Latest news with #commuting
Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- Times
‘We spend £9k a year on petrol driving our daughter around'
When Jo Mitchelhill and her husband, Graham, chose a private school in Canterbury for their daughter Jessica, 11, the cost of getting to school didn't cross their minds. Yet the decision would end up costing them more than £9,000 a Mitchelhills, from Sittingbourne, Kent, picked a school in Canterbury, 22 miles away, committing to seven years of 44-mile commutes, twice a day, five days a week. They also drive their daughter to clubs and competitions, meaning that their 'mum and dad taxi service' could rack up as much as 800 miles a week. It's a story many can relate to. Parents spend an average of 176 hours a year driving their children round, adding up to an astonishing 3,000 miles, according to Motorway, an online car marketplace. • Read more money advice and tips on investing from our experts The government's advisory fuel rates, which it provides for employees using company cars, suggest that the average cost of petrol is between 12p and 22p a mile and diesel between 11p and 17p a mile. So ferrying children to school and back, and to clubs and activities, can make a significant dent in household budgets. We look at the real cost to parents of providing a taxi service for their children. Jo Mitchelhill, 49, a parenting coach, and Graham, 58, a mortgage broker, struggled to find a school close to home which they felt was suitable for their daughter. 'The local schools didn't seem like a good fit — the grammar was too academic, and we wanted her to have equal focus on sport and art. But the comprehensive was enormous and we were worried she'd be lost in a year group of 300.' But with the new school 22 miles away, they quickly realised they had to take on a long daily commute. 'As we're both self-employed, we have flexibility over who does the school run, so we're lucky in that way,' Jo said. The Mitchelhills rack up 440 miles a week on the school run alone. But this isn't the end of the story. 'Jessica also does sport outside school. Netball is just six miles away once a week, but matches, which happen weekly, could be 20 miles away. 'She also plays hockey, which is 12 miles away when it's held at the local club, or 26 miles when it's held at Herne Bay, which happens a couple of times a month.' They go there and back twice, which can add 104 miles to the weekly total. Jessica also does pony club every week, which is a 20-mile round trip, and she sometimes takes part in competitions that can be up to 100 miles away. That could mean a weekly total of more than 800 miles, which would cost about £176, according to the government's figures. So, it's no surprise that the Mitchelhills noticed their petrol bill rocketing. 'When Graham told me our petrol was sometimes costing £250 a week, including our own work mileage, which can vary each week as we're both self-employed, we knew we had to make a change,' Jo said. They have now leased an electric car which has reduced their monthly cost to as little as £30. • Should you help your children to buy a home? Leanne Webster, from Perth and Kinross, also spends a large part of her time — and money — ferrying her four children, Jessica, 15, John, 14, Sophie, 11, and Daniel, 10, around. Webster, 43, who works as a maternal wellness mentor, makes a seven-mile drive to collect her daughter, Jessica, from school about twice a week. 'She has a medical condition and sometimes needs to come home.' Jessica also studies some of her subjects in Perth, about 40 miles away, and needs to be taken there twice a week. But it's the children's social lives that can turn a relatively modest commute into a big bill for Leanne. 'Jessica goes out about two or three times a week. Each time I'll drop her off and collect her from a friend's house; I drive about 15-20 miles,' Webster said. John also meets his friends in Aberfeldy about twice a week, which is another ten miles each way for Leanne. Sophie has an active social life, going on playdates almost every day of the week. Each friend lives 5-10 miles away and Webster usually drives both ways. Clubs also mean more taxi trips for Leanne. John is on the local football team, which trains twice a week, plus weekend matches can be up to 80 miles away. 'John also has Explorer Scouts twice a month, that's 21 miles away. And he goes swimming once a week at the local pool — a 14-mile round trip. 'Sophie also has scouts once a week in Aberfeldy. Daniel's friends are all local, although he, too, goes swimming once a week.' On weeks when John has an away game, Leanne could be covering about 750 miles. And even on quieter weeks, she does about 560 miles. In her diesel car, this could be setting her back about £128 a week and Leanne budgets up to £600 a month to cover fuel. 'I'm a single mum, self-employed and the only adult in the household, so I fit my business and my wants around the children's activities.' Carpooling or sharing lifts can help to cut costs. Using public transport or encouraging children to walk or cycle where possible can also cut bills, but these options aren't always available, or suitable for everyone. If savings cannot easily be made, it's important to remember that these hectic years won't last forever. 'Jessica won't be at her school for more than seven years,' Jo said. 'So while we're having to sacrifice big family holidays and a second car to afford the fees and transport, we see it as a worthwhile investment.'
