• Tankiedesantski [he/him]@hexbear.net
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    2 years ago

    The average American spends $8466 on their commute each year.

    Wtf how is this a real stat? I’m not doubting you or anything, just sheer disbelief that the average yank spends $32 a day getting to and from work.

    Is it living really far away or depreciation and insurance on a stupid car?

    • vehicles are heinous money sinks. one hour of operation (engine running) is something like $15-20 in materials (wear, fluids, maintenance), value depreciation, etc. doesn’t include parking, tags, insurance, tolls.

      it takes a lot of personal planning, economic power and focus to sidestep this as an individual in the US and end up not needing a car for work, or having a very short commute with the lack of public transport or bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure.

      Yanks on average think sitting in their individual petroleum chariot for 40+ minutes a day x2 is “normal” and that only eccentrics would prioritize not needing a car over where they live.

      I’m an eccentric and know a lot of people who are very “normal” over here.