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True cost of driving a car is typically more than twice the fuel price. So the train ticket is not that bad value. The car is just hiding a lot of the cost away
by petschge 5y ago
True cost of driving a car is typically more than twice the fuel price. So the train ticket is not that bad value. The car is just hiding a lot of the cost away in the form of registration, insurance, depreciation, repairs and so on that you don't associate with a single trip. That makes the car trip seem cheaper than it is.
- throwaway0a5e 5y agoThe train to commute from an outlying city into Boston is ~$400/mo. On a pure cost basis that's just about equivalent to a compact car assuming you have to pay for unsubsidized parking in Boston or thereabouts and with the car option you also get a car that you can use wherever and whenever you want.
- ghaff 5y agoAnd if you're in an outlying city you probably need to own a car anyway. That said, if I'm going in for a day, I usually take the train because rush hour driving is so painful.
- tonyedgecombe 5y agoThe trouble is most people will feel they need a car so even those taking public transport or cycling and walking will still bear all those costs.