Gas prices have hit a record high in the Puget Sound region. With gas currently selling for around $2.50 per gallon in Southeast Seattle, Metro transit participation is on the rise.
Buses are brimming with passengers, and applications for Metro's vanpool and ride-share programs are increasing. According to Linda Thielke of Metro, of the 96 ride-match participants from Southeast Seattle, 25 have registered since March 15.
Cathy Bulmenthal, Metro Ride-match coordinator, asserts that, "The number one reason commuters cite for ride-share program participation is the cost of driving." Currently 17 vanpools serve Southeast Seattle whose transit routes, such as the No. 7, the No. 48, and the No. 106 sport some of the highest ridership figures in the city.
"We know many people prefer the convenience of their car, but sometimes it's just not worth it to drive alone," said Metro Transit general manager Kevin Desmond. "When you compare the price of a monthly bus pass to the combined cost of gas, parking and wear and tear on your car, most people find they can save money by taking the bus or participating in a vanpool."
Moe, a bus commuter recently found waiting on the corner of Martin Luther King Jr. Way South and South Othello Streets, said that he works downtown at Macy's. "Why waste time trying to find a parking space, paying for parking and running the chance of getting a ticket?" said Moe, who noted he has a car at home.
Moe estimates that he saves close to $500 per month by taking the bus and says he will save that money toward college education funds for his three children.
University of Washington student, Anna Son during her morning commute on the No. 48, estimates that she saves $50 per month on gas and $200 on parking. The University of Washington provides an incentive bus pass subsidy which makes Metro especially attractive to U.W. students and employees. Son drives her car from Beacon Hill to Rainier Avenue South where she finds free on-street parking before hopping on the No. 48. However, Son noted she drives all the way to her evening job with a mortgage company on Bell Red Road in Bellevue.
"I don't particularly like being out on the streets alone at night," Son said. "Besides the busses don't run often enough at night."
Even so, she felt that if gas prices continue to rise, she may have to find another way to get to work.
With such situations in mind, King County Metro and AAA Washington have teamed up to develop an online calculator that helps local residents figure out how much they can save by riding the bus.
Plugging in Son's figures confirmed her mental calculations. A 22-mile round-rip commute multiplied by 20 workdays a month yielded 440 commute miles a month. Her vehicle's average of 22 miles per gallon divided by 440 miles equals 20 gallons of gas.
The calculator multiplied $2.50, the area's current average cost for a gallon of gasoline, by the 20 gallons and added in the $200 monthly cost of university parking. Figuring in a cash fare of $50, revealed a $200 monthly savings.
However, the calculator doesn't take into account Son's bus pass subsidy, nor does it count up the cost of insurance and car maintenance.
"When you multiply these savings by 12 months, you've got a nice nest egg for a vacation or season tickets to the Mariners," pointed out Metro transit manager Kevin Desmond.
Kris Zawisza, who commutes to work in downtown Seattle from her home in the Othello neighborhood, felt such savings are only a small part of her incentive to use Seattle's mass transit options. She said she feels drawn toward public transit, not only to save money but also to "do a little something for the environment."
Zawisza also said she enjoys riding the bus and doesn't like driving in downtown. While her commute on the No. 42 would be convenient and direct, Zawisza said that lifestyle issues stand in her way of using public transit more regularly.
Zawisza finds it, "difficult to rule her life by bus schedules." She said when she tries to catch the bus, she often misses it by a few minutes and then has to wait half an hour for the next bus. After work, there isn't time for her to get to activities like choir rehearsals and swimming.
Additionally, Zawisza has recently taken in a foster daughter who must be dropped off at day care before and after work. Zawisza figures that she would save $8 per day riding the bus.
"But that $8 is buying me precious time," Zawisza asserted.
For commuters who would like to investigate their options, Desmond said there are several.
"Ride the bus," said Desmond. "Metro has more than 1,300 buses traveling 211 routes during peak commute times."
If you can't do it both ways, Desmond recommends splitting the trip by parking for free at one of Metro's park-and-ride lots.
You can also share the ride by forming a vanpool with co-workers or neighbors. In these cases, Desmond noted that Metro provides the van, insurance, does maintenance, gives driver training and helps folks find other vanpoolers in their neighborhood. You can find out more information at www.rideshareonline.com.
Curious about how much you're plunking down at the pump versus how much you'd feed in to the bus meter? Check out Metro's ride calculator yourself by visiting http://transit.metrokc.gov/tops/bus/calculator.html.
Mona Lee may be contacted at editor@sdistrictjournal.com.[[In-content Ad]]
