I want to use public transport, but it's so expensive!

Obukit

OP - if you catch the bus you'll see the kind of pond life you'll be sharing over an hour of every day with. After that if petrol doubles in price you'll still want to take the car!

Out of interest why are you so keen on the bus? If it's environmental impact why not consider getting an electric car, or getting a diesel and converting it to run on chip fat?

Weird_Nev

9 miles is a great cycling distance, as others have stated.
And hills are only scary if you're a non cyclist. Cyclist know and love the challenge of a decent bit of gradient.

Back in the day I had a 13 mile each way commute. It was 45-50 mins door to door on Train, bike or by car or bus. I did it by bike unless the weather was really foul, and I've never been fitter. It was ace. I still remember the pride of the first day when I averaged 30km/h both ways.

get a bike. Be happy. Lose weight. get the girl. Eat what you like.

funkycoldribena

Stuff cycling-for veggie eating,eco warrior,saddos.
Stuff getting the loser cruiser-peasant mobile.
Take the car-what it was invented for.

thelawnet

You wouldn't do very well cycling only eating vegetables. A nice steak will help build that muscle though.

JoeCool

funkycoldribena wrote: »

Stuff cycling-for veggie eating,eco warrior,saddos.
Stuff getting the loser cruiser-peasant mobile.
Take the car-what it was invented for.

Less than a Mile:Walk
Less than 10: Cycle
More than 10 Miles: Drive.

The roads would be much nicer for everyone if people thought ouside the box and used more appropriate forms of transport.

I have a choice of 2 cars to use. I am Far from a veggie hippy saddo. But I cycle daily because it's fun, keeps me fit and is actually my fastest way of getting from A-B. Rather be out getting excercise and fresh air than trapped in a box with steve Wright ,or sharing a slightly bigger box with the plebs.

Notmyrealname

rtho782 wrote: »

I just started a new job in Bristol, right near to the bus station.

I live about 9 miles away from town and figured that getting the bus could make sense!

However, a monthly pass is a staggering £84 a month!

Driving in for 4.33 weeks, is 389.7 miles. At 139.9 a litre and 40 mpg that's only £61.43.

We are told how we are supposed to save the planet etc, but how is that ever going to happen if public transport is so insanely expensive?!

Even if I say 25ppm for the car/motorbike (I have both) then it only comes out at £97.42, and at this rate insurance, mot, tax and servicing (which I'd have had to pay for anyway) is being subsidised from this monthly figure.

MOT costs £4 a month.
Road tax on my car is £13.75 a month
Insurance is £25 a month.
Fuel for me would be around £50
Cost of car £200 a month on finance

Total = £292.75 a month. £84 sounds a bargain in comparison.

rodenal

I would be taking the bike or cycling. Driving in or around Bristol anywhere close to rush hour is beyond frustrating!

duchy

I got rid of my car and tried using public transport for a year.......and never went back. It very much depends where you live (I have excellent bus and train services within walking distance).

After the year was up I crunched the numbers and even allowing for taxis now and again and even the odd weekend of carhire for weekends away it simply wasn't cost effective to go back to driving-seven years later and the rocketing cost of driving (and hassle of parking) I have no regrets..

Trebor16

Notmyrealname wrote: »

MOT costs £4 a month.
Road tax on my car is £13.75 a month
Insurance is £25 a month.
Fuel for me would be around £50
Cost of car £200 a month on finance

Total = £292.75 a month. £84 sounds a bargain in comparison.

The OP is paying all those costs regardless of whether or not he takes the bus as he already has the car.

custardy

Trebor16 wrote: »

The OP is paying all those costs regardless of whether or not he takes the bus as he already has the car.

car and a bike is my choice
yes I still pay for the car.
however my fuel costs,insurance,maintenece etc are lower.
every day cycled is money saved. though the commuter bike does need maintenece on top.
usually needs a wheels adjusted every couple of months (£15)
new headset just fitted after about 12 months (£50)
blew a tyre on a pot hole (£15),need new tyres soon through wear.
I do my own gears etc but probably would cost another £40 a year if paying someone.
obviously theres initial outlay on bike plus bits n bobs
I ran without a car for a good 8+ months.
however the car is handy for days out,shopping and emergencies.
however its easy to be lazy. it was a monsoon here in Edinburgh yesterday(all day) so i took the car