as well. I do drive to work, but only because I need to go through one of the worst parts of town, late at night, when even transit is too scary:eek:

I've been going the other way. The Central Arkansas Transit just put bike racks on all the buses. I'm riding the bus more. I can get downtown and be fresh and ride back home in the evening well after the buses stop running.

As a benefit from work, the spouse and I get a free bus passes with unlimited rides. The bikes are mostly for fun, exercise, and getting to the closest suburb.

As I slowly plod through evening college classes, I get to pick up quarterly bus passes for $15! Unfortunately, as the rates increase, ridership falls off, which means they cut back on service, which causes ridership to drop, and they increase rates to compensate, rinse, repeat... So I am depending more and more on my bike to get around partially as a result of transit rate increases, even though I don't have to pay for it. I don't mind too often, but I'd feel better knowing that there was a reasonable option if I'm sick, injured, or my bikes get stolen.

I've been car-free since 1999 and was a happy bus user until last April when they effectively doubled the fare by eliminating transfers. I bought my first bike at the end of March and used the bus only twice since.

Our community college has a program with the bus service that allows enrolled students with proper school ID to ride the bus for free 24/7. Cool and of course all our buses have bike racks

Your fares are dirt cheap compared to a lot of places, here cash fare is $2.75, you can buy tickets or tokens 5 for $10.50 or 10 for $21, weekly pass is $30, and monthly pass is $99.75 there are discounts for seniors, students and children, and some discount passes are available. The passes however can be used by more then one person, just not at the same time. A day pass is $8.50.

Now, of course, even that's cheap, compared to trying to park a car in the downtown core. In fact many people who live in less transit savvy parts of outer suburbia find that paying $4 - $6 for parking in a transit lot, and paying $4.20 in transit fares (one token downtown, one back) to take the subway downtown is still cheaper then paying the parking rates downtown. Although you can save some of that, by buying the monthly pass, and using one of the lots where pass holders can park for free. Just near me is a subway station with over 600 spaces, and it fills up. Although they also have kiss and ride, where there is a loop that if two people are going in different directions, one can drop the other at the station, and drive to their own destination.

Personally I use a mix of transportation, walking, biking, transit, and (gasp) even driving. Depending on cost, convenience and safety, I often find that very short trips, it's not worth getting the car or the bike, so I walk, a little further, I'll bike, although sometimes that doesn't work. I haven't driven downtown in years, I'll take the subway there, although sometimes I'll bike as well. I do drive to work, but only because I need to go through one of the worst parts of town, late at night, when even transit is too scary:eek:

Our transit system might appear to be dirt cheap at first glance-until you look closer at the variables surrounding the true cost. Living here in Southern California is very very expensive-our food, utilities, and gas has went up far more than other parts of the US. We have a very large group of poor-immigrants both legal and illegal, original native born, former middle class members dropping down rather than up, transients, and other marginal people. And a few people who are doing very, very well at the top-who has limos at their beck and call. Plus a transit company who has a long history of transit strikes and unreliable service. That is why everyone who can, left for the suburbs and cars.


As I slowly plod through evening college classes, I get to pick up quarterly bus passes for $15! Unfortunately, as the rates increase, ridership falls off, which means they cut back on service, which causes ridership to drop, and they increase rates to compensate, rinse, repeat... So I am depending more and more on my bike to get around partially as a result of transit rate increases, even though I don't have to pay for it. I don't mind too often, but I'd feel better knowing that there was a reasonable option if I'm sick, injured, or my bikes get stolen.

Out here, in spite of adding a few more buses and a lightrail/subway trains that may or may not go where you need to, I always used a bike as an important back up in case of the transit system shutting down at night or even on strike. I now use folding bikes exclusively since these bikes are the only ones I could keep with me at all times to avoid theft or mingle them with another transit option if one unexpectively comes up (like a ride home). Perhaps that type of bike might suit you better. These bikes are not expensive (I bought my first at $200.00 US dollars) and are the closest to theft proof and goes with you if you get sick, injured or other such things happen. I should know, I got sick on a bike ride and all I had to do was fold it up and take it aboard a bus!


Our community college has a program with the bus service that allows enrolled students with proper school ID to ride the bus for free 24/7. Cool and of course all our buses have bike racks

I hope you don't have too many people fighting over the limited bike racks on buses. One of the bus drivers on my route told me to fold up my bike and keep it with me in the handicapped section of the bus. He told me he has more problems with desperate people bringing their big bikes aboard limited bike racks (just 2 bikes) on buses!

The fares that will increase on July 1, 2007 on my local transit company (see my blog below for a partial article and commentary by me) has got me thinking about some things. Have any of you switched to bikes exclusively because of the increases in fares and/or the lack of frequency of buses on your route? I now pretty much depended on my bikes since the buses/trains are too expensive and are not too reliable around here.

