With a price increase of at least 88% per litre of petrol from April 2022 to April 2023, Pakistanis are paying the highest ever price at petrol stations. If personal transportation is becoming unaffordable, there are limited options for safe and cheap travel from point A to B. One can either use the public transportation system, which is clearly not the best in the world but still has some advantages, or hitch a ride with someone and split the cost. The latter has come to be known as carpooling, a novel concept in Pakistan that is likely to pick up soon.
If you are in the middle of deciding which option to go with, this blog is for you. Both public transportation and carpooling have their own pros and cons, some of which are listed below. By the time you are done reading this blog, hopefully you’ll have a clearer picture of pros and cons of Public Transportation vs Carpooling.
Public Transportation
Though the Orange Line train in Lahore is a fairly new initiative, still our public transportation system may not be the best. However, you’ll be surprised to know that it covers every nook and corner of many metropolitan areas at subsidized rates.
Here are some of the main advantages of using public transportation:
Pros
- Cost-effective: At the expense of repeating the obvious, public transportation is generally more affordable than owning and operating a car. It saves on fuel costs, insurance, and maintenance expenses. Fare cards may also be interchangeably usable.
- Convenient: Public transportation is available at almost all hours and is more convenient than driving, especially during peak traffic hours. Also, dedicated routes and lanes like Metro Bus Service also makes it a speedy option.
- Eco-friendly: Public transportation reduces carbon emissions and air pollution as it reduces the number of vehicles on the road.
- Women-friendly: Due to harassment and other safety and privacy issues, many women avoid using public transportation. To counter this, some cities have started a great initiative in which buses are exclusively reserved for women. For example, the People’s Pink Bus Service in Karachi, Pink buses in Gilgit Baltistan, etc.
- Stress-free: Using public transportation allows you to relax and let someone else do the driving, saving you from the stress of navigating through traffic.
Cons
- Limited Flexibility: Public transportation operates on a fixed schedule, and you may have to wait for a while before the next bus or train arrives.
- Unreliable: Public transportation may experience delays due to weather, maintenance, or accidents, etc. This is especially problematic particularly during summer when shaded areas are scarce, making waiting for a bus challenging.
- Crowded: Public transportation can be crowded, and standing for long periods is often necessary, which increases the risk of pickpocketing.
Now let’s talk about the pros and cons of carpooling.
Carpooling
There are many parallels between public transportation and carpooling when it comes to their advantages. For example, carpooling is cost-effective, it is environmentally friendly, it can reduce traffic congestion, etc. Though you won’t make many friends in buses and their schedule isn’t flexible as it is in carpooling.
Let’s take a look at some of the other advantages of carpooling:
Pros
- Cost-effective: Carpooling saves money on fuel, tolls, and parking.
- Reduces Traffic Congestion: Carpooling reduces the number of vehicles on the road, which can help reduce traffic congestion.
- Social Interaction: Carpooling allows you to meet new people and make new friends, which can make your commute more enjoyable.
- Eco-friendly: Carpooling reduces carbon emissions, making it an environmentally friendly option.
Here are some of the disadvantages of carpooling.
Cons
- Limited Flexibility: Carpooling requires coordination with other people, and you may have to wait for others to arrive.
- Schedule conflicts: Carpooling may not work for people with different schedules or unexpected changes in work hours.
- Dependability: Carpooling relies on the dependability of other people, and if someone cancels or doesn’t show up, it can disrupt your commute.
- Limited Route options: Carpooling may not be available for some locations due to limited route options or time constraints.
Conclusion: Pros and Cons of Public Transportation vs Carpooling
Both public transportation and carpooling have their advantages and disadvantages, and choosing the right one depends on your specific needs and circumstances. Public transportation is more cost-effective and eco-friendly, but it may be less flexible and unreliable. Carpooling is also cost-effective and eco-friendly, but it requires coordination and may not work for everyone. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which mode of transportation works best for you.
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