By Noelle Hernandez

Lourdes “Lulu” Pyron, administrative assistant to the English for Speakers of Other Language (ESOL) Department, knows the secret to saving money in Austin while others pour their wallets into their gas tanks.

She doesn’t drive herself to campus every day. She takes the bus.

“Riding the bus can be relaxing, as the passenger does not have to deal with the drivers on the road,” Lulu says.

Lulu and her husband own a car, but they drive it only when needed because they like to save money.

“The last time we filled up our gas tank it cost $50,” Lulu says.

Lulu has been riding Capital Metro buses for 13 years. She rides it everywhere except when she and her husband are grocery shopping. For trips in summer Lulu brings along bottled water for drinking.

Lulu’s office recently moved from the Rio Grande Campus to South Austin, so now she heads south from her East Austin home each morning. And the ride can take longer than driving – up to two hours some mornings.

No matter, Lulu’s still sold on the savings and comfort.

“Other than the fact that you must face the ever-changing Texas weather while waiting for the bus, you can always count on air conditioning once you get on.”

Lulu has advice and information for others considering giving the bus a try:

Q. How many buses does it take to get from home to work?

It takes about two buses. It used to take 30-35 minutes to go from East Austin to Downtown, but now it’s longer since I’m in South Austin.

Q. Do you have any advice for first-time bus riders?

If you’ve never taken the bus, the best thing to do is go online and use the bus route planner. And plan to be at your bus stop 30 minutes earlier than its estimated arrival time. Next month (October), the riding fee will be 75 cents a ride. A day pass will be $1.50, and 31-day pass will be $18. The day pass can be purchased when you get on the bus, but the 31-day pass can be purchased at any H-E-B or Randalls grocery store.

Q. What’s the best way to plan a bus schedule?

Go to Capital Metro’s online site and use their trip planner.

Q. How do you spend your time on the bus?

I read a lot, and I have my textbook for my classes. Sometimes I just sit and notice the city’s surroundings. And sometimes I talk to everybody who speaks Spanish. I tell them where I work, and they want to know how they could get in to ACC. So I do my recruiting on the buses.

Q. Have you convinced any family or friends to start taking the bus?

Most of the students I recruit here, I tell them their routes.

Q. What three words describe your Capital Metro riding experience?

It’s the “best for me.”