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Does public transit get you to work... or is it a hindrance?

GasBuddy Blog -- Most jobs in big cities are located near mass transit — but employers struggle to reach even a simple majority of qualified workers, according to a new report out today from the Brookings Institution.

The study says that employers face long odds of landing the perfect employee — only 27 percent of potential workers can get to the job within 90 minutes via public transportation. That’s despite the fact that three-quarters of all jobs in the 100 largest U.S. cities are transit accessible.

Take the NY/NJ/Long Island metro area for instance. 88.7 percent of all jobs there are in neighborhoods with public transit available, but only 36.8 percent of the workforce can reach their job in 90 minutes using public transportation...


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Submitted Jul 11, 2012 By: PD
Category: GasBuddy Official Blog > Topics Add to favorite topics   Post new topicPost New Topic
Author Topic: Does public transit get you to work... or is it a hindrance? Post a Reply Back to Topics
REPLIES (newest first)
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SCSDOG
Veteran Author Toledo

Posts:374
Points:872,465
Joined:Apr 2004
Message Posted: Jul 18, 2012 6:29:31 PM

mass transit is awaste of our tax dollars. it would be better to have mass parking to meet co works then ride in one car, get smart people
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honda0105
Champion Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: Jul 15, 2012 4:54:36 AM

mnrick: that sounds odd. Is it that it's an inconvenience to travel differently? It's hard to believe there is no transportation at that time of the day.
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Soglaos
Champion Author Virginia Beach

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Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 9:31:35 AM

really
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bikerchicklette
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jul 13, 2012 6:14:09 AM

really ?
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mnrick041
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 4:12:55 PM

I live in the Minneapolis area, there is real good coverage in the city but I work in one suburb, live in another and there is no way for me to get to work on public transit, especially not when I have to be there at 6 AM.
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Cheepo
Champion Author Tampa

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 1:16:12 PM

I stay home!
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tnikodem
Champion Author Grand Rapids

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 12:55:31 PM

Public transportation:
1. Bus stops on the corner where I live.
2. Bus lets me out 1/2 block from work.
3. My gasoline cost -- ZERO
4. My parking cost -- ZERO
5. Total time 27 Minutes

Driving:
1. Get into cold cat at home.
2. Park two blocks from work
3. Burn one gallon of gasoline (cost variable)
4. Hike two blocks (often in cold, snow, and sleet)
5. OOPS! Add an additional 15 minutes for expressway construction or accidents.
6. Pay (variable for parking $10.50/day)

These do no include such "soft" differences as
1. Convenience for my wife; she does not need her own, separate car.
2. Insurance savings from not driving to.from workThe choice seems OBVIOUS!!!!!
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Suzzoom
Champion Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 11:35:02 AM

We need public transportation in areas other than large cities, but it's rarely cost-effective.
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SUV2009
Champion Author Orlando

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 11:01:45 AM

Does not work for me in Orlando Florida.
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bcfuelsaver
Champion Author Vancouver

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:56:20 AM

A hindrance.
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CPGas1815
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:51:08 AM

The only public transportation in my home town is an aging bus that bellows smoke and soot out of its tail pipe.
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1DON1
Champion Author Jacksonville

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:49:24 AM


90 minutes each way for a job? I don't think I need one that badly! I get to my office in 10-15 minutes driving my gas miser auto.
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Eugene_C
Champion Author Columbus

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:48:32 AM

Transit helps more people get to work, even bad transit. I know transit is bad for Gas Buddy's business model, so I'm going to let this poorly conceived opinion piece slide.
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peanutsMN
Champion Author Twin Cities

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:48:14 AM

Don't use it as not available.
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tomok
Champion Author Portland

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:46:47 AM

Public Transit? It all depends on where you live! Use public transit, drive yourself or car pool. Anywhere near the bus, light rail or high speed train you have an option to use it or not. If you don't live near public transit and cannot use it, then it's a non issue. If you drive, you will 'usually' get there sooner but deal with possible traffic congestion and have to buy fuel, insurance, vehicle registration, tolls(?) and other expenses. Sometimes public transportation does not go anywhere you need to go and driving is the only option.
Whatever the size or shape of the vehicle, Produce and ‘Drive’ vehicles with high MPG, are very safe, reliable, have a ‘reasonable’ cost and a good ‘value’ for the money. Consider using other forms of less expensive transportation to lower your cost.
The price of fuel at the pump is too high!
12/22/2012!
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hptd
All-Star Author North Carolina

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:45:16 AM

No plublic transit out here in the sticks.
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gasoutherneagle
Champion Author Georgia

