Having spent most every workday on public transit since last September, I have traveled to work with my eyes closed, a very leisurely activity. I have seen people studying for professional engineering exams, talking on the phone, staring out the window, etc. I have driven my personal car only 4 times to work in 9 months. It takes me approximately 75 minutes extra per day to take a bus to and from work on ONE bus line. If I had to transfer, I would be less likely to stay on public transit. My employer has a deal with the transit agency where I board for half price, so it costs me $1.25 per day. The 40 extra minutes commuting at the end of the day is time I would otherwise use to mow my lawn or stop at the market for groceries. In the morning, I do have to walk about one mile from bus drop off point, so I get exercise before 6 AM. The value of not having to fill up every week, and not have to experience traffic, is stress and financial relief. As a non-registered professional civil engineer, I too value my leisure at well over $8 a hour. I am just trying to do my part to use less fossil fuel. I take public transit because I can, not because I have to. On my last two times out of town last month, I spent 4,000 miles on Amtrak and/or private rail cars and spent less than 150 miles in automobiles in those 14 days.

Check out the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Dump the Pump campaign.