Comments on: How Much Would Most People Pay For a Shorter Commute? http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/ Covering Los Angeles's livable streets movement Tue, 07 Feb 2012 14:06:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: limit http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/comment-page-1/#comment-30421 limit Fri, 11 Sep 2009 03:07:39 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/#comment-30421 This is not news the price elasticity for gasoline has been well known in both theory and practice. This is not news the price elasticity for gasoline has been well known in both theory and practice.

]]> By: DJB http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/comment-page-1/#comment-29991 DJB Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:35:37 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/#comment-29991 People could also buy a shorter commute by living closer to work, which may or may not be more expensive, depending on the situation. It's tricky to look at the decision to live somewhere this way though since lots of other factors are involved (e.g. schools, feeling of safety, social connections, home(including condo!)ownership opportunities). Higher gasoline taxes are unpopular in the U.S., despite the benefits they would have (lower traffic, lower pollution, boosting markets for alternative fuels and transportation modes, incentivizing telecommuting and flexible work hours, etc.), a truth which never ceases to frustrate me. Support for VMT taxes is even wonkier, but important. As far as the cleaner alternatives go, it helps to put their slowness in perspective: Walking and biking are a means of transportation AND substitutes for a trip to the gym. Transit and carpooling are a means of transportation AND a chance to read, or do work on an email-capable phone or laptop. You can multitask via the cleaner alternatives in ways you can't (safely) driving alone. Plus, design cities instead of suburbs and you gain more in PROXIMITY than you loose in MOBILITY. People could also buy a shorter commute by living closer to work, which may or may not be more expensive, depending on the situation. It’s tricky to look at the decision to live somewhere this way though since lots of other factors are involved (e.g. schools, feeling of safety, social connections, home(including condo!)ownership opportunities).

Higher gasoline taxes are unpopular in the U.S., despite the benefits they would have (lower traffic, lower pollution, boosting markets for alternative fuels and transportation modes, incentivizing telecommuting and flexible work hours, etc.), a truth which never ceases to frustrate me. Support for VMT taxes is even wonkier, but important.

As far as the cleaner alternatives go, it helps to put their slowness in perspective:
Walking and biking are a means of transportation AND substitutes for a trip to the gym.
Transit and carpooling are a means of transportation AND a chance to read, or do work on an email-capable phone or laptop.

You can multitask via the cleaner alternatives in ways you can’t (safely) driving alone. Plus, design cities instead of suburbs and you gain more in PROXIMITY than you loose in MOBILITY.

]]> By: David Galvan http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/comment-page-1/#comment-29821 David Galvan Wed, 09 Sep 2009 22:34:45 +0000 http://la.streetsblog.org/2009/09/09/how-much-would-most-people-pay-for-a-shorter-commute/#comment-29821 I'm surprised people put the $ amount that high. Am I reading this right: People are saying they'd be willing to pay an extra $10 - $20 PER TRIP just to save an extra 15 minutes? For commuters, that's what (5 days/week x 4 weeks/month x 2 trips/day x $10/trip = ) $400 per month? . . . actually, I guess that does makes some sense. Probably corresponds to the higher cost people pay for gas and car maintenance instead of taking the (always longer, but cheaper) public transit. I’m surprised people put the $ amount that high. Am I reading this right: People are saying they’d be willing to pay an extra $10 – $20 PER TRIP just to save an extra 15 minutes? For commuters, that’s what (5 days/week x 4 weeks/month x 2 trips/day x $10/trip = ) $400 per month?

. . . actually, I guess that does makes some sense. Probably corresponds to the higher cost people pay for gas and car maintenance instead of taking the (always longer, but cheaper) public transit.

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