The rise in the cost of fuel is starting to make alternative forms of transport look more attractive. Which do you fancy?
Petrol prices hit a five-month high this week, according to a CommSec report, climbing to $1.55 a litre from a previous low of $1.30 in mid-May. Those increased prices mean that, according to this example borrowed from the Sydney Morning Herald, filling up a 60 litre car once a week will now cost an extra $780 a year. That's a pretty sizeable extra chunk of change to be spending on getting around.
So how does the petrol price increase affect commuters? Using as an example the most popular car in Australia, the Toyota Corolla, for a 74.5 km commute from Gosford to Sydney over a year you'd use 2,468.3 litres of petrol. At $1.55 a litre, you'd be paying $3,825.91 in fuel costs – up from the $3,208.83 you would have been paying when petrol was at $1.30 a litre.
By contrast, a yearly train ticket for the same trip costs $2,400, so currently you'd be saving around $1,425.90 by taking the train. In addition, the NRMA has estimated that the running cost for a car per week (excluding petrol) ranges from $26 to $65 for the top 10 cars in various categories.
So is it worth abandoning your car? For the equivalent of the extra $780 your fuel will cost over a year, you could invest in a different form of transport.
Public transport
If you were commuting from Gosford to Sydney by train, you could get three monthly tickets for your $780 and still have money left over. On a Melbourne tram, you could get 117 days of travel in all zones using a myki pass. And if you live in a regional area … you probably don't have any public transport whatsoever, so please do skip ahead.
Segway
So, just like the Chinese military you're a connoisseur of motorised, gyroscopic scooters. Good on you! You could hire a Segway for 3.5 days and scoot around the place instead of spending money on petrol. Beware of cricket helmets, the Segway's natural enemy.
Hoof it
You could get almost three days of horse hire for your $780, though I'm unsure how practical it would be for commuting. And if you're thinking the horse knows the way home from the pub so you can have a few beers and ride (I know I was), then think again. You may even be able to buy an entire donkey, with the Donkey Society of Western Australia estimating they cost between $500 and $1,000.
Cycle
You can easily get a decent bicycle for $780 or less. However, if you're looking for something different you could try a unicycle, tandem bicycle, or some other wheeled contraption. Penny Farthings are unfortunately rather expensive, so put your tweed jacket back in the cupboard. A billy cart can be had for $150, so if you live at the top of a hill this might be a viable option.
Wind
A hang glider is out of the price range, unfortunately. The next best thing in wind-powered transport is sticking a windsurfing sail on to a board with wheels. You can get a board for $627, though you'd have to buy your sail separately.
What other form of transport could you spend $780 on?