CBS News
a day ago
- Business
- CBS News
Metro-North fare hikes could reach 10% for Connecticut trips, MTA says
Metro-North Railroad riders could soon be dishing out more money for trips to and from Connecticut. The MTA announced Monday it is considering raising the fares by as much as 10%. The Connecticut Department of Transportation says it is seeking a 5% fare hike by Sept. 1, which would impact the state's portion of the New Haven Line and its branches, including routes to New Canaan, Danbury and Waterbury. The Connecticut DOT is also proposing an additional 5% hike by July 2026, which means riders are looking at a 10% spike in less than a year. A one-way peak ticket from Stamford to Grand Central Terminal currently costs $16. If the increases are approved, the fare would be $17 in September and $17.75 next July, according to CTDOT. "It just makes it harder for me because I have to go back and forth from New York to Connecticut to New Jersey, and just every little increase, it touches you," rider Sassy Vee said. "Hopefully, they figure this out because it seems they keep getting more expensive," commuter Dylan Leist said. Chatter about the fare hikes sparked mixed reactions during an MTA Committee meeting Monday morning. "I think we should just move it the way they want it. I don't think it's worth fighting it," a board member said. "A 10% increase is scary," David Mack, another MTA board member, said. Officials agreed to have further discussions about it during Wednesday's board meeting, followed by a vote. A Connecticut DOT spokesperson said the "two-year state budget passed in June created a funding gap for rail operations. To avoid service reductions, CTDOT proposed fare increases to preserve current train levels." The spokesperson said the increases would "help maintain existing rail service levels by keeping the same number of trains on the schedule for our customers for the next two fiscal years." That's not the only fare hike facing MTA customers. A 4% increase is in the works systemwide, including New York City subways, buses, Metro-North and the Long Island Rail Road. The MTA has routinely raised fares by as much as 4% every other year since 2009. The only exception was in 2021 when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul paused fare hikes due to COVID. It was not immediately clear when a systemwide fare hike would go into effect. A public comment period needs to happen before the board can vote to approve it.
Khaleej Times
5 days ago
- Khaleej Times
Travelling between Dubai and Sharjah? RTA announces new bus route
Travelling from Dubai to Sharjah daily? Residents commuting between these two emirates have another option after Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) on Friday, July 25, announced a new bus route. The authority has rolled out E308 connecting Stadium Bus Station in Dubai to Al Jubail Bus Station in Sharjah. The service runs daily from 5am to 11.30pm, with a frequency of every 30 minutes. The fare for a one-way trip is Dh12.
Emirates 24/7
6 days ago
- Business
- Emirates 24/7
RTA Partners with e& to Provide Free Wi-Fi on All Intercity Buses
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), in collaboration with e&, has completed the rollout of free Wi-Fi on all its 259 intercity buses. The initiative is designed to enhance the daily commuting experience for passengers travelling between Dubai and other emirates of Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, Ajman, and Fujairah. Passengers can enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi access throughout their journey using smartphones, tablets, or laptops. The service enables them to stay connected to work, manage personal commitments, and browse the internet while on the move. This initiative forms part of RTA's broader efforts to accelerate digital transformation across its services, ensuring they meet the needs of all segments of the community. It aligns with the UAE Digital Government Strategy and reflects RTA's commitment to enhancing daily mobility by making bus journeys more enjoyable and productive. The move also supports Dubai's ambition to become the world's smartest and happiest city. The service will be subject to continuous and rigorous evaluation, in collaboration with e&, with a view to expanding and enhancing its features. This approach ensures the provision of best-in-class Wi-Fi connectivity for intercity bus passengers as well as users of marine transport services across Dubai. Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.
Gizmodo
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Gizmodo
HiBoy S2 Foldable E-Scooter Is a 4.6-Star Steal at Best Buy, Cheaper Than Amazon and Stock Is Going Fast
Living in the city, you have a laundry list of ways to get from one place to another. You can take a train, perhaps call a cab or Lift, maybe hope on one of those CitiBikes… Heck, walking is even an option. but don't forget about one of the best options you have at your disposal—a scooter. You can cruise around block to block six times faster than walking with the help of this HiBoy electric scooter. For a limited time, you can pick up this foldable scooter for a massive $120 discount. That brings the price down from its original listing of $420 to just $300. That's a near 30% savings. The ideal commuters, this HiBoy electric scooter can get you to and from work comfortably and speedy. You'll be able to cruise along at speeds of up to 19 mph, way faster than putting one foot in front of the other. Additionally, the whole scooter can be folded up and easily carried with one hand. The scooter only weighs about 32 lbs. This makes it super simple to hop onto and train or bus with it or store it out of the way in a tiny city apartment. See at Best Buy An electric scooter can be a wonderful way to help the environment by reducing your carbon footprint. When charged full, you'll be able to travel distances up to 17 miles from where you started. That's pretty dang far, and if you're planning on traveling further, I'd probably just be recommending your take a car. But the biggest reason to get an electric scooter, and I do not say this lightly, scooters are fun as heck. Cruising along, down your block without a care in the world. This electric scooter is street ready, designed with city commuting in mind. Built-in we have front, middle, and rear lights so everyone else on the road can easily spot you. If your destination is someplace that won't allow you to bring your scooter inside, not worries. The e-scooter can be locked up digitally using the HiBoy S2 app. Connect your iPhone or Android to the scooter and you can lock it up so no one passing by can start it up. Additional settings can be adjusted from within the app like cruise control and customized speed. This slick gray e-scooter is currently on sale over at Best Buy. Get the HiBoy S2 foldable electric scooter for just $300 for a limited time. That's a $120 savings from its original price of $420. See at Best Buy
