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Why You Should Take the Bus to Work Instead of Your Car

Certain things in life are a guarantee. The sun rises each morning and sets in the evening. People will argue about politics and religion. And gas prices will continue to rise. Petroleum is not a renewable resource, and as more third world countries catch up with the United States, the demand for cheap gas has exploded. Of course, that means no more cheap gas. So what can you do to stick to your monthly budget, with such a big line item completely out of your control? Well, you can consider other modes of transportation. And while it may not be the sexy choice, taking the bus to work will save you a ton of money over driving yourself. Here are a few reasons why you should put your love of driving aside and ride the bus for your daily commute.

First off, accessibility has never been higher. Local governments understand the need to cut down congestion and protect the environment, so they’re doing everything they can to encourage public transportation. That means that in most urban and suburban areas, you can often find the perfect bus route within a short drive or walk. It will cut down on your overall commuting time, and also save you that unfortunate road rage that comes with battling traffic every day.

Riding the bus is also much cheaper than taking your car. You’ll save on the gas money of course, but you also might save on car insurance by cutting out your daily commute. Check with your insurance provider to find out what kind of discount might be possible. On top of the savings on your car, bus fares are ridiculously cheap. You can often take long trips for only a dollar or two, and monthly unlimited passes are available to purchase on most major lines. With the gas savings and cheap fares, you can easily expect to save a couple hundred dollars a month, depending on the length of your commute.

If your office doesn’t have a dedicated parking lot, you could also save a ton on parking. In most big cities, you end up having to park in public lots near your office. That alone can run you hundreds of dollars a month. Hopping on the bus and walking from the station takes that right out of the equation. If that savings alone doesn’t appeal to you, think about the fancy lunches you can treat yourself to with the extra cash. In addition, you can head to the after work happy hours without concern, as the bus will run without incident even if you’ve had a couple of drinks. That alone will improve your social life, and your relationships with coworkers.

Finally, you’ll lower the chances of getting into a serious accident by taking the bus instead of driving. Even with seatbelt laws and tons of safety features, thousands of car crashes happen every month in this country. Public transportation severely lowers the risk of being in one of these situations. And if you do happen to get into a fender bender in the bus, you might not even feel it. And you certainly won’t have to shoulder the repair costs.

If you just can’t fathom taking the bus every day, at least consider a carpool situation. Perhaps your office will pony up for a sprinter van rental NJ purchase, to pick up employees who all live in the same area. However you can organize it, you’ll save each member of the carpool a bunch of money on gas and tolls, while doing your part to save the environment.

Clay Miller
the authorClay Miller
I am the creator/writer of Ways2GoGreen.com and Ways2GoGreenBlog.com. I'm an advocate for oceans, beaches, state parks. I enjoy all things outdoors (e.g. running, golf, gardening, hiking, etc.) I am a graduate of the University of Kentucky (Go Wildcats!!). I'm also a huge fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. I was born and raised in the beautiful state of Kentucky.

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