Not driving in America

[wellfleet]

when i lived in montreal, i had a million different reasons to not need a car or a license. public transport was accessible, well-maintained, cheap, and it took me everywhere i needed to go. cars were expensive, parking was really expensive or really hard to find, usually both, and i looked at cars as these un-politically correct evil machines that people who thought they were too good to ride with the great unwashed used...
well...
now... NOW... i have an inside track on my dream job, arts & entertainment reporter for the local daily, but it covers 4 counties, and i don't drive. i kinda sorta can maybe drive if say, i needed to get someone to a hospital, but we don't have a second car and no money to get one, and i can't get money unless i get this job...

so this is the thread where you
1. feel sorry for me
2. tell me what a silly, stubborn girl i was for not learning how to drive
3. give me some good advice (i'm looking at you tracy!)

[ycartrob]

It's time

[Jaimoe]

I'm proud of you Wellfleet. I know lots of people who've never  never owned a car. Living in big cities like Montreal and Toronto, plus New York and Chicago, with their excellent public transport systems and vibrant downtowns, make driving unnecessary and overtly costy.

Unfortunately, you now live in a land of the car. You may have to take driving lessons and get yourself a set of wheels - although get one of those cars that are good on gas and better for the environment.

[ratsprayer]

my mom's mom is 70 years old, and she has never driven a car in her life.  she lives in farm country in indiana, which i suppose could technically be anywhere, but she's about 15 miles from anywhere with decent stores and all that, so it's not at all like she's somewhere accessible to merchants.  

personally, i have innate wanderlust far too much to be without  car.  with gas creeping higher and higher, i've cut out my 80 mile  'drive for the fuck of it' trips, but i still enjoy a nice weekend excursion to somewhere remotely close.  

i say, i'm proud you've gone this long without a car because i can't imagine it.  i get too crazy if i'm stuck in the same 15 or 20 mile radius for too long.

[Jaimoe]

I've been mulling over getting rid of my 2004 Mazda. I don't really need a car since I live in downtown Toronto on two transit lines.

[dragonboy]

I've not driven a car since I moved to Japan.
I was lost without one when I went to the US last year.

[ali]

i haven't had a car for over a year now, since i totalled my little green mazda.... i still miss having a car, mostly for doing grocery shopping & being able to just go for a drive if i feel like it. i catch trams & walk to work, which is better for me and better for the environment, but there are times when catching public transport sucks.

petrol is WAY too expensive now anyway....

wellfleet, i would definitely get lessons - you never know when the opportunity might pop up in the future to get a car, or your dream job might have a work-car they can let you use...

[EC]

i've never had a car in my whole life, either.  a few bikes.

i would say a driver's license is a good thing to have.  for emergencies and a bit of freedom.  (like, what if your husband was out of town and there was a train wreck close to your house and a huge gas leakage and you had to get away?  that's actually an example from my childhood.  what an alarmist i am.)

anyhow, smart cars are cool.  we know someone who has one and they said that the mileage was so awesome that it only cost them something like $20 to get to montreal.  ahhh, that's crazy.

or, you can do that thing where you convert your engine to run on used oil, and then you fill up with restaurant grease traps.  serious.  there's a dvd floating around about two guys who did a road trip across the US using that method.

i am totally cool to get around in my city.  it drives me fucking crazy that i can't scoot up to my dad's farm whenever i want - i have to rely on my brother.  

i would take your dream job and get your license.

[ycartrob]

Asked a girl what she wanted to be
She said baby, can't you see
I wanna be famous, a star on the screen
But you can do something in between

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl that my prospects were good
And she said baby, it's understood
Working for peanuts is all very fine
But I can show you a better time

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

I told that girl I can start right away
When she said listen babe I got something to say
I got no car and it's breaking my heart
But I've found a driver and that's a start

Baby you can drive my car
Yes I'm gonna be a star
Baby you can drive my car
And maybe I'll love you

Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah
Beep beep'm beep beep yeah

[Jaimoe]

anyhow, smart cars are cool.  we know someone who has one and they said that the mileage was so awesome that it only cost them something like $20 to get to montreal.  ahhh, that's crazy.

I don't think they have Smart Cars in the US, but I don't think they are that "smart". For one thing, you can't use them as a family car, which means they are good for a couple or a single person only - and if you have one and have a family, chances are the Smart Car is a second car. Also, people that use Smart Cars to drive around the city, thinking they are "better for the environment", ignore the fact that their  philosophy is flawed since public transit is far safer and cleaner for air quality and traffic congestion.

[EC]

I don't think they have Smart Cars in the US, but I don't think they are that "smart". For one thing, you can't use them as a family car, which means they are good for a couple or a single person only - and if you have one and have a family, chances are the Smart Car is a second car.

well, our friend has to do a fair amount of driving out of the city, and he's a single fella.

Also, people that use Smart Cars to drive around the city, thinking they are "better for the environment", ignore the fact that their  philosophy is flawed since public transit is far safer and cleaner for air quality and traffic congestion.

well okay sure, but, they're better than the hummers.  

[Jaimoe]

I agree that Smart Cars are great impractical cars. I think people would be better off with a hybrid, although they are still pretty pricey.

[EC]

I agree that Smart Cars are great impractical cars. I think people would be better off with a hybrid, although they are still pretty pricey.

hybrids are the half gas/half electric cars?

[Jaimoe]

hybrids are the half gas/half electric cars?

Some of them are. Others are "part" gas, part hydrogen. Then of course, there are the "propane and propane accessory" type cars - often used as cabs.

[EC]

Some of them are. Others are "part" gas, part hydrogen. Then of course, there are the "propane and propane accessory" type cars - often used as cabs.

gotcha.  one thing i noticed in the states last year was that there were choices for gas, and i'm not sure if we have that.  like, you could pay a little bit more and get what i assumed to be cleaner burning gas.

[dragonboy]

Then of course, there are the "propane and propane accessory" type cars

I love that line  ;D

[Jaimoe]

gotcha.  one thing i noticed in the states last year was that there were choices for gas, and i'm not sure if we have that.  like, you could pay a little bit more and get what i assumed to be cleaner burning gas.

We have the same selection in Canada - same cars too. BTW, the dirtiest all-round gas is from ESSO.

[TEO]

The only thing that is helping me right now is my four minute commute to work. I am very lucky, and wish you all with long commutes could live closer to work.

[ratsprayer]

The only thing that is helping me right now is my four minute commute to work. I am very lucky, and wish you all with long commutes could live closer to work.

i have to commute from the bed to the computer.  i think my commute is a bit shorter.   ;)

[primushead]

i have to commute from the bed to the computer.  i think my commute is a bit shorter.   ;)

How long does that usually take?  15?  20 minutes?