Check out this infograph from Pembina Institute that clearly lays out the case for public transportation (i.e., Rapid Transit) and shows how much money can be saved..

Source: Pembina Institute.

(Source: Autobloggreen)

With rising gas prices and often limited mass transit options in the United States, car pooling is often an excellent option for many urban commuters. However, finding people to car pool with can be problematic as can sharing costs fairly. The “creepiness” factor has often played against the willingness of many interested commuters to consider this as a viable option, at least until now.

Image Courtesy: Carbuddy

That’s where CarBuddy.com comes into play. When you sign up with CarBuddy, you enter information about your start and end points and whether you prefer to ride, drive or both. CarBuddy matches you up with ride partners that you can select from.

Participants also provide information about the car being driven and CarBuddy calculates fair costs for the trip being taken. The costs are updated weekly and based on more than fuel prices. CarBuddy also factors in wear and tear and depreciation on the car being driven. Based on distance traveled, a cost is calculated for each participant and passengers are charged each week and drivers reimbursed. CarBuddy takes 8 percent off the top of the transaction to pay for its services. Users can cancel at anytime or even switch car pool partners if they want.

The company will also pay for a cab service up to four times a year in the event a passenger gets stranded.

(Source: APTA via News Channel 8)

WASHINGTON – Taking public transportation could save D.C.-area residents an average of $9,500 a year, according to a new report. 

The American Public Transportation Association study based its report on the average gas price for March 5, 2009 ($1.93), and unreserved parking space rates from 2008 (an average of $143 per month). 

D.C. ranks 8th in the nation for savings for public transit users, the study found. 

“I don’t have a car — I take public transportation everywhere,” said one woman.

“Every day I take the Metro; I take the train; I take the bus — a car around here is really not worth it at all,” said Brandin Dechabert, a commuter.

The savings assumes the household gives up one vehicle, including the cost of insurance. That’s based on an average of 15,000 miles traveled by year.

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