The Cost of Driving on the Working Poor

This week we addressed the topic of car dependency and public transportation and how these things affect lower income families in this country. I asked that the Modest Needs community share its primary mode of transportation in this poll, and 63% of you who responded (thank you!) use a vehicle as the number one way to get around. [See results of the poll.] 

Just in browsing through the application at Modest Needs, so many of which are requests to help fix cars that are crucial for their livelihoods, but so in disrepair that they are risking their lives by continuing to drive, that providing transportation services to those in car-dependent areas will help the working poor by directly impacting their access to basic necessities: education, jobs, medical services, social services and more.

Here are an assortment of stats on public transit and the working poor:

• For every dollar spent on this [public] transit, rural communities reap about 3.1 dollars in benefits. [source]
• The poorest fifth of Americans spend 42% of their annual household budget on the purchase, operation, and maintenance of automobiles, more than twice as much as the national average. [source]
• According to the Federal Transit Administration, two-thirds of all new jobs are in the suburbs while three-quarters of welfare recipients live in central cities or rural areas. [source]
• Low income people typically have older cars and unexpected repair costs.  Because of credit problems, they are often subjected to sub-prime loans with higher interest rates.  These predatory lending schemes could result in car repossession, worsening credit, and a lack of transportation to work. [source]
  
• Over 90% of former welfare recipients do not have access to a car. [source]
  
• While cities like New York and Washington, DC have extensive rail and bus systems that provide late night and weekend service, most metropolitan areas typically do not offer adequate services during second and third shift hours. [source]
  

But more compelling than numbers, are the shared stories from commenters about how car dependency affects their lives:

I lived without a car for over fifteen years while paying off loans from college, and supporting myself. I have no family that I'm in contact with (abuse history), and have supported myself the whole way. The only way I was able to survive the carless years was that I was single and childless, and at that point not disabled. It was horrendous. Most mass transit companies have cut back service to the point where no buses run after 7:00 PM, so if you work late and miss the last bus, you're out of luck. Service for the disabled is frequently horrible, i.e. in Sacramento, people who require seats or who are in wheelchairs can be denied service at any time if the bus or train is "too crowded"...

The answer isn't simple. Nashville put in the Music City Star, a rail system that transported workers, primarily, from the suburbs to the downtown area. Despite density in population in that area, the train never really took off. It's often only filled to 10 or 15% capacity, even at busy times of the day. Perhaps that transit system isn't broad enough to motivate people to go completely car free, because well, the area is too spread out. People *must* have a car, so they might as well drive it for the convenience, even if a train is available.

Are you happy with your transit situation? Do you wish you had better access to public transit? Would you support the building of mass transit in your area with an increase in taxes? Or could you never give up your car?

Speak up below.

[Photo by Michelle Brea]

Comments

[Cathi Isza]

I had been an adjunct instructor for six years with only a bachelor's degree, living from paycheck to paycheck with second and third jobs trying to support myself and a car. In 2008 I moved to a larger city to go to graduate school and suddenly I found myself without a job and had to sell my car. As my life spiraled downward getting groceries home to myself and my aged mother (86) was futile. 25.00/one way for cab fare and 3.00/day to ride public transportation. It was horrible. I now have a knee injury from trying to carry bags home on the bus. Finally I was able to save up enough money, my school employed me after one year and part financial aid I bought a 14 yr old car. I just spent 340.00 today on repairs. Attempting to get around when you live in poverty is tough. I have a bicycle and try to ride to get things when I can or when my car is in repair. I'm going to be 60 next month.