The pros and cons of public transport for business
As a business traveler, you cover thousands of miles each year and visit many different countries. While this used to be the way that everyone did business, things have started to change. With money becoming a problem for every company, you may find that you have to find cheaper alternatives to the traditional business travel.
One way you can do this is to take public transport instead of a cab or car when you reach your destination. However, is it practical to wait for buses and trains when on your business trip?
Cost
You might think that traveling by hire car or taxi cab would be far more expensive than traveling by public transport. In some cases, this is true, however, it only becomes cost effective if you can reach your destination quickly. If the local public transport cannot get you close to the meeting venue, then you might have to resort to a cab. Hiring a car from the airport can be convenient, but, it will cost a substantial amount to hire, and you will have to pay an additional fee for parking. Airport cabs are also notorious for overcharging.
You can use a chauffeur service like rdvlimo.com who operate in Washington DC. With just the one price, you can get anywhere in the capital, no parking or worrying about connections.
Directions
Chances are you will find yourself in a city that you have not visited before. If you were going to use public transport, you would need to know where the meeting is being held, and the right bus or train to take you there. Local tourist information is usually excellent, but it will still take the time to work out where you need to go.
The plus side is that many cities give priority to public transport; therefore, you might not get gridlocked. If you are going to use public transport to get around, you will need to conduct research first to see where you need to go and what service you need to take.
Environment
If you are wary of the environment and enjoy lowering your carbon footprint, public transport is ideal. Buses and trains use the same energy to carry large numbers of people, so they are more efficient than cars. In fact, the fuel efficiency of a fully occupied bus is six times greater than that of the average single-occupant auto.
In a bid to deal with the swell of cars driving throughout city centers, some countries have resorted to charging cars a fee if they drive into the capital. Cities such as London have had this charge in place for a few years, so you should always check to see if this fee is in an area where you are traveling.
There are some factors that you need to consider when deciding on using public transport or not. It might be a case of using it in those places where you know it will be more convenient and using other means of transport elsewhere.
Author: Carol Trehean