Bicycle
Commuting by bicycle costs a fraction of commuting by car. Bicycles don’t require many vehicle ownership costs, such as fuel, annual car registration fees, insurance premiums, or finance charges. However, daily bicycle commuters should buy the essential equipment for a safe ride. Here are the maximum upfront expenses for bike commutes:
| Expense | Amount |
| Bike | $700 |
| Helmet | $30 |
| Lock | $20 |
| Pannier bag(s) | $70 |
| Front and Rear Lights | $80 |
| Tool Kit, Pump, Tubes | $50 |
| Fenders | $30 |
| Reflective Clothing | $20 |
| Rear view mirror | $15 |
| Replacement chain, tires, parts | $100 |
| Total | $1,115 |
Automobile
AAA releases an annual Cost Exchange summary detailing the annual cost of owning and operating midsize passenger vehicles (left) and large vehicles (right). For 2018, AAA estimated the average cost to own a vehicle was $8,849, a 4% increase from 2017.
Transit
Bus
Commuting by bus benefits the environment, surrounding traffic, and your wallet. Students and seniors 65 and older also receive discounted monthly rates — usually 50% off adult fares. Monthly bus passes are cheaper than monthly personal vehicles costs:
RTD monthly cost- $65.00
Tracy Tracer monthly cost- $50.00
Lodi Grape Line monthly cost- $44.00
Manteca Transit monthly cost- $35.00
Escalon eTrans monthly cost (to Modesto)- $75.00
Ripon Blossom monthly cost (two 10-day passes)- $32.00
More info on each bus service provider can be found on the Bus page.
Train
More and more San Joaquin residents commute by rail. San Joaquin’s Altamont Corridor Express (ACE) and Amtrak San Joaquin lines afford residents alternatives to passenger vehicle commuting. Monthly ACE tickets vary from $93.50 and $386.00. ACE is worthwhile for saving riders the cost of owning a vehicle and driving it over the Altamont twice a day, five days a week.