Reporter Kate Johnson waits for her ride at a Downtown bus stop. Though riding the bus saves money, Kate prefers the convenience of an automobiel. (Michelle Pemberton / Indy.com)

The bank on the corner is still closed. The CVS and the video store won't see customers for hours. And here I stand, with soaked feet and frizzy hair, cars whizzing by, just wanting to get to work.

What in the heck am I doing in a waterlogged patch of grass... inches from the road... before daylight... in the pouring rain?

I am trying to save the world. Or at least a little cash. I'd decided to see if riding the bus was a practical way to save gas. Through highly complicated research, I determined that it takes me 10 to 20 minutes to drive the roughly nine-mile trip to work.

Depending on the price of gas, my dodge-and-weave strategy and my level of road rage, it also costs me from $3.50 to $4 of gas, round trip.

According to www.centralincommuter.net, where you can calculate your commuting costs, I am spending more than $10 per day (That's at least $2,400 per year!). The bus, meanwhile, costs $1.50 per one-way ride.

The day before my bus trip, I logged onto www.IndyGo.net to map out my route from 62nd Street and Allisonville Road to New York and Pennsylvania streets.

The info-packed site is a little overwhelming at first. But I clicked on "Fixed Route," and then "System Map," which took me to an easy-to-read map of the color-coded routes. It was orange No. 19 for me.

I didn't even shower that morning, after waking up at 5:30. I slapped on my makeup, gulped my coffee and quickly packed my lunch (and another pair of shoes).

6:19 a.m.: I run out the door, toting my lightning rod/umbrella.

6:32 a.m.: Sweating bullets, I get to the bus stop, about 3/4 of a mile away...and wish my umbrella was bigger.

6:43 a.m.: The bus arrives. I jam my $1.50 fee into the machine and take a seat near the front, and near no one else. I'm not in the mood for sharing body steam with a stranger.

I listen to the man and woman behind me discuss the weather -- of that day and of former snow drifts and tornadoes. Nearby, a woman in an IUPUI T-shirt reads a book, while the man behind her catches some Zs, his head uncomfortably resting on the window.

Meanwhile, our driver tries to maneuver flooded roads and we stop less often than expected. Maybe some people used the rain as an excuse for a sick day?

7:20 a.m.: Almost 40 minutes later, the Indianapolis Star building sign is in sight! I pull the line above the window, illuminating the red "Stop Requested" sign.

I descend the bus stairs, and pop open that umbrella again. Almost an hour after locking my apartment door, I turn on my work computer.

Because I'm used to being on the move when I want, riding the bus regularly just ain't realistic for me.

Besides, I'm moving Downtown next month.

Take the bus

A one-way ride on an Indy Go bus costs $1.50. For route information, visit www.IndyGo.net

Do the Math

How much does your commute cost you? Do the calculations at www.centralincommuter.net. You can also use the site to find a local carpool.