How much should my brother pay for his ride to and from work?

Question

My brother is paying our step-father $20 a week for his ride to and from work Mon-Fri. The job is only 2 miles away and about a 6 minute drive. At least once or twice a week my moms husband says he can't pick him up or take him to work (which pisses my brother off because when he does it he tells him this at the last minute!). Even if my brother goes to work 3 days that week he'll still pay him the same amount. Do you think my brother pays too much or too little for his ride? Or is $20 fine?

Answer 1

Ask yourself this..........  Would you do it for $20 a week.   I know in the morning I like to go autopilot and having to remember to pick someone up and and drop them off twice a day would break my normal pattern.

If it is that bad a deal then have him offer to pay $4 a day for the ride.   It's $2 each way when you break it down which is pretty reasonable compared to a bus or public transportation when you think about it.

The late notice sucks and I'd ask the guy to give you at least an hour warning if possible when he can't do it.

Offer to pay him $5 a day at the end of each day for a successful pickup and delivery to and from work.      He might be more responsive and reliable if he's got a $5 bill waiting for him at the end of each day.

No pay for a partial day.   A one way day is $Zero.     Might improve dependability some.

I hated car pooling and depending on someone else and/or them depending on me.

Of course this is free advice so it's pretty much worth what you pay for it.....

Good luck

RoyG

KC

Answer 2

Look at the gas prices! $20 is a cheap ride for a whole week. Price a taxi ride.

Answer 3

your brother should buy a bicycle and ride that little distance to work.  he'll be in better shape, get more girls and not have to rely on someone unreliable.

Answer 4

I pay less than that per mile in cab fair in new york city during rush hour!  He should buy a bike or an electric razor scooter and a kryptonite bike lock. 5 weeks it would pay for its self.

Answer 5

He should be paying $0.  Two miles is nothing - he could walk it in 30 minutes, or ride a bike to get there in ten minutes.

$20 / week = $4 / day = $2 / trip.  For just two miles?  Dang.

I have a coworker here who rides the express bus about 18 miles each way, and her total outlay for the day - round trip - is only $2.50.  Stepdad is doing your bro no favors, esp. if he's as  unreliable as all that.  Five weeks worth of rides = $100, easily enough to buy a decent bike somewhere, or he can dip into his savings and get a really nice bike and enjoy riding for free.

Answer 6

20 sounds like a good charge but the driver has obligations to earn that 20. If the driver is unreliable it's in his best interest to get a bike or different driver.

Answer 7

It depends where you live. If it's New York, you got yourself a deal. If its Montana or North Dakota, Walk!!!

Answer 8

With gas at $4.00/gallon, at 4 miles per day round trip, it's actually less than a cab each way would be, but it sounds like your stepdad is taking advantage and profiting off of it.

He should not pay the same when he gets a ride fewer days per week. But personally, if it's only two miles, it's only a 30-minute walk. So why not save gas, walk to work, and spend the $20 on something better?

If he gets a $59 bike from Target, he could pay for it in three weeks with the money he saves not taking a ride. And it's better for health and the environment anyway.