Tuesday, September 05, 2006
Car-Free Life Tests Commuters' Skills
Car-free commuting is common in large cities with extensive public transportation, or in famously bicycle-friendly cities like Portland, Ore., but the surge in gasoline prices is making people across the country wonder if they can get to work without a car.
A survey by the Pew Research Center in June found 55 percent of drivers said they had cut back on driving in response to high gas prices.
However, making shorter trips or letting the car stand in the driveway isn't a very good way of saving money. The real savings come when you get rid of the car altogether.
In 2004, U.S. households spent an average of $650 a month on transportation, of which only a fifth was gasoline and motor oil, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The rest was mainly the cost of the car, insurance and repairs. Only $37 was spent on public transportation, which includes air travel.
