Planning My Week

I don't have an 8-5 kind of job, so planning a week of bus trips requires a bit of attention to detail. Armed with next week's calendar, I set forth to plan when the bus would work and when it wouldn't.

The drive to any one of my company's offices from my home takes approximately 15-20 minutes, except for one outlying office that I never go to anyway. So I think the bus ride should take under 45 minutes. My time is valuable to me and I put a dollar figure on it. I won't share with you exactly what that dollar figure is, but it's a lot.


Monday, March 29

Monday, I have a 4 p.m. appointment. Here are the Metro trip planner suggestions for getting to that appointment.


Yeah, that's right. The trip takes 1 1/2 hours and requires a nearly one mile walk (in heels, no doubt). Or, I could stay at the office until 3:30 p.m., jump in my car, drive the 10-15 minutes across town and park in the parking lot for my appointment.

Car 1, Bus 0.


Tuesday, March 30

On Tuesdays, I volunteer downtown from 5-8. So I could take the bus to work, but would I be able to get downtown without too much trouble and then can I get home from there? The answer is yes, although the trip planner gives me two options on the SAME bus, one of which leaves two minutes earlier, takes longer and requires more walking.



So I guess I'll be taking the shorter route with less walking.

And yes, I can get home from there, but the return bus leaves at 8:01 p.m., so I'll have to leave my volunteer spot at 7:50 or so, just to make sure I make it. I'll give the bus a point, even though I have to leave my volunteer activity early.

Car 1, Bus 1


Wednesday, March 31

I have a special volunteer activity on Wednesday night. I said I could be there at 5:30 and would stay for about two hours. This is an unusual thing I'm doing and I don't go to this place all the time. Can I take the bus?

Apparently I CAN take the bus and it isn't even very inconvenient.



Getting home is a bit more of a drag, though. I have to take a transfer at Government Center. Annoying, but do-able. If I'm committed to taking the bus, it won't be my first transfer. Must remember to ask for the transfer when I get ON the bus.

I'll give the point to the bus, despite the transfer.

Car 1, Bus 2


Thursday, April 1

Thursday, I have plans to meet a friend for lunch near Jordan's Crossing and I need to be at an appointment downtown at 5 p.m. Can I take the bus?

APRIL FOOL!





I allowed TWO HOURS for lunch, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. because I have to be back at the office for a meeting at 1 p.m.

Check the arrival and departure times. If I tried to do this, I would only have long enough to wave at my friend before I have to hop back on the bus and head in the other direction. Or, I could just drive to work, drive to his office, have a nice lunch and drive back. I think I'll do that.

Car 2, Bus 2


Friday, April 2

It's a holiday, but I need to go back to meet my friend near Jordan's Crossing from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Can I take the bus? Well, I'll have to get there a bit early, but that's okay because I'll have more time to chat.



The point goes to the bus.

Car 2, Bus 3


Weekly Analysis: March 28 - April 3

I'll be using Map Quest to figure time in car, approximate fuel expenses and so on. I've estimated my compact car at 25 mpg. I am not keeping track of how far I had to walk when I used the bus because I figure that's good for me anyway. I also didn't track how much time it took me to try to figure out how to get around on the bus. I think that time spent will be reduced once I get the hang of which buses go where I need to go.

Days I took the car: 2
Miles driven those two days: 42
Minutes spent in the car: 81
Parking expenses: $0.00
Estimated fuel cost: $4.52

Days I took the bus: 3
Miles saved on my car: 55
Minutes spent on the bus: 254, including time waiting for a transfer, not including time waiting for the first bus or walking time
Minutes spent on the bus in excess of driving time for 3 days: 157 (2 1/2 hours)
Parking expenses saved: $0.00 (I wouldn't have paid to park)
Estimated fuel saved: $6.00
Bus fare: $15.50

Conclusion:

I'm lucky that the bus is a choice for me. If I had no choice but the bus, I would have either had to give up some of my scheduled activities (the appointment Monday at 4 p.m. and lunch with a friend on Thursday), or I would have spent another $16.50 in bus fare and 2 3/4 hours on the bus in excess of what car-driving time would be.

I'm also lucky that I have reliable internet connection at home so I can spend time trying to figure out how to use the bus system.

Finally, I think I might be really busy. Is that possible?