Tip Tuesday: 50 Low-Cost Tasks To Do On Public Transportation

Buses and trains consume large chunks of my day, but I've learned to make commuting time pay by carrying out creative, practical and meditative tasks.

It's possible to get more mileage out of the day, by using commuting time to the fullest. I've studied other public transportation riders, and here are some activities I've witnessed:

1. Plan a daily or weekly agenda


2. Read a book


3. Read newspapers or magazines


4. Recycle newspapers, magazines and books (i.e. leave reading material on the seat for another rider.)


5. Sit and stare (My favorite form of meditation.)


6. Listen to music


7. Work on a laptop


8. Watch a movie or television show on a laptop or portable DVD player


9. Write in a journal


10. Write a short poem or fiction


11. Play music on a guitar or violin


12. Chew gum


13. Sleep


14. Work on crossword puzzles, word games or number challenges


15. Settle an argument, emote or cry (catharsis)


16. Check e-mail


17. Write an e-mail


18. Send a text message


19. Talk loudly on a cell phone


20. Talk quietly on a cell phone


21. Use sign language


22. Eat


23. Drink coffee


24. Play video games


25. Apply makeup


26. Study for an exam


27. Proofread work assignments


28. Do homework


29. Pray


30. People watch


31. Make new friends


32. Sight see


33. Provide travel advice for out-of-town visitors


34. Sell socks, jewelry, candy and other small items


35. Purchase socks, jewelry or candy


36. Prepare for a meeting


37. Check travel arrangements


38. Study fellow passengers


39. Exercise (One passenger used an overhead bar to do chin ups.)


40. Practise deep-breathing exercises


41. Take a guided-mental meditation trip


42. Read advertisements, public service announcements and other posted material


43. Study the real estate market


44. Take children on a frugal tour of the city or region


45. Learn a language


46. Practise a speech or presentation


47. Network with other professionals


48. Campaign for a cause, charity or political issue


49. Give charity


50. Plan meals for the week

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Will People Continue to Take Buses & Trains

Trains and buses were crowded when gas prices flirted with $5 a gallon. But now that gas prices have dropped to the $2-per-gallon range, I wonder if ridership on public trains and buses will also drop.

So far it looks good in my area. Even in the middle of the day, I still have plenty of company when I ride trains and buses in Miami. Keep in mind, that South Florida is not an ideal environment for public transportation. It's a sprawling area where people are in LOVE with personal vehicles.

People used to pity me -- a former New Yorker -- when I would hitch rides on buses and trains. But when gas prices spiked, my opinion and expertise about public transportation was in hot demand. Suddenly, there was a crowd of people who wanted to share my frugal rides, and I have had trouble finding seats on packed buses and trains.

The crowds in South Florida continue to show interest in public transportation. Here's a release from our regional transit authority:

"Tri-Rail Sets New Ridership Records

In 2008 Passenger Count Tops 4,000,000 for First Time in History

The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority announced today that Tri-Rail carried more than four million passengers during 2008, marking the first time in the system’s 20-year history that ridership has broken that benchmark in a single, calendar year.

Preliminary figures show that Tri-Rail carried 4,303,509 passengers in 2008, representing a 22.9 percent increase over the 2007 total of 3,501,704 passengers.

“These statistics show that the trend of double-digit growth that we have experienced over the past three years is continuing,” said SFRTA Executive Director Joe Giulietti.

“Even with the dramatic reduction in the price of fuel, ridership continues to grow at a record pace. People in South Florida, like record numbers across the country, have come to realize that using public transportation isn’t just about saving money on gasoline; it’s also about mobility, sustainability and taking responsibility for the environment.”

According to the American Public Transportation Association, Tri-Rail has consistently been one of the nation’s leaders for ridership growth in the commuter rail sector since 2006, when it showed the largest percentage of growth of any system in the country. Ridership on Tri-Rail has more than doubled since 2005. For more information, call 1-800-TRI-RAIL (874-7245). "

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How I Use Google to Take the Bus & Train

Want to find an extra $8,000 a year for home improvement projects? Consider taking public transportation. The American Public Transportation Association estimates that the average driver can save $672 a month this way.

Fortunately, traveling by public transportation has become easier due to a new trip planning service from Google that provides information from transit authorities in Miami-Dade and Broward counties. The new service gives customized bus and train information and traveling routes.

Located at www.google.com/transit, the free online trip-planning service is an upgrade from the previous Trip Planner that was locally available online and by phone through Miami-Dade County. I've frequently used the older version of the trip planner from Miami-Dade County Transit and I've been pleased.

The new service provides a Google map of your travel plans. From abroad, Google also links to rail, bus and ferry services in Canada, Japan, Russia, Italy, Switzerland and other locations.
To use the service, supply a starting address, destination, travel dates and preferred times. The service will provide an itinerary with alternative routes, stops and estimated traveling. Details include station information and schedules.

