Six Tips On How To Commute Well With Others

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It’s no secret gas prices are sky-rocketing, and one of the many ways that people are dealing with it is by joining the growing masses of commuters who are ditching their cars for public transportation. According to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA) Americans took 10.3 billion trips on public transportation in 2007, the highest level in 50 years, representing a 2.1% increase over the previous year.

With this growth, daily commuters can pocket the between $40 and $100 in gas money they save from not filling up the tank (minus the price of the public transportation, of course) - a reward worth taking the bus for.

That mindset is taking hold in cities across the country. In Detroit, commuters on city buses rose 7%. New Jersey Transit ridership increased 5% during the first three months of 2008, while subway use in New York City jumped 6.8% throughout January and February. The growth of public transportation use coincides with news that fewer Americans are hitting the road, according to a report by Cambridge Energy Research Associates. April marked the sixth consecutive month that driving mileage declined. Americans drove 1.8% fewer miles compared to last year, a rate that is continuing to decline.

Although the idea of taking a train or bus may hit a germaphobic nerve with some, it’s actually a relaxing mode of transportation if you know the basic rules.