I`ve been thinking its not worth it to own a vehicle with the cost and headaches of insurance and repair/maintainence.I`m thinking I`ll quit driving and walk,ride a bike or take the city bus.Has anyone else here had this thought?

 

The first bus ride with screaming kids and a smelly homeless guy next to you might change your mind real quick.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-15-03 AT 12:28 PM (EST)]Several times I have thought of this. I already walk to the train station and take the train to work everyday. I guess it all depends where you live and work. I live in NJ and work in New York City. I know some people here that only have a drivers license for I.D. They have never owned a car and they don't plan on it. Everything they need is reachable by foot, bike, cab, bus, train or plane. Last year I leased a car and I wish I never did. I am well below mileage and when I get my truck running again, I will probably hardly use the car. I don't think I'll lease again when it comes up because I don't need something "new" to drive everyday.

I guess it all depends on how close everything is to you. Do you have to go far to reach anything that you need? Can you live without a vehicle for the day-to-day stuff? I sure can. I'm not leasing again. Everything I need is pretty close to me.. and if my truck can't get there today because I'm waiting for a part, I can get it tommorrow. I have a grocery store, a train station, a pizzaria, a dry cleaners, two liquor stores, a chinese food place and a travel bureau within close walking distance.. I can survive quite a long time without a car. If you look at your surroundings... you just might be able to.

If stuff is too far away that makes it unreasonable, then you probably need something with four wheels and a motor... especially work. Work and food are the two basics that should be relatively easy to get to without car in order for it to work... the other stuff can be worked out one way or another.

One last thing you must ask... would I really want to get rid of my Ford truck?

James Kern
1970 F250 4x4

 

ive thunk about it, its what i do at school. definitely could save yousrelf alot of money if you lived near where you work and do most of your activities. but 6 miles on a bike to get to town just doesn't seem right back home. and besides, where's all the girls gonna sit when i take them out? on the handlebars?

 

Ahh yes, I almost forgot about the lady factor. That certainly can have an impact. Not many places you can get away with not having a vehicle for that...

James Kern
1970 F250 4x4

 

Bus Huh??

A friend of mine's brother is a NY Prison Corrections officer and the last time he was down here he flew into Miami. He took the bus from the airport in Miami up here to WPB. Upon arriving his comment was "No way in h... am I ever doing that again. These are the same people I guard in prison".

I'll stick to having my own transportation.

 

I've been thinking about switching to cycling to work a few days a week. I use to commute to work via bike for years till a fella who was hitting the bottle plugged me good. (Its a funny but not so funny story-)
Been hit by soccer moms and had "kids driving trucks" throw bottles at my wheels before that but the last one sort of made me rethink things.(Yes I thought of carrying a firearm while riding a bike).

I have enough registered trucks that I could leave one at work in case I was'nt up to a ride home (25 miles).
Yep so I'm thinking about giving up driving a little less.Not because of gas prices though.

Ray

 

>I`ve been thinking its not worth it to own a vehicle with
>the cost and headaches of insurance and
>repair/maintainence.I`m thinking I`ll quit driving and
>walk,ride a bike or take the city bus.Has anyone else here
>had this thought?

Hmmmm. Guess you'll be selling that new Superduty you bought about a month ago. You didn't really "need" it anyway.

Waxy

 

Well, I have had to give up driving for a full year, you guess as to why. Since I grew up in farm country I had driven since I was thirteen and it was a real blow at first. I saved tons of cash I would have spent on insurance, gas, repairs, etc. I used a bike and the city bus to get around. Took one "road trip" on Amtrack.

The benefit? Along with the money savings I was able to get my exercise with the bike trips, and found a new appreciation for my PRIVELEGE to drive. No more wasted money on non-necessary stuff, no where to carry it. Had to talk to people, mingle with the masses, no more private isolation box to shuttle me from building to building. Fresh air, exercise, actual walking. Gave me new appreciation for my surroundings, never bothered to notice when I was speeding along in my ride.

When it was all done with my view of the world around me had changed. I am less aggressive in my driving, I still like to soak in my surroundings and go a little slower. I'll stop at those corny scenic overlooks now. I no longer just go drive and buy junk I don't need. I can handle the scary people out there, many city bus rides teaches that! And a new found sense of responsibility when I am behind the wheel. I think I am a better driver because of it.

Would I do it again by choice? Not unless gas prices go through the roof. But, I know a vehicle is something I can live without. It was easier for me as I had moved to a bigger ciy with good transportation. It would be hard in a rural area like where I grew up though. Just try parking the truck for a month, see how you like it. I can guarantee you will find a new appreciation for your vehicle, and maybe a new view on some things.

 

[updated:LAST EDITED ON 01-15-03 AT 02:05 PM (EST)]I admit it, I am a slave to driving. But then again, I do not live near any mass transit at all. Closest train is 40 miles. Closest long distance bus is 8 miles. There are no city buses for miles, as the closest city with a bus is over 20 miles. Oh well. I guess I will suffer with my classics, my truck, and the new sedan.

 

I live in the country and drive to the city to work. I put on over 50 miles per day. My wife and i both do that, but work on opposite sides of town. So Both rigs rack up the miles pretty quickly.

Tony Warren
Nebraska

 

I remember riding my bike everywhere, it was like my little truck before I was allowed to drive the big one. I like going anywhere on anything but I love my truck, I wouldn't trade it for anything now. I drive just to drive, just to see things, hear the XM radio, or just to think............Heck I'd live in it if I had somewhere to park it overnight. Yes it consumes most of my money, but I don't mind it's a labor of love.

 

I walk from home to the train station..1 1/2 miles..take a train to downtown Chicago to work...train back home..walk home again. I only
drive my truck during the week when going to the barn to see my horse.
Weekends pretty much the same...go see the horse..then stop at Jewel for food/drink stuff on the way home. I put roughly 100-120 miles a week on my truck...not much, I know...but no way can I give up driving...I don't want to.
Lisa

 

i think weather is also a big factor for you to consider. here in beautiful Cleveland,Oh today it was 9deg. with a wind chill factor of -15 not to mention the "lake-effect" snow squals. i aint walking or bikeