TRAVELWISE TRANSPORTATION MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATION

Today's K-W Record advises us that a new program has been started in cooperation with the Region of Waterloo and numerous large employers in the Region, including the three biggest cities and two Universities. The record story is titled " Program encourages drivers to get to work other ways ". According to this story written by Terry Pender "The main objective is to reduce the number of people driving alone to work". The various alternatives include public transit, car pooling, car sharing, walking and cycling for example. This program has additional incentives above and beyond the up front financial and environmental. Individuals who sign up to a one year commitment will receive a 15% discount off of a monthly bus pass. This reduces the price from $63 a month to $53.55 . It's funny how we delude ourselves in our quest to stay in our cars. At first blush I considered $63 a month expensive for public transit. Then I remembered that I put $26 of gas in my car last week and $30 in yesterday. By the way I'm driving a four cylinder, tiny Hyundai; not remotely a gas guzzler. My gas costs alone are double the price of a bus pass and that doesn't even begin to compare when you consider purchase price, insurance and maintenance.