When Public Transportation Is Not Much Of A Bargain

"Family transportation economics are complex, but an important fact to remember if you're trying to save money is that even if the vehicle sits around with the engine off, gasoline represents only part of the cost of a car, truck or SUV. A larger share stems from capital costs, insurance and other expenses that don't go away. That means savings from switching to public transit may be modest or even nonexistent unless you switch so completely that you can get rid of your car or one of your cars entirely...

But the problem for many, particularly suburban, families is that getting along without a car, or multiple cars, is impossible. Families typically cope with multiple jobs, schools, sports, lessons and the like that require flexible transportation, which public transit is not.

We have built a society that depends heavily on the car, and for thousands of residents of this area and across the country there is little practical alternative. "