I don't know if you realize that each time you start a car, it's going to cost you five (US) dollars minimal. Public transit is cheap any way you look at it but it's starting to get expensive because fuel, salaries, insurance continues to skyrocket.

There was an article in USA Today that started more public transit systems are being built (commuter trains, lightrail, bus) and demand is at an all time high! The high cost of motoring is finally being felt and we are seeing a turnaround with regards to funding public transit.

I don't consider public transit to be expensive at all when compared to owning a motorcar. You have to understand that transportation IS costly but the motorist is only recently feeling the effect because the price of fuel has been allowed to run amok.

As for poor service, I handled this condition by moving to an area that has a lightrail which arrives every 15 minutes. You can do the same thing too by moving to an area with better bus/train service. You don't have to live right next to the line but 1 or 2 miles away would be perfect.

Our transit system might appear to be dirt cheap at first glance-until you look closer at the variables surrounding the true cost. Living here in Southern California is very very expensive-our food, utilities, and gas has went up far more than other parts of the US. We have a very large group of poor-immigrants both legal and illegal, original native born, former middle class members dropping down rather than up, transients, and other marginal people. And a few people who are doing very, very well at the top-who has limos at their beck and call. Plus a transit company who has a long history of transit strikes and unreliable service. That is why everyone who can, left for the suburbs and cars.

Well, transit strikes are just part of life, however the more critical the system the less likely that there are going to be long strikes, often. The more a system gets used, the more money gets invested in it, and the more reliable it gets. Southern California has always been expensive, however food and utilities have nothing to do with transit. One of the issues though, every square foot of roadway, dedicated to getting the suburbanite in his air conditioned, pollution spewing SUV into the downtown area, where he/she/it works, is land where YOUR city is not collecting any tax on, and is having to pay to maintain. This is something they tend to forget when it comes to transit. A subway line, may cost a billion dollars a km to build, but the land above most of it, is still generating tax revenue, and in fact may generate extra value if the city uses a market value assessment system. I know around here an apartment can get about $200 more being on a subway line......

^^^every one of those pollution spewing SUV is carrying a highly paid person who probably doesn't live in YOUR city, but you still collect taxes on that person. Remember that.

^^^every one of those pollution spewing SUV is carrying a highly paid person who probably doesn't live in YOUR city, but you still collect taxes on that person. Remember that.

But are they paying enough taxes for the damage and aggravation they cause? I doubt it. The initial costs of the roads and traffic infrastructure are typically paid for by local property taxes.

Aaron:)

^^^every one of those pollution spewing SUV is carrying a highly paid person who probably doesn't live in YOUR city, but you still collect taxes on that person. Remember that.

That person contribute very little to the infrastructure expenditures, the majority pays (whether homeowners or renters) the taxes that the community collects and not everyone drives a SUV. That SUV driver get all the benefits at the expense of everyone and also contribute heavily to the damage to the environment if not the costly repair and maintencance of the road.

The fares that will increase on July 1, 2007 on my local transit company (see my blog below for a partial article and commentary by me) has got me thinking about some things. Have any of you switched to bikes exclusively because of the increases in fares and/or the lack of frequency of buses on your route? I now pretty much depended on my bikes since the buses/trains are too expensive and are not too reliable around here.


How about when the buses go on strike, or when they do work they don't follow the schedule, or when they do show up they are angry and rude. Yes, I have found myself depending on my Trek as a major means of transportation.

Gas, the price of a can of beans

I don't know if you realize that each time you start a car, it's going to cost you five (US) dollars minimal. Public transit is cheap any way you look at it but it's starting to get expensive because fuel, salaries, insurance continues to skyrocket.

There was an article in USA Today that started more public transit systems are being built (commuter trains, lightrail, bus) and demand is at an all time high! The high cost of motoring is finally being felt and we are seeing a turnaround with regards to funding public transit.

I don't consider public transit to be expensive at all when compared to owning a motorcar. You have to understand that transportation IS costly but the motorist is only recently feeling the effect because the price of fuel has been allowed to run amok.

As for poor service, I handled this condition by moving to an area that has a lightrail which arrives every 15 minutes. You can do the same thing too by moving to an area with better bus/train service. You don't have to live right next to the line but 1 or 2 miles away would be perfect.

