Find Inexpensive and Efficient Public Transportation
For anyone on a budget, knowing how to find inexpensive and efficient public transportation can mean having a reliable way to work, finding your way to appointments, meeting friends and more. Mass transit can also be an Earth-friendly option because you are not burning fossil fuels in a vehicle of your own.
Steps
- Take the bus. From small communities to large metropolitan areas, there is generally a bus transport system in place, and most towns and cities have published literature or online materials available to help you plan your route.
- Some buses travel within the community while other coach bus systems like the Greyhound Bus line go all across the country.
- Bus transit is relatively inexpensive, and most individuals can either ride one bus to and from a destination or can transfer buses at a central location to get to the destination.
- Larger communities may also have trolley buses, which are electric bus systems that get their power via an overhead wire line.
- You can also consider riding online electric buses, which rely on a rechargeable battery system.
- Consider commuter rail lines as a transportation method. This system of transportation is common in urban areas, and it helps people who live in suburbs of large cities rapidly travel into the city without having to drive.
- Commuter trains make stops at each station, and as a rider, you can generally purchase passes by the number of trips you're taking, the area that you are traveling in, or for a designated time period.
- Look up rail ticket information for your area, like what is found at http://www.mbta.com/schedules_and_maps/rail/.
- Many commuter rail systems also have accompanying shuttle bus or parking facilities for ease of convenience for riders.
- Take an intercity or high-speed train if you are traveling between cities or between countries. These fast-moving trains make few stops in order to keep a high rate of speed.
- Look into the rapid transit rail system available in your area. This option is often referred to as the subway, the underground or the metro, and it generally runs as an underground transit system.
- Find United States and international transit system maps
- Check out the information in your area on sites like the one from the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority at http://www.wmata.com/rail/.
- Find the ferry in your area if you live in a coastal region. Ferries are popular in many European countries and on the coastal areas of the United States.
- Take a look at the Washington State Department of Transportation site at http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/ferries/ to buy tickets or check out wait times.
- Pull up European ferry routes at http://www.directferries.co.uk/ to plan your local or vacation ferry trip.
Tips
- Purchasing long-term tickets (e.g. a month or yearly pass) will be more cost-effective than buying tickets on a daily basis.
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