I wonder if trip length variability is probably not as important as frequency. Being on a bus that takes a little longer than usual is mildly annoying, particul

I wonder if trip length variability is probably not as important as frequency. Being on a bus that takes a little longer than usual is mildly annoying, particularly if you know that the backup to your missed connection is only another 5-10 minutes out. However, if the bus that you'd usually catch only has service on the hour, which means that you're waiting 20 minutes for your connection, and also, if anything happens on that first leg, your wait is likely to be closer to an hour for the next one... You just drive. (This is by design.) But then, with driving, traffic presents you with similar dilemma, along with the added "fun" of much higher injury/fatality rates, the direct expenses of gas and insurance and maintenance and repairs, and the chances of people pulled over by a cop with a bad attitude. To my mind, very little is as important as the ability to get up and move when you see fit. Cars actually suck for this without a lot of support and a lot of Americans' hard-earned money being sunk into resources and infrastructure that just sits there the vast majority of the time. I'd rather empty busses and trains I can count on to be there (and be safe) versus my experience with owning my personal vehicle (dangerous and expensive).