I do agree that public transportation is far more cheaper than private motor car's use. The issue here is the general run of people that use the public transit could afford even that. Here in Southern California, the only real people depended on buses/trains are poor, unemployed, students-hardly the ones with overflowing pockets to absorb the probable rising prices or anything. And these same people cannot just jump up and move. My sister cannot find anything to rent/lease in the neighborhood she left just 4 years ago. One of the things you also did not take into account is how hilly or difficult it is to get around when you either cannot bike/walk to a lightrail just a couple of miles from the house. I am lucky to have a lightrail train that very distance. But it is no major help to me since most of the time the train's route does not go anywhere I need to and/or my disabled mother or father (when he was here) cannot easily access the train or have to walk a great distance to cross a wide expressway, or wait for connecting buses. There are many other factors to consider.


Well, transit strikes are just part of life, however the more critical the system the less likely that there are going to be long strikes, often. The more a system gets used, the more money gets invested in it, and the more reliable it gets. Southern California has always been expensive, however food and utilities have nothing to do with transit. One of the issues though, every square foot of roadway, dedicated to getting the suburbanite in his air conditioned, pollution spewing SUV into the downtown area, where he/she/it works, is land where YOUR city is not collecting any tax on, and is having to pay to maintain. This is something they tend to forget when it comes to transit. A subway line, may cost a billion dollars a km to build, but the land above most of it, is still generating tax revenue, and in fact may generate extra value if the city uses a market value assessment system. I know around here an apartment can get about $200 more being on a subway line......

You do add up a daily/weekly/monthy/yearly budget? The things that you include on your list may not be related to each other, but you need them in order to live. Same with transportation costs. When they go up, something else must do in order to meet the budget. So transit costs are related to other need-to-have things. Actually Southern California was quite cheap until the 1980's or so. When everyone decided to move here, that is when the traffic, housing, and other costs of living went way up. As for strikes, the MTA is one of the largest transit agency in the country and the last time it went on strike (2003) it was for 5 weeks. Believe me, that hurt many innocent people.



How about when the buses go on strike, or when they do work they don't follow the schedule, or when they do show up they are angry and rude. Yes, I have found myself depending on my Trek as a major means of transportation.


The only dependable means of getting around-the folding bike.

How about when the buses go on strike, or when they do work they don't follow the schedule, or when they do show up they are angry and rude. Yes, I have found myself depending on my Trek as a major means of transportation.

Gas, the price of a can of beans

If a bus bus driver is EVER rude to you, the paying passenger, note the bus number, date and time, call the transit company, and complain, most people who complain, say A driver was rude sometime last week, and there is nothing the company can do.

The bus number, date and time, allow them to find out who was driving that particular bus at the time, and the proper actions can be taken. Local bus schedules, are more hope then anything else, traffic, and passenger loads, can disrupt the best of scheduling intent. For example, say you have 20 stops, and the intent is to spend 15 seconds at each stop, but on this particular day, you have 3 little old ladies who take 3 minutes each to board, at different stops, your now over 8 minutes behind, then a truck backing into a warehouse blocks the road for 3 minutes, now your over 11 minutes behind, a car accident causes another 4 minute delay getting through, with rubber neckers, having to stop and gawk.... Now another passenger has a transfer from 8am this morning, so the driver gets a fare dispute, that costs another 5 minutes, he is now 20 minutes behind, on a schedule with 15 minutes between buses..... Of course the next bus had his own problems......

However if a bus is chronically off schedule, then again, contact the transit company, they can investigate to see if there are problems on that run, and possibly adjust the schedule, which could mean giving each bus more time to complete the circuit, and possibly adding an additional run.

For my two cents:

Here in Baltimore, a daily pass (allowing you unlimited bus, light rail, and subway access for 24 hours) is $3.50, a weekly pass is $16.50 and a monthly pass is $64. I am also in school at the University of Baltimore and the college student monthly pass is $39, but there is also a free Collegetown shuttle you can take if you are willing to wait because there are so many universities here.

Also, I qualify for the disability rate (no questions, long story on the disabilities and what qualifies) and that costs me only $16.50 per month. One other good thing is that there is a light rail stop right at the University, it is downtown, and the school's shuttle bus drivers will also take you to the nearest subway stop as part of their route.

So, no, I'm generally not concerned when fares go up, but that's because it doesn't happen very often. However, I know that when rates go up in New York City, rates are about to go up down here as well.

My city provides four options for paying for bus:
1) per ride
2) ticket book
3) monthly pass
4) annual pass

Over the past year they have been experimenting with the fares, even offering a free fare period. After that period, they decided it would be best to increase the per-ride fare, keep the ticket books the same, and actually decrease the pass fares. They are encouraging regular ridership at the expense of the pay-per-ride customers, and possibly converting some of them.

For an occasional rider like me, the ticket books work great. They're good forever, so if it takes me several months to go through a book, it's still less than a monthly pass.

I doubt if there are very many cities where the increase in bus fares has been proportional to the increase in gas prices.