Is it better to drive or take the bus?

Question

I just moved back to a fairly big city (Portland, Oregon), and I'm starting my senior year as a transfer student at Portland State. I live in the SE part of town, and the university is located in SW or downtown. It takes about a half an hour to drive and park on campus, and a little over an hour for public transit. It would also cost me about $150 to either get a parking permit or a bus pass. So, since I can only afford one, which route should I go? Thanks!

My car isn't the nicest, newest thing on the block but it is reliable. I only work one or two days a week, so school is my "job" and the place I need to get to the most often. Also, I can't read or write while riding in a car, because I get terrible motion sickness. However, I get stressed out driving downtown. thanks for all help, but keep the answers coming!

Answer 1

This is obviously a question you ultimately need to answer for yourself, but I'd go with public transport. You can use the hour in to study and prepare for the day's lectures, while the hour out can be used to review and make additional notes while the info is still fresh in your mind. You can also catch up with friends on the phone and not have to worry about slamming into another car because you didn't see them or couldn't react fast enough.

Not having to park will save hassles as well, you can step off the bus and into your classroom buildings. Insurance costs will drop, since you don't have all those miles. Make sure you tell your insurance company you don't use your car to commute.

I'm not just preaching what I don't practice, I've used public transport whenever possible and planned my housing choices around bus and subway lines. Not having to sit in traffic, studying or reading for pleasure is so much better than driving everywhere.

You can also, in a pinch, drive to campus and pay daily rates if you need access to your car for some reason.

Answer 2

When I was a FT undergrad, I used buses for a 25 mile one-way journey. It is a great plus for students.
Buses:
Pros: You can study, sleep, think, meet chicks (guys in your case), eat breakfast, finish dressing or shaving (portable razor), and dance. Buses generally run on time and are EXTREMELY reliable, more than any car. Always warm or cool depending on the weather. Well lit interior.
Cons: You may have to wait at a bus stop in the cold, but if you wear a watch, the wait is often minimal. If you miss the bus, you have to wait for the next one. Crowds are possible if it is a highly used route.
Cars:
Pros: Leave when you want to. Have the ability to go somewhere other than where the bus goes.
Cons: Additional expense of insurance, parking, maintenance, tires, registration, fuel (significant), repairs, frustration of stop and go rush hour traffic.

So if parking and a bus pass are both $150, you are seriously under estimating the cost of using a car. It is a lot more than just parking. If you have a sugar daddy, then don't worry about it.

Answer 3

I too, live in Portland OR. The all zone tri-met pass is $75 per month. You can use this for the bus, light rail or street car. I'd look into taking the light rail rather than bus. I use to work in SE Portland and commute from the westside. I'd ride my bike to the MAX station, then take max to downtown and ride the rest of the way. You may want to consider riding a bike along the Springwater corrider from SE into downtown, then take MAX to school. I would not consider the car. It will be stressful and you could read or study while on the max or bus.

Answer 4

DRIVE , the people on the bus have lice and TB..
+ the bus is unreliable and unsafe

Portland is full of people that should be in prison..
but due to a bad court system they are out on the street.
on a bus you have no control of the people you are exposed to every day..

the lowest people in town can't afford cars...
so guess where the are ....on the bus !

for your own safety please don't ride the bus..

ask yourself this... will crackheads , rapists and muggers be riding in your car with you ?
it is a undeniable fact they will be riding the bus with you..
the bus is a last resort mode of transportation...
for people with nothing left to loose..
the environment... buses pollute as much or more than if everyone drove...don't believe the commie propaganda !

even if the bus was cleaner.. what's more important ?
your life, or the life of a burrowing bark beetle

Answer 5

If you can't afford both, you can't afford gas for the car either, not to mention the extra maintainance.

Do the rest of the math, and help the enviornment, like sleepingliv said.

Answer 6

$150 for a bus pass damn thats alot. u cant always depend on the bus but if u have a crappy car u cant depend on that either

Answer 7

Use public transportation. Although it takes a little longer, you can use the time that your riding to study or read, not to mention you'd be contributing to a cleaner environment.