The official numbers will be ready shortly after the end of December, but with just four weeks left of the year, I can safely say that the savings have been tremendous.
It started last January with the simple idea of using public transportation to get to and from work, but only when it was convenient. I spent $45 on a transit pass and $30 on gas and set out to determine if I could make the combination work. Well, it worked and at the end of January, I still had gas in the tank. When I ran the numbers, I determined that I also had money in the bank. Not a lot, but a little.
I decided to take the challenge further in the following months to see how much more I could save by using the car only to get to and from when my schedule was outside of COTA’s operating hours. This meant that I would often be on the first bus of the morning or the last bus at night. It also meant that all of my weekly tasks would be carried out using public transit. If it couldn’t be accomplished using public transit, I wouldn’t participate.
Using those guidelines as the general rules for living throughout 2008, I have found myself, now in December, with more available money than ever before. There is more money in the bank and the remaining debt is being decimated month after month. Because I’ve been so fortunate, it’s time to pay it forward to someone else.
At the end of December I will buy a January COTA transit pass for someone willing to give it a try. Ideally, I’d like to see the recipient use it for commuting to and from work a couple times per week, but I’ll place no limits on its use. Use it for whatever purpose you’d like, just use it. As an added perk, I will help the recipient plan their public transit travel.
To be considered as the recipient, please use the comments section of this blog post to tell us how you would use unlimited access to COTA’s existing route structure during the month of January. It is not the easiest month to make the switch, but if you can do it in January, you can do it any month. Additionally, COTA has plans to expand service on many of its routes starting January 5th, making it that much easier.
The January COTA pass will go to the individual who puts forth the best claim. Please be over eighteen years of age and have your “comment” posted by December 25th.
Please do not put your contact information into the body of your text. Your registration to post comments contains that information but it is not shown publicly.
Great idea Jeff. Thanks for leading and guiding by example.
[...] the 2008 COTA Challenge Posted in Transportation, Urban Life on December 4th, 2008 Urban In-Fill Celebrating the COTA Challenge December 2, 2008 by Jeff JohnsonIt started last January with the simple idea of using public [...]
[...] 4, 2008 by walkerevans Urban In-Fill Celebrating the COTA Challenge December 2, 2008 by Jeff [...]
Jeff,
I would like to put in an entrance to the COTA Challenge. My car was just damaged in an accident so what more appropriate time to look into public transit?
I would use COTA, if possible from my location, to get to and from work. Also, I would attempt to go to and from the grocery store as well as any other tasks about town that the routing structure would accommodate.
Of course your help in planning would be very helpful. I have used and enjoyed public transportation in major cities such as SF, NY, and Chicago, however I’m not too familiar with what Columbus has to offer.
Thank you for the consideration,
Sean
When it was discovered that Sean’s employer offered transit passes as part of the Commuter Choice program, Sean decided to take advantage of the program in order to allow someone else the chance to win the pass.
Since the pass has not yet been spoken for, I will make it available again for the month of February. Anyone seeking a COTA pass for the month of February should submit their request before Sunday, January 22nd.
I would like to make a request for the COTA pass. I am a big advocate for the idea of Public Transportation and I use systems in other cities on my frequent travels, however, I have not learned to utilize my own city’s Public Transportation system. I live downtown, and so I am fortunate to be close to many bus routes, and I think that now is the time for me to finally start exploring COTA. I live, with my wife, in a one car household and we have managed to make this work, but I think COTA could make things much more efficient. Unfortunately, based on COTA.com, my 15 minute drive to work would take an hour and a half in the mornings on the bus, and so I am not sure that it would be practical at this time for me to use COTA for work, at least not everyday, but there are so many other activities and errands that I can use COTA for. Anyway, I’d like to be considered for the pass so that I finally take advantage of what I have been talking about doing for awhile. Thanks,
Chris
Chris has agreed to give public transit a try in February. I’ll admit, he has a daunting ride to work using COTA – but since he’s willing to give it a try, I’m willing to fund it (at least for February).
Since Chris lives downtown, and works in the suburbs, he’ll have a unique view of how effective public transit is for a reverse commute.
I love the idea of public transportation. I read about Columbus Transportation news any chance I get, and I really enjoy looking at hypothetical rail maps of Columbus that people have created and posted online. Something about the idea of rail based transit really appeals to me. However, in the meantime, until Columbus has rail-based transit, I shouldn’t let the Public Transportation opportunities this city does have go to waste. I live in a one car household, and my wife and I are usually able to make this work, but it will be made easier by taking advantage of COTA. I am excited to try to limit how often I use my car, and although I think it will be a challenge to adjust away from the convenience that the car has become for me, I think COTA and the car can coexist in a nice balance. I utilize public transportation very often in other cities I visit, but I have only taken advantage of COTA a handful of times, although each time the bus has been right on time and convenient for me. Also, from what I have been reading, COTA has recently implemented some even more positive changes. I am excited that Jeff is an advocate for Public Transportation and spreading the idea for others, and I hope that I can make it as successful of a challenge for myself as Jeff has.
Chris
[...] almost been a year since I was inspired by Jeff Johnson’s COTA Challenge and started up my own. I haven’t been posting about it a lot lately, because much of the [...]