tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post6989419734514535172..comments2024-03-28T15:54:46.000-07:00Comments on The South Fraser Blog: How to get choice users to ride transitNathan Pachalhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17647693133663879821noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3299108886803608881.post-84891094184664144782009-08-17T14:15:35.633-07:002009-08-17T14:15:35.633-07:00It's no surprise that insurance, maintenance a...It's no surprise that insurance, maintenance and the like aren't factored into commuting. Outside a few select neighbourhoods near the urban core, everyone needs a car just to get their regular errands done. I live near the geographic centre of the City of Vancouver and even I have to go more than 3km to get groceries. Regardless of the shop chosen it's a diagonal trip necessitating the use of at least two different buses. Driving makes infinitely more sense, especially when you're buying for a family. I can't imagine hauling a half dozen bags and 8L of milk on multiple buses.<br /><br />Once you consider car ownership a necessity, then the actual cost of using that vehicle to commute is merely the marginal cost of a higher insurance rate class, higher maintenance and more fuel. I expect most commuters forget the added maintenance and some even forget the added insurance. Even at more than $1/L the cost of fuel can be as low as your West Coast Express fare making it look like commuting by car is the less expensive and more comfortable option.<br /><br />Those who work downtown often have an additional deterrent to driving: cost of parking. I have parking available close to my office at just $9/day, but even that's double the price of my commute by bus and SkyTrain.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com