Taking the bus to work

I used to drive my car to work each day. This past August I started taking the bus. Since I like to bring my dog Lucy to work, this was a big change for me. The MBTA does allow dogs on the bus, as long as it is not during busy hours with crowded buses. This means I have to leave home at 6:30am so that we can catch the 7am bus at Harvard Square. Buses after 7am start to get crowded, and I don't want to risk not getting on the bus, especially in the cold weather.

So far, most of our public transportation experiences have been great. Some of the bus drivers really love having Lucy on the bus. She is a great dog - and she brings a little something special to everyone's day. We have made a few friends on the bus - people that are on the same schedule and love dogs. The dog lovers always join us in the back of the bus.

The ride home is more difficult as the buses stay crowded for longer periods of time. So when Lucy comes to work with me, Ted picks us up after work and we carpool home together. So, unfortunately taking your pet on public transportation is not a sure thing. You need to have a back-up plan. But fortunately, it is possible and 95% of the time there are no problems.

Below are some warm and fuzzy stats that make my painfully early departure more bearable. It is worth the effort - and I have to admit - I love the extra reading time I get each day.
• Buses emit one fifth the carbon monoxide per mile that is emitted by a single occupant vehicle per mile. For more information
• A household with two cars that swaps one vehicle for public transportation for daily commutes would save about $6,200 a year even after paying transit fares. For more information

. . . from the results of an American Public Transportation Association study that were released September 26, 2007

The research shows that when compared to other household actions that limit carbon dioxide (CO2,), taking public transportation can be more than ten times greater in reducing this harmful greenhouse gas. It takes one solo commuter of a household to switch their daily driving to using public transportation and he or she can reduce their household carbon footprint by 10 percent. If one household’s driver gives up that second car and switches to public transit, a household can reduce its carbon emissions up to 30 percent. For more information.

More than 3 million people commute each day in Massachusetts, and more than 73 percent of them drive to work alone (Census 2000 Supplementary Survey)

The average Boston rush hour commuter spends 54 hours stuck in gridlock each year. (Texas Transportation Institute Urban mobility Study 2004)

The average Bostonian household spends over $6,000 annually on transportation - 16% of its income - and spends more on transportation than it does on food. (Surface Transportation Policy Project, 2001)

For more information