This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 22nd, 2008 at 12:26 pm and is filed under Geek Banter. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Site Search:
April 22, 2008
I actually considered taking the bus to work today… of course, that didn’t happen. Around LA you have to really really really plan out a bus trip since the mass transit system here REALLY blows.
Of course, I did at least check out what would be involved with a commute on the bus. Turns out it wouldn’t be HORRIBLE… but it would be annoying… very very annoying. A one way trip is over an hour long, and I am only going about 11 miles. In order to get to work on time, I would have to leave my house at 6:45 AM.
If you live in the OC - check out their cool trip planner [ OCTA ]. I don’t think I would have a problem with the morning commute, since I am usually up that early anyway, and I could get some reading done on the way to work. The problem though is the ride home. When I decide that I am done with work, I want to be home… I don’t want to sit on a bus for an hour and fifteen minutes….
Of course, then you think about the cost savings… I drive a Hyundai Sante Fe. It is a V6 compact SUV. You would think it would get decent gas mileage, but no… it does not. At best I am getting 14 to 17 mpg. So basically it takes me two plus gallons of gas a day to get to and from work, and with current gas prices being 3.75 a gallon… well it cost me 8 bucks a day to get to work….
So, in the course of a month (20 - 24 work days ) I will spend 160.00 to 192.00 dollars traveling to and from work. Now, that seems like a lot, but a 30 day buss pass will cost me 128.00. So, I am only really saving 32.00 to 64.00 dollars. Is it worth it. No, not really. Given that it will add another 1 hour (round-trip) to my travel time each day for a loss of 24 hours a month. A WHOLE day, every month GONE… Pass.
BUT.. it is earth day. So, shouldn’t I be concerned about it. Shouldn’t I want to do my part in salvaging the earth. Sure, but ultimately it won’t matter. Nothing that I do on an individual level is going to make any difference compared to how big business is destroying the planet. Is that a defeatest attitude, yes, but c’mon, haven’t we been defeated. I am not saying that we should make things worse, but can we really make anything better. No. So, if taking the bus is more cost effective for you, then do it. If you use a lot of plastics, then you should definitely be recycling.
In the end though, something more major will have to happen to save this earth.
read comments (0)