The Addiction: I spend ₹15,000 a month on Uber. I act like the bus doesn't exist. The Glitch: The bus is a teleporter that costs ₹10. Why am I paying ₹300 for the same distance? The Rule: 7 Days. No Cabs. No Autos. Only the City Bus.
MONEY SAVED
TIME LOST
> DAY 1: THE LEARNING CURVE
I realized I don't know where the bus stops are. Uber comes to you. You must go to the Bus.
I stood at the wrong stop for 20 minutes.
> DAY 3: THE CRUSH (PEAK HOUR)
9:00 AM. The bus arrived. It was already full.
Physics Defied: 50 people fit in a space meant for 20. I was pressed against the door. I could smell the shampoo of the guy three rows back.
> THE COST VS COMFORT RATIO
I analyzed a single trip (Home to Office).
| Metric | Uber AC | City Bus |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | ₹320 | ₹15 |
| Time | 45 Mins | 1 Hr 10 Mins |
| Personal Space | 100% | -10% (Negative) |
| Stress | Low (Traffic) | High (Survival) |
> THE UNEXPECTED JOY
On Day 5, I got a window seat. It was raining.
I put on my headphones. For ₹15, I was watching the city go by. I wasn't stressed about the "Surge Pricing."
In an Uber, I am constantly checking the ETA. On the bus, I surrendered. "I will reach when I reach."
> CONCLUSION
Is it worth it? If your hourly rate is high, Uber makes sense. You buy time and sanity. But for short trips? Uber is a scam.
I now take the bus for anything under 5km. I saved ₹3,400 in a week. That's a flight ticket. Wealth Transfer: Completed.