More people would use public transportation if it were cheaper

[HouseHopeful]

In my area, its not the cost, its the locations of stops, the routes & the times that are the issue. I live 7 miles from work. There are bus stops right outside my neighborhood. However, I would have to transfer TWICE and take 30-45 minutes for a 10 minute drive. Thats just not sane.

[KiwiJo09]

In my area, the price is not the issue. The issue is the inconvenience. There are no bus stops to where I need to go. At my old house, the closest bus stop was about a quarter of a mile away, but would turn a 30 minute drive into a 2 hour trek using 4 buses or so. It's just not worth the hassle. For me, I'd rather use my car and save myself the time and energy.

[charlieh]

I lived outside of Manhattan for years. By outside I mean either a 1 hour train ride on metro north, or a 45 minute drive with no traffic. For a year I took the train, a painful experience for someone like myself who prefers quiet and space, to crowds. Taking the train also forced me to get a few blocks of walking in but let's not count that.
Finally I gave up. With a great deal on parking through my company at the time and gas prices less than they are now I realized that by driving to the city and parking I was not in fact spending so much more than taking the train. The train pass monthly was already almost 300 dollars or more from what I remember and just seemed very expensive.
Even now if i go to buy a pass to New York the round trip ticket is 20 bucks. Guess what - I drive. Half the time I can find free parking there, and the other half I find a 16 dollar parking coupon. The cost of gas probably makes it a bit more expensive but if I have just one passenger with me there is no consideration - I would never take the train.
It is too bad the prices of public transport are not cheaper. I would take the train more often if I felt that it were a savings.

[irmanator]

Agreed. When I lived in the DC area, taking public transport was only marginally cheaper and, depending, on the day of questionable convenience.

Had to drive to the train station, pay for parking, pay for the train and buses.

When I went to DC on vacation, I thought the Metro was awesome. I loved that their were maps on all the trains and there was no need for a schedule. Soon as one train left a minute later their was another. A little pricy but.... was perfect for site seeing.
I grew up in Rochester ny, They have a bus system which is ok, During the workweek there is a bus every 15 min. holidays and weekends every hour. The bus routes all meet in downtown to switch up and do have some routes into the suburbs. price 1.00 per trip and transfers were .25

I now live in the country and they have a bus, it is old and circles the county 3 times a day. So its pretty much for old ppl going shopping and appts. price .50