I cross the Tappan Zee Bridge going to and home from work. I’ve been doing this since March 17, 1986, except for a year or so working on Wall Street and another few months of blessed unemployment.
The price of gas and the new toll rates are making this difficult. It costs me about $90 a week to cross the bridge. If you back that out to the pre-tax cost it amounts to nearly $7,000 a year in salary that covers gas, tolls and parking. I did not factor in maintenance, insurance and the cost of the vehicle. These probably add in another 3 or 4 thousand a year.
There is a bus that leaves from a lot near my house that costs $1.50 ($1.05 with a prepaid ticket) each way and drops me off in front of my office. I have been reluctant to do this because 1) it is new and I am unsure of the procedure, 2) it locks me in to a scheduled start and leave time, 3) I’d have to get up a little earlier and come home a little later. 4) I’d have to leave my truck unattended in a crime prone lot at the mall. 5) I commuted to the city when I went to college and I learned to hate buses.
#5 is the one that is holding me back, mingled with a little bit of apprehension about all the other items. I hated the commute to Cooper Union in New York City. I would get up at 5AM to catch the 6:15AM bus.The bus took an hour and the fumes and vibrations always made me sick. I then had to get on the subway and go from 178th street to St. Marks square, which took 50 minutes. On a bad day it would take 3 hours to get to school or back home. I would get a ride part way to the bus with my father on his way to work, but I had to walk 2 miles up the hill to Central Nyack to get home at night. I was spending 20 hours or more a week commuting for 20 hours of classes.
I am going to give the system a trial run this week. I’ll take a camera and document things. Stay tuned.
For people researching this here are the links:
Rockland County Transportation Information
TZExpress (TZX) Information Flier
Friday Update:
I bought $7 worth of tickets. That’s about 6-2/3 trips (It’s complicated). I tried on Thursday to make it to the lot, but the bus was leaving as I got there. I will try again next week. I have to leave the house about 15 minutes earlier, which so far has been harder than I would have thought.
2 Comments
OMG! And my wife and I are complaining it cost $66.50 for a monthly transit pass here in Edmonton? We’re walking distance to most everything.
It’s really easy for me to get to the job downtown.I board a bus out here about 4pm every work day to Clairview station. Usually a brief wait for the train. I get a seat by myself where I crack open my book and 2-3 pages later I’m at Corona Station downtown.I’m off the train up the escalater to the upper concourse and then take a 2nd escalator to the ground level, cross the parking lot behind first Edmonton Place, and I’m at the job
by 4:25pm or just as the afternoon shift has filed out the building.
not only that but we get a tax break for using public transporation. I feel bad for you Keith.
(Jim closes eyes and speakes mantra “Thank God I live in Edmonton, I don’t ever want to leave,” repreat as needed.)
Jim
Nobody will steal that blue truck.