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:45:05 AM

It really doesn't exist in this region of the US with the exceptions of certain larger urban blighted zones.
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CocoPaz
Champion Author Santa Barbara

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:43:40 AM

I agree with NoStrings, especially the "frequent" part. I would love to take public transport from my home to other parts of Santa Barbara, but alas, I'd have to walk 1 1/3 miles to the stop, and the bus comes only once an hour. It stops pickups at 5:30pm, just when I need it most.
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tutaw
Champion Author Kentucky

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:42:52 AM

doesn't work for everyone due to schedule and other needs. Nice for the big metro areas
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H2OBurner
Champion Author Utah

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:42:23 AM

k
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tex_mex13
All-Star Author Austin

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:41:56 AM

gets me to work
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radiorumor
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:40:20 AM

I'm a country boy with transit to casino only
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NoStrings
Champion Author Ventura

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:37:11 AM

must be very reliable, safe, and frequent
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repeater1
Champion Author Topeka

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:36:18 AM

If you are off the main roads , forget it.
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RichFWA
Champion Author Tacoma

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:35:26 AM

Traffic sucks!
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ibhenry
Champion Author San Diego

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:34:28 AM

ok
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trugasCA
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:33:29 AM

Don't fight traffic anymore.
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Bhmf4
Champion Author Alabama

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:33:26 AM

As long as I can drive and use one fourth the time as compared to public transportation, I will not use the bus if it were available.
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MRHONEST
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:32:54 AM

Does not apply to me.
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soakmonkey
Champion Author Nevada

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:32:01 AM

stale
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dynamouse
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:31:29 AM

NO WAY LIVE TO FAR FROM TOWN
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sprocketsplines
Champion Author Washington

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:31:09 AM

Palm Bay, Florida has a 'Vision Plan' that advocates 'Village Style' communities which encourages housing, jobs and shopping to be co-located whereas Salt Lake City, Utah is more of a city community requiring greater ease of access to public transit.
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rodmizer
Rookie Author Ontario

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:29:24 AM

Public transit would take 2 hours, 15 min to drive. Which would you do?
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milespergallon
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:29:13 AM

Said all I have to say about this YESTERDAY
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DozenSpeed
Champion Author St. Louis

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:26:48 AM

Nope, pub trans sucks. The operators are crabby, the vehicles smell funny, the administrators waste money, and many on them are unattractive and creepy, and it takes for ever.
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TelsaOR
Champion Author Oregon

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:23:51 AM

Yesterdays news.
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lross94
Champion Author Lexington

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:21:34 AM

I don't want to rely on someone else to get where I need to go when I need to go. Here in Lexington those giant old buses that they use typically have 2 or 3 people on them at any one time. Waste of money!
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Number43
Champion Author Lexington

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Joined:Oct 2008
Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:21:04 AM

IF it paid it's own way here I wouldn't care so much. It has a special tax here with losts of money to waste. It's wasting all we give it.
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nascar1411
Champion Author Idaho

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:20:13 AM

dont have it
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liao
Champion Author Montreal

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:18:23 AM

Half and half.
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Ticobird
Champion Author Huntsville

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:15:49 AM

I'm pretty sure if you live deep within a large city you'll have access to public transportation. I do not.
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bluetatanka
Champion Author Philadelphia

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:15:00 AM

I'd have to drive to get to the public transportation, and it would take even longer ti use it.
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jpgilmor
Champion Author Houston

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:14:53 AM

No
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GPD1739P
Champion Author Illinois

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:13:17 AM

There IS no usable public transit in my area that'll get me to/from work.
I'd use it if I had it.
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tco9436
Champion Author Connecticut

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:09:25 AM

before kids i rode a bike and used buses and trains to get where i was going,but now, forget about it!
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bearzz
Champion Author California

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:06:33 AM

I did not know that most jobs were not accessible in less than 90 minutes in these areas that I think of having mass public transportation. I live in a Central Valley town in CA and using the bus to get to work could take you 90 minutes; I assumed that NY, etc. did much better. We are not familiar with what we don't experience.
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Teddy95
Champion Author Dayton

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:05:00 AM

Hmmm...
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bullfrog69
Champion Author Texas

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:03:34 AM

I walk!
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CaesarI
Sophomore Author Augusta

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:02:53 AM

no help here
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crusty1
All-Star Author Chicago

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Message Posted: Jul 12, 2012 10:02:43 AM

It's the price one pays for living in the suburbs. Who wants to ride on a bus with a bunch of slump dwelling robbers and muggers.
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