Some Help Figuring Out Cheapest Route....

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 12:28 PM

OK, here's the deal, I can take 2 routes to/from my job from home.

Route 1, is the NY Thruway, which from door to door, is 18.1 miles with a toll in each direction costing $1.50 ($3 total per day, $15 per week) The Thruway has a 65MPH speed limit, but I'm usually cruising @ 80 with occassional burst to 90 to get passed the slowpokes. Trip time is about 20 minutes.

Route 2 is a local route, which door to door is 17.7 miles, with no tolls, a few lights, but it adds about 10-15 minutes to my commute each way. The top speed is 55 on the fastest part of the route, with plenty O cops, so I won't go over 65 on it.

Which commute is cheaper? I am thinkin that the local route is cheaper, even though you're driving for 15 minutes longer, you're not paying any tolls and not driving over 65, which also saves on gas.

**Izzo** · 02-10-06, 12:40 PM

#2

**Zilog B** · 02-10-06, 12:45 PM

#2, cause if you keep driving 90 every day you are gonna end up in an accident or jail

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by Zilog B

#2, cause if you keep driving 90 every day you are gonna end up in an accident or jail

That's a good way to put it

**Ghosthunter** · 02-10-06, 01:42 PM

no idea cheaper...but local roads sucks especially on heavy traffic..and get stuck behind going someone slow

**Lefty** · 02-10-06, 01:58 PM

2 because has it should be cheaper and you would pass the Mil's house.

**Izzo** · 02-10-06, 01:58 PM

Originally Posted by John

How much is your time worth.

You are going to spend ~$15 less on tolls/gas to sacrifice 2.5hours of your free time each week?

Just the thought of paying 'extra' just to get to work ......no thanks.

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 02:07 PM

Originally Posted by John

How much is your time worth.

You are going to spend ~$15 less on tolls/gas to sacrifice 2.5hours of your free time each week?

I didn't think about it that way, good point........

But remember, the $15 savings would be on tolls alone, not gas, I didn't calculate how much i'd save on gas.

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by John

I don't know what you make, but if you are averaging $40 an hour, then route #2 should save you more than $100/wk for you to consider taking it.

I'm salaried, not hourly

The extra time that it takes in the morning/evening doesn't really bother me, since it's a very scenic route, so it's not bad. Or maybe just take the thruway in the morning and take the local route in the evening.

**De Plano** · 02-10-06, 02:55 PM

Check the actual amount of gas used rather than trying to just "figure it out", since driving conditions change mileage fairly dramatically.

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 03:23 PM

Originally Posted by De Plano

Check the actual amount of gas used rather than trying to just "figure it out", since driving conditions change mileage fairly dramatically.

Yeah, on my cars control panel, I can monitor how much gas I've used on a trip, I'll do that tonight, forgot that I had that option, thanks.

***YeOldeStonecat*** · 02-10-06, 03:39 PM

Sounds like #2 is cheaper...even considering a few stop 'n go's at lights...probably close/break even in gas consumption, but 60 bucks/week in tolls saved, that's 240 bucks/month saved in tolls.

However...there's the value of time. 2-2.5 hours out of each week, that's over 10 hours per month.

I'd say "mix it up". Esp on Fridays...get that extra jump start on the weekend..get home early.

**emilyb** · 02-10-06, 03:47 PM

I'd take #1 in the morning, cause I'd get to sleep an extra 15 minutes. Then #2 in the evening for some wind down time, and because I get bored with going the same route all the time.

**chimdogger** · 02-10-06, 03:54 PM

Originally Posted by emilyb

I'd take #1 in the morning, cause I'd get to sleep an extra 15 minutes. Then #2 in the evening for some wind down time, and because I get bored with going the same route all the time.

**thepieman** · 02-10-06, 04:38 PM

I was on the Palisades Pkwy when I went to Palisades Center mall the other day and that was completely free coming over from the NY side over the GWB. It was a nice ride too. We missed the exit and ended up going all the way to the end of the Pkwy but it was a cool bridge at the end. Do you and GH live near the Palisades Pkwy?

Pie

**Loonatic** · 02-10-06, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by John

It's $15/wk in tolls.

Do what I do- ride your bike to work!

He lives in NY, he wont make it to work on his bike! It'd be stolen as he was riding it

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 05:11 PM

LMAO, right, 18 mountain miles in Orange County, NY weather on a bike? ROOFLES!!

I took the local route tonight. I left work @ 5:17 and got home @ 5:52 (35 minutes, 10 minutes longer than thruway). Car used 1.1 gal of fuel. On Monday, I'll do the sam, but for the thruway route, and see how much fuel gets used.

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 05:13 PM

Originally Posted by thepieman

I was on the Palisades Pkwy when I went to Palisades Center mall the other day and that was completely free coming over from the NY side over the GWB. It was a nice ride too. We missed the exit and ended up going all the way to the end of the Pkwy but it was a cool bridge at the end. Do you and GH live near the Palisades Pkwy?

Pie

The Palisades Parkway is exit 13 on the thruway, which is about 35 minutes from exit 17, which is where GH and I live.

I hate the Palisades Parkway, way too many slow drivers on it and only 2 lanes with way too many cops.

**Prey521** · 02-10-06, 05:36 PM

OK, I was WAY off in my initial calculations. Turns out that I am only spending .68 EACH way on the thruway. Which means that it's only $1.36 per day and $6.80 per week. It appears that the long way may not even be worth it, depending how how much gas I spend on the thruway, which I will check on Monday.