Energy efficiency and mass transit

[tornus]

Continuing my alarming digression away from degenerate perversion, Brad Templeton has some profoundly interesting things to say about the energy efficiency of different forms of transit.  The short version is this: on average, mass transit isn't nearly as green as you think.  In fact, it's often less energy efficient than private cars.

For example,

Comments

[sophistimicated]

I take the bus because I'm a frugal bitch. My Excel spreadsheet shows me that I'm saving roughly $250 bux a month by taking the bus to work & other ancillary appointments.

I love money more than I love convenience.

[tornus]

$250 x 12 = $3,000 / year. That's pretty sweet.

[sophistimicated]

It is sweet!

I'm exploring the idea of a sustainable lifestyle that starts with the individual, ie, what is sustainable for me.

[tonyawinter]

Funny you should post this, I was sitting in my car at a light the other day and had a thought that the bus may actually burn more gas per person mile on average than a car. Certainly more than my car.

[webcowgirl]

They'll get them all burning french fry oil in ten years, just you wait!

[daddysir]

The cost of parking is another consideration, too. In terms of both cash and in the resources it takes to accommodate all those cars at the other end. Though in writing this I realize that all those cars are being accommodated at places like the Kenmore park & ride. Hmmm... If the city could just subsidize motorcycle parking downtown instead of my bus pass I'd be all set.

[anonymous]

Human time has value.

Yeah, that's why I prefer the bus. Good grief, it's my only free reading time when the children aren't about to try and get my attention.

[babysimon]

I admit to not knowing what it's like in the US, but some of those numbers look a bit weird to me. Does the average US bus only have 9 people on it? Does the average US train really only have 22? Here in London the numbers are a lot higher, believe me ;)

I'm also surprised that the bus is quoted as using ~33 passenger mpg (so presumably 3.7 mpg). Wikipedia quotes 5.5 MPG for long bendy buses and 8 MPG for double-decker routemasters. Since these are both bigger than the typical US bus, I can only assume US buses are really inefficient...

[tornus]

According to Brad, European mass transit is 2.5 times more efficient (in terms of BTUs / passenger mile) than American mass transit. As you guessed, a lot of the difference is due to ridership.

Remember also that buses get less than nominal mileage both because they stop and start a lot and because they make non-passenger trips (like driving to and from base).

Before you get too smug, be aware that Asian mass transit is almost twice as efficient as European :-)

[babysimon]

Ah, right.

Still, it feels like more than 2.5, but that's probably using public transport mostly in rush hour and in the middle of a big city for you ;)