The Automobile's Ownership of the American Soul

Do we really enjoy driving?  Owning a car?  Paying insurance, title, registration, maintenance, fuel?

Living in Charlotte for ten months now I am reminded daily why driving should never be the first choice of transportation.  When I lived in Gastonia from 2000-2004, I was used to driving everywhere.  Growing up in rural Illinois, you simply had no other choice.  I was horrible at figuring out how to adjust my direction of travel if it was shifted from my original A to B route.  Home to work, school, store, theater, whatever it was I could handle.  Call me on the phone and ask me to go to some other location and I had to think about it.  I would even manage to take a longer route simply because I was familiar with it.

Then I moved to Chicago and it all changed.  Cycling, public transportation, and walking all required adaptability in your daily routine.  I quickly figured out how to adjust my route to save time and energy.  It's not that Chicago itself changed my thought of transportation, but the fact that it's history of alternative means were so ingrained.  Cyclists within the city boundaries were typically understood and respected.  Talk to people who live away from the core area of the city and you will probably hear differently. 

The first year back in Illinois, I was living in the suburbs which continued my need for driving.  January 2006, I moved into the city and opportunities to access other means of transportation were at my fingertips.  In June 2007 I began riding my bike as my core transportation.  Riding to work and school combined for a round trip of nine miles.  I drive, ONE WAY, to class and work ten miles in Charlotte.

I had not realized just how much I appreciated public transportation and cycling until I moved.  I had a weird expectation that I could manage getting around Charlotte with my bike alone.  I can't explain how, regretfully, wrong I was in that belief.  Enter driving on a daily basis.  Now fuel cost is added into the mix, more maintenance, exposure to road hazards, and who knows what else may come up.  Why do we enjoy being owned by our vehicles?  We don't drive it, it drives us, we're just the tool it needs to tell it when to go, stop, turn, brake.

Let's take control and apply the brakes on the entire idea of vehicles as the sole form of transportation.  This does not mean vehicles will not be involved in transportation, just less, even more so the second or last desired option.  Riding the train was so much fun, listening to music, talking, people watching, reading, knowing a small bit of focus was needed to ensure I got off at the right stop.  If I didn't?  Just catch the next train heading back.  While driving?  Watch out for that pothole!  What is this idiot in front of me doing?  Do I have enough fuel to get to work?  Where did this traffic come from?

A large part of Charlotte's problem is the planning.  The only area that provides concentrated housing is Uptown.  Away from Uptown, you may have apartment complexes and other similar housing arrangements, many new structures surrounding the light rail line.  This is great, take it to the next step Charlotte, let's be serious about expanding the LYNX system.  A new mayor is now elected, will that solve the delay?  A system like a new and growing rail line requires support vocally and structurally.  The bus and rail system need to be as in sync as possible, this will expand the opportunities for a resident to take advantage of this resource.

A random individual was explaining a trip taken via CATS from their home to Southpark Mall.  It was the first time they had attempted it and were severely disappointed.  It took them over two hours via bus that otherwise would have been a twenty minute drive.  How is someone suppose to sacrifice two hours of their life just to make a trip to the mall?  That is not acceptable.  Her resolution for the ride home, "Hi Mom, can you come pick us up?"

We have discussed the goal once school is finished in the next couple years.  Accept the decision to move was a learning experience and return to Chicago.  I have enjoyed my time in Charlotte thus far, my desired lifestyle will prevail though...

Public Transportation Takes Us There

Poking around for facts related to the savings while using public transportation I found this post by the American Public Transportation Association.  A study is completed to calculate the savings for two individual household using one less car.

Transit riders can save on average $755 per month.  The savings amount is based on the cost of the national averages for parking and driving, as well as, the October 5 national average gas price of $2.461 per gallon for self-serve regular gasoline as reported by AAA, a slight decrease from last month’s price.

The national average for a monthly unreserved parking space in a downtown business district is $154.23, according to the 2009 Colliers International Parking Rate Study.  Over the course of a year, parking costs for a vehicle can amount to an average of $1,850.

This link provides a chart listing the top 20 ridership cities and estimated savings. 
http://www.publictransportation.org/facts/091006_transit_savings.asp

Slower Economy = Lower Ridership

Unfortunately for large cities who have a structured public transit system when the economy slows, ridership goes with it.  I was unable to find the percent of decline in Chicago, but I'm sure it's slightly under New York's since their budget shortfall is hovering around $300m when New York's is over $1b.

London: They're about where we are now - facing a budget crisis with resistance from the union and no solutions yet. From August 2008 to August 2009 there was a 6.4% decline in riders. New York saw a 2% drop from January to January); both saw record highs in 2008. Transport for London is looking at a budget gap of "at least" one billion pounds, or about $1.5b.

I would say New York handled it better by spreading out the cost of handling the shortfall rather than drastically increasing the fare cost.  Part of that goal would be to help divert taxi users, car owners/drivers to public transportation.  They did increase the fare rate and force some service cuts, but it was not as devastating as it could be.  If the fares were increased the rate suggested, 20-30%, it would have potentially continued the decrease in ridership.  I'm not excited about the increase in payroll taxes and fees unless it was specifically designated for areas serviced by New York's MTA.

This does not excuse any public transportation system from being criticized for lack of efficiency which would decrease cost and potentially increase ridership due to it's reliability.  Public transportation should be the epitome of smooth traveling to ensure customers are satisfied and continue usage.

Let's just hope the CTA can resolve the issue with their union and prevent major fare hikes and service cuts.

http://www.chicagoreader.com/TheBlog/archives/2009/10/14/cta-budget-crisis-if-it-makes-you-feel-any-better-its-not-just-us

One of these days I will sit down and truly hash out numbers for Charlotte commuters from areas surrounding the LYNX blue line.  But for now it appears riding the train is cheaper than driving your vehicle and parking it Uptown.  Why ridership has fallen since the price of fuel has fallen can only be chalked up, if you ask me, to the stigma surrounding public transportation in this city and how embedded vehicle ownership is in their blood.  In this economy, Charlotte's LYNX system should have an increase in ridership due to the savings.

My estimations on driving vs LYNX blue line...

• Main/Polk to Trade/Tryon, 14 miles
• ~30 miles round trip
• $3.60 round trip at 20mpg, $2.40/gallon
  
• Parking Uptown is at least $5
• $8.60 round trip

• Main/Polk to I-485 Park and Ride, 1.6 miles
• ~3 miles round trip
• $0.36 round trip at 20mpg, $2.40/gallon
• LYNX round trip ride, $3
• $3.36 round trip

Which really makes sense?  That's a savings of $5 per day, plus avoiding the aggravation of traffic and increasing your opportunity to relax, read, talk...  Just don't sit on the train with your phone glued to your face.  Don't forget, my $5 for parking is exaggerated.  I'm guessing it is closer to $10+, that only sinks the driver further into the ground.