Why Melbourne’s public transport doesn’t work well in most cases
I live 17km from work. A zone 1&2 ticket to get there for a week costs $47.40.
To drive in a car that I will own regardless (so I’m not really factoring in rego and comprehensive insurance) using fuel at $1.25 a litre, is $30 per week.
This car uses 10.4 litres per 100 km on average driving city/highway cycle.
Per month that works out at $130. The monthly ticket is $161.
This is the same for people who live in the northern suburbs of melbourne from the north side of Reservoir to Epping. Those a bit closer, but still in zone 2, the mathematics of driving is going to be better still.
Oh and driving is the same or quicker for the overall trip in peak times. And did I mention that trains in Melbourne are now constantly overloaded and unreliable? From Epping, its standing room only after about 5 stops. By Northcote its sardines. In the evening, the trains are consistently late and DANGEROUSLY overcrowded. How there hasn’t been a death or serious injury lately is just pure luck - I have been on carriages where people have fainted or become caught in doors. The latter is a once a week observation.
If I factor in my registration and insurance its more like $255 a month. However were I to buy a crappy corolla or datsun or some other $1000 shitheap to get to work in (which I’m seriously considering), bomb insurance only plus rego brings it down to pretty much the same cost and providing the engine isn’t shot will get more like 8 litres per 100km. Now if I get a motorcycle…