[nfitz]

My combo of walking, biking and ttc costs me less than $200/year. It's often quicker (and more enjoyable) to walk than take the streetcar along Queen, College, etc. I walk maybe 15 miles a week average. Unlike Rob Ford, I'm neither overweight nor obese.

Depends how far your going. I'm a 55-minute walk, or 25-minute ride downtown on a streetcar. The only time it has ever taken 55 minutes was when the streetcar gets stuck behind an object blocking the road.

If it's faster to walk; walk! I frequently do that heading up to the subway, instead of waiting for something.

 

[Dan416]

I don't think if it's faster to walk; walk. It's often faster to get in the car. But if the walk is only 5-15 minutes, why not just walk it instead of getting in the car or on the subway?

 

[W. K. Lis]

I don't think if it's faster to walk; walk. It's often faster to get in the car. But if the walk is only 5-15 minutes, why not just walk it instead of getting in the car or on the subway?

By car then requires another few minutes to find a parking spot and then walking to and from that spot. And hoping no one scratches or bumps it or breaks into it as it is parked.

 

[nfitz]

I don't think if it's faster to walk; walk. It's often faster to get in the car. But if the walk is only 5-15 minutes, why not just walk it instead of getting in the car or on the subway?

It's suprising how many people take the subway or streetcar for something they can walk in 10-15 minutes. I can understand the subway perhaps if it's not out of the way at all ... but I don't get the streetcar ... unless you see it coming and jump on (and can see traffic is moving).

Though I confess now that the NextBus is working wll for the streetcars, if I know it is really going to come, I'm more likely to wait a minute or two for one, and have a 5-minute trip instead of a 10-minute walk. Though if it says a 5-minute wait, I hit the road if it isn't raining.

 

[StIdes]

The cost of owning a car in Toronto: $8,539.94 each year. Excluding traffic fines and parking fees. See this link for the numbers.

Those numbers are for buying a brand new 2010 car and the financing/interest associated with it. Also 18,000km a year is much more then an average amount of km's a person who lives/works in the city would drive. You can drive for a lot cheaper then $8000 a year if you know a bit about cars, handle the easy maintenance yourself (brake pads, tune ups, other small repairs).
For example I bought a 1998 Oldsmobile intrigue for $1200 in 2008. Ive used it for almost 3 years now, maybe put about $500 for repairs during that time. Besides $800 a year for insurance and gas money there arent many other costs when owning a used car. I would be surprised if it even cost me $2000 a year to drive.

 

[Ed Drass]

Most motorists discount this figure, not acknowledging it's basically an average -- and you're far more frugal than most, Ides. The CAA/Runzheimer numbers have been generated (and scrutinized) for many years. The figures actually account for most criticism/skepticism, if one studies how they were generated.
Very roughly, it costs about 50 cents a click to operate a car in the GTA. Many drivers downplay the high cost and when they do realize it, may respond by blaming taxation or perhaps, downtown anti-car socialists.

That's what can make it so hard to discuss the idea that auto use, despite these already high costs, is subsidized by the general taxpayer.

-ed

 

[W. K. Lis]

Most motorists discount this figure, not acknowledging it's basically an average -- and you're far more frugal than most, Ides. The CAA/Runzheimer numbers have been generated (and scrutinized) for many years. The figures actually account for most criticism/skepticism, if one studies how they were generated.
Very roughly, it costs about 50 cents a click to operate a car in the GTA. Many drivers downplay the high cost and when they do realize it, may respond by blaming taxation or perhaps, downtown anti-car socialists.

That's what can make it so hard to discuss the idea that auto use, despite these already high costs, is subsidized by the general taxpayer.

-ed

Your mention of the CAA reminded me that most people ignored the auto club costs as well.

Basic is $64 annually. At least there is a discount on hotel rooms with them.

 

[Admiral Beez]

Your mention of the CAA reminded me that most people ignored the auto club costs as well.

Basic is $64 annually. At least there is a discount on hotel rooms with them.

I pay $170 a year for the premium service, so that I can flat bed tow by vintage motorcycle up to 200 km. Had to do that once before CAA from Lindsay, cost me $300.

 

[StIdes]

I pay $170 a year for the premium service, so that I can flat bed tow by vintage motorcycle up to 200 km. Had to do that once before CAA from Lindsay, cost me $300.

It's a great service isn't it. I once used it to tow my car home from barrie to toronto when I had a little too much to drink at my friends university pub and didn't feel like staying the night. Rode with the driver in his truck and my car got a gas free trip home so worth the $170 a year!

call a taxi?
call a relative?
call a friend?
stay over night?

Screw that! Call a CAA Tow truck