5 Ways to Cut Commuting Costs

UNTIL TWO YEARS ago, 37-year-old systems analyst Justin Moore drove his Ford (F) F-150 to work every day. As gas prices climbed, the pickup, which gets just 12 miles to the gallon, soon became a financial liability. To fill up his truck, Moore shells out $87 — a sum that's forced him to rethink his commute.

In 2006, Moore, who lives in San Antonio, bought a Ford Escape hybrid that gets 34 miles per gallon and started driving it to work two days a week. Last month, he took his fuel-reduction campaign one step further by biking to work another two days a week. Between the bike and the hybrid, Moore figures he saves about $104 a month in fuel costs. And despite sweating through 100-degree bike rides home, he says, "I feel good because I'm on a bicycle instead of in my gas-guzzling truck."

With gas prices topping $4 a gallon, commuters across the country are looking for less expensive ways to get to work. Public transportation usage, for example, rose by 3.3% during the first quarter, translating to roughly 85 million more trips than the year-earlier period, according to the American Public Transportation Association (APTA).

From riding a city bus to pedaling down the highway, here are five ways to get out from behind the wheel and cut your own commuting costs:

Other cities, including Chicago, Boston and Portland, Ore., are considering bike-sharing programs, which allow registered members to pick up a bike in one part of the city and drop it off somewhere else, says Paul DeMaio, founder of MetroBike LLC, a bike-sharing consulting firm. Washington, D.C. will become the first U.S. city to implement a bike-sharing initiative when — in partnership with outdoor advertising company, Clear Channel Outdoor (CCO) — it launches SmartBike DC next month. Membership will cost $40 a year, and each use (for up to three hours) is free.

Local government agencies and regional bike advocacy groups, such as the Washington Area Bicyclists Association and BikeArlington.com, can serve as helpful biking resources, says DeMaio. Also, check out Paul Dorn's Bike Commuting Tips site, which offers advice on everything from safety to parking.

For commuters, the savings are evident: A typical vanpooler who commutes 80 miles a day round-trip pays $120 a month to use the service and still reaps savings of about $140 a month, or $1,680 a year. (See footnote for calculation. Costs will vary depending on city). Michael Norvell, vice president of business development for vanpool service operator VPSI, Inc., says the company's vanpools grew by more than 11% so far this year.

To check for a service in your area, go to VPSI's web site. Also, many local governments provide vanpools for residents. Montgomery County, Md., for example, offers help to drivers who want to form a vanpool. Check with your local department of transportation for more information.

Don't have a TMA in your area? Seek out regional ride-shares online. Sites like RideshareOnline.com, which serves Washington and Idaho, and eRideshare.com, which serves markets nationwide, are free for commuters to use.

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