atistics that indicate travel affordability.
             For local travel, research shows that public transit is more economical than traveling by one's own vehicle. According to the American Automobile Association, the cost of driving a vehicle 15,000 miles per year -- a fairly common mileage total sometimes included on vehicle leases -- can range from approximately $7,100 to $8,300, depending on the size of the vehicle (American Automobile Association). These costs include gas costs that can range from roughly 7 cents to 9 cents a mile (and increasing), as well as maintenance, fees, insurance, car payments, depreciation, and other costs that accompany vehicle ownership. Even if we deduct depreciation costs (about $3,000 a year for compact cars and $3,800 for vans), as they are not true out-of-pocket expenses, we are left with an annual cost range of $4,100 to $4,500.
             Public transportation costs, in comparison to personal driving, can result in thousands of dollars in savings per year. American Public Transportation Association data shows that, with a base fare ranging from a low of 50 cents to $3, public transportation results in annual costs ranging from about $1,700 to $2,600 a year (American Public Transportation Association). APTA figures include base costs, charges that may be associated with changing buses or subway trains, and even fees if you need to park a vehicle at the pickup and drop-off spots. While APTA is admittedly a special-interest group, the savings represented, which can exceed 50 percent, are hard to ignore. And, really, the logic is sensible. When one takes the bus instead of driving a car, one may not have to pay for car insurance and maintenance, and is sharing gas costs with other riders.
             For long-term travel, we will consider a comparison between trains and airplanes. One certainly can drive cross country, but then we are left again trying to calculate the nebulous cost of one's time, as well as assoc...