Bus commute from Münzbach cuts costs but adds time

A test commute from Münzbach to Linz found that taking the bus can be much cheaper than driving, but takes considerably longer, ORF reported. The test was conducted by an ORF Upper Austria reporter travelling to the broadcaster’s regional studio in Linz.

The reporter set off shortly after 7 a.m. and reached the studio shortly before 8:45 a.m., ahead of a 9 a.m. start. The bus was crowded at first, and the reporter had to stand until Perg Schulzentrum. The journey included more than 20 stops before a transfer in Mauthausen, although the bus does not stop at every stop because many are request stops.

A single ticket costs 12 euros without a discount. Based on five return commutes a week, the article’s calculation puts the annual bus cost at 6,240 euros without discounts. With an Upper Austria regional climate ticket and a Linz core-zone ticket, the annual cost would fall to 633 euros.

The article also compares the bus with the car’s fuel costs. Statistics Austria puts average diesel costs for the commute at about 1,135 euros a year, excluding expenses such as insurance, servicing and maintenance.

Time is the main drawback. The bus journey takes almost three hours return according to the timetable, while Google Maps estimates the same trip by car at just over an hour without traffic. The reporter noted that bus passengers can use the journey to work or read the news. Whether the bus is a practical alternative depends on how well the connection fits into a commuter’s routine.