And if you're already moving, Google has a mobile option that lets travelers tap into transit information from subways, buses and trains. It can be downloaded to Java-enabled cellphones and Blackberry phones.

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Ask Your Boss to Underwrite a Bus Pass and Save $1,200 a Year

A friend of mine has found a way to shave at least $1,200 a year from her commuting costs. She now takes the bus and train to work, and her employer is underwriting a large portion of the fare.

Even if she paid full fare for public transportation, my friend would have saved plenty on her daily commute based on gas prices and maintenance costs for her car. But with her employer underwriting 50 percent of the monthly bus/train pass, her savings are greater.

Ask if your employer offers a discount on monthly passes or tokens for public transportation. Here's how one program works in my area: More businesses subsidizing Transit for employees.

In South Florida and other regions of the country, many employers are providing discounted commuter passes for buses and trains. The South Florida Regional Transportation Authority, which operates a tri-county commuter train in my area, provided me with the following comment about the recent spike in employer-sponsored transit passes:

"In June 2008, Tri-Rail’s Employer Discount Program signed on 1,233 new members and 118 new employers – a record ever since the inception of the program in 1992."

For years, I've traveled by bus and train. In a previous post, I featured my tips for traveling on public transportation: Excuse me, May I Sit Next to You? 6 Tips for Traveling on a Crowded Bus or Train

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Excuse me, May I Sit Next to You? 6 Tips for Traveling on a Crowded Bus or Train

For years I've traveled around Miami using public transportation. And until a few weeks ago, many people -- including a few friends -- thought I was odd to navigate without a car. That's because in car-crazy Miami, public transportation was reserved for the homeless, the disenfranchised and former New Yorkers like me.

And for the last 14 years, I've traveled comfortably on the buses and trains routed through South Florida. I've commuted in style, with very little company. During a typical commute, I could move to a different seat at each stop and never bump into anyone.

That's changed. With gas prices spiking beyond $4 a gallon, I now have a lot of company on local trains. Here's a local story about the huge growth in ridership on a commuter train in South Florida.

I'm grateful for the company, and I offer these tips for novice riders on public transportation:

• 1. Bring reading material. Get extra mileage out of your commute by bringing a book, a magazine or some other text that can be easily folded. Think compact.


• 2. Keep the laptop in its case. A bus stop or a train seat is not the best place to whip out high-tech, big-ticket gadgets. Don't make yourself a tempting target.


• 3. Ask about discount plans. Some companies subsidize monthly passes for employees who travel on public transportation. Transit systems also offer a variety of discount programs. Ask!


• 4. Go audio: Bring along recorded music, books on tapes, language lessons or recorded self-help classes. Learn as you go!


• 5. Be patient: Buses break down; trains get derailed. Leave enough time for mishaps and then just let go and sit back. Getting uptight about delays will not make the train or bus move faster.

And finally: # 6. Know your timetables. Research routes and schedules. It's a real bummer to arrive at the bus stop or train station two minutes after the vehicle has pulled out. You'll save time and (personal) energy by doing your homework. Many public transit systems offer free trip-planning services -- via phone or online -- that will help you map out your commute. Inquire about printed schedules and maps.

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Walking to Save Gas & 4 Other Paths to Easy Exercise

A little while ago, I spotted a family friend walking and multi-tasking. His goal: conserve gas, get exercise and finish an errand.

"Saving gas and saving money," he said from across the street.

His pedestrian efforts prompted me to think of other easy ways to save energy through frugal exercise. Here's my list:

1. Walking School Bus: Walk your kids to school. Here's a link with details about creating a walking school bus. Basically, instead of gas-guzzling car pools, parents can organize a neighborhood walking tour to school. Substitute the walking school bus for any or all of the car pool rides.

Think about it: Sometimes we drive our children to school, which may be just a few blocks away.

2. Errands: Is it possible to walk to the grocery store, the dry cleaner or the pharmacy? Too often, we pop into stores to accomplish errands that can be undertaken on foot. And consider this: Because you're walking --no trunk space -- you'll limit purchases to items that you really need and can really carry.

3. Visit Friends: On weekends, I will walk 20 or 30 minutes to visit friends. Get more mileage out of social visits with a round trip hike.

4. Walk to restaurants or ice cream stores: Walk off calories from a restaurant meal or from sweet treats. The average family dines or purchases desserts from nearby cafes and shops. Why waste additional money and gas by driving?

5. Use public transportation. Bus and train fares cost much less than driving and paying crazy prices for gasoline. That's the word from my fourth-grade daughter. Public transportation typically involves foot traffic. And walking -- from a bus stop or to the train station -- represents another opportunity for easy exercise.

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