Could you live without your car?

[SavinGirl]

Hey Folks

I live in Philadelphia and never had a car, in fact, I don't even know how to drive. I can afford one, but I am greedy with my money, and would rather squirrel it away and feel I am slowly getting rich

So, for most parts of the country, maybe a car is a necessity, but even people living in the heart of the city insist on having cars so that they don't feel like paupers. But paying $700 a month for car payments, insurance, gas, and parking to ME makes one more of a pauper.

Anyway, I know to each their own. I may get a car one day, but it would be paid for in cash and REALLY be a necessity. What I plan to do in the meantime, though, is maybe learn to drive, and rent a car for an excursion once a month.

[Snoopy2645]

I geuss I would have to say my car is necessary for my job I have to haul alot of stuff with me to work I wouldnt be able to haul all of it onto a bus. I have always paid cash for my cars & got good deals on them from my brother I usually try to upgrade every few years to something newer. So far this has worked for me since I started driving 12yrs ago.

[baselle]

All right SavinGirl! I feel a little less weird.

Now with gas prices going up, its time to meet new bus riders. Heh heh heh.

[momma4]

I don't drive so I can sort of answer this plus I have had to live without a car for the first 3 yrs of my marriage with 2 kids. We worked within walking distance to our apartment (I use this rule of thumb even though we have a van now but what if it breaks down dh has a work vehicle) Our grocery store was less than a mile away so we would just take the cart with us then make another trip up there to return it. Yes, I know that is not legal but when you have a grocery cart full of food and two kids with you nobody seems to argue with you. They also have those grocery carts for ppl to buy that cost like $15 you can purchase that can get a family of 2-3 by for a week. I also have those cooler bags that keep cold/hot items cold/hot for 3 hrs which cost me $2.99 each. A stroller comes in handy too. I pack it to its capacity(sp?) I also take the bus everywhere even now. Gas prices are nuts. Bus fare here is $3.50 for a day pass which I can use all day til 3am. I am very fortunate that I live in a Mall area so entertainment, grocery stores, ect... are by me in walking distance. I also found a dr for the kids within walking distance. So is their school. My dh only takes me to the grocery store once a week to Super Walmart but even if he didn't I know we could make it with my methods with the stroller, cooler bags, and carrying bags. I won't lie it is a pain in the butt but sometimes you have to do what you have to do.

[momma4]

Originally Posted by baselle

All right SavinGirl! I feel a little less weird.

Now with gas prices going up, its time to meet new bus riders. Heh heh heh.

awww they ain't all bad LOL

[baselle]

Originally Posted by momma4

I also take the bus everywhere even now. Gas prices are nuts. Bus fare here is $3.50 for a day pass which I can use all day til 3am.

Hmmm, in Seattle the day/weekend pass is about that much. But our Metro service also sells monthly bus passes. Spendy at $54 a month, but its for unlimited use. Anything like that it Central FL?

[momma4]

Originally Posted by baselle

Hmmm, in Seattle the day/weekend pass is about that much. But our Metro service also sells monthly bus passes. Spendy at $54 a month, but its for unlimited use. Anything like that it Central FL?

i think monthly pass is like $40 and is unlimited too and if you want to save time you can buy more than one they don't start til the first time you use them on the bus then they go 30 days from the date which is printed on the back. They do the same with the day pass and print the start and expire time on the back.

[altyfc]

Whilst I could of course live without a car, it would be damn inconvenient. Where I live is relatively rural and the public transport isn't that cheap. I'm sure I would save money by going on it, but it would take a lot more time. And... afterall, time is money... so maybe I wouldn't be any better off.

Aaron

[Bruce Wayne]

As the British summer has been quite warm I've been cycling alot more than driving so I could get by without it in the summer, but probably not in the winter.

[altyfc]

Yeah, but you live on an island, Bruce...

Aaron

[Bruce Wayne]

Originally Posted by altyfc

Yeah, but you live on an island, Bruce...

Aaron

Don't all Brits?

[altyfc]

Yeah, but the one I'm on is somewhat bigger...

Aaron

[esmeralda]

As much as I love the idea of public transit and biking to work, I currently live in a climate that does not support putting that theory into practice. I'm in the desert where its been over 100 for several weeks, making long periods of time outside uncomfortable, and sometimes fatal.

Plus the bus doesnt run very often and I am always running late in the morning. I also like to run lots of errands on my way home from work.

Before I owned my car and before moving to this area, I rode my bicycle everywhere. (I was in amazing shape!!) But I also was at a point in my life where I had more time to get from A to B. Now I'm working and going to grad school and time is a precious commodity so driving is the easiest form of transport.

Were I to live in an environment that better supported alternative transportation, I would definately take advantage of it.

If I could manage to get by without a car, I definitely would - but Jersey is full of highways! Also, my family and friends live an hour away, so it'd be difficult to visit them as easily.

[sunnysamantha]

Originally Posted by 2moretrees

I had a talk with a girlfriend this weekend and we got into a discussion about whether we could live without our cars. When I think of all the expenses that go into a car, it would probably be cheaper for me to take a taxi when I really needed to go somewhere. I'm wondering if anyone has thought about this (or is doing this) and what are some of the difficulties I may not be considering?

That's a good question, really makes you think!

I'm pretty sure I'd be unable to live without my car. The bus system only goes to certain areas and ironically not close enough for me to walk. I guess a taxi may be an option, but there's something about the reliability of a car I wouldn't want to give up. Of course, when my car decides to not start some days, I think plenty differently

-Sam

[Roger]

I can not live without a car, I live 7 miles from the nearest town. My work is 20 miles away. I do believe most people in the larger cities with public transportation could do away with their car. I've heard that roughly 75% of the people in New York don't have car.
Roger

[momma4]

we are doing it right now. The van finally is dying the transmission went out on us and now we are just trying to figure out how we are going to come up with $1500 to get it fixed or get a newer one.

[marglo]

Oh, I sure wouldn't want to...I think I'd be staying home even more and I stay home quite a lot already (retired). I don't know for sure because I'd have to figure all the costs involved with having a car but I would think it would be more expensive to take a cab everywhere. I wouldn't want to depend on others and there are no buses where we live.
We go somewhere almost every day plus we go travel in the winter most every year. Don't know yet this next winter due to the price of diesel though!

I do think Americans need to cut back on their drivng, share rides more or something to decrease the need for gas, oil. Can't really see it happening though. I think the cars will just change instead, already seeing some of that.

[akaivyleaf]

Not a chance. Can't even fathom it.

[cercis]

Nope, no public transport and 2 kids to get to school (2+ miles away and crossing 2 very busy streets).

I'd like to figure it out, but haven't done it yet. The kids still need to be in a booster seat and most cars can't handle more than 3 booster seats. All their friends have 2 kids/family so there'd need to be 4 booster seats, that isn't possible for most families (there are a few with minivans and SUVs) and the family that lives the closest has a small car like me.

I keep striving for it, but it's not something I see happening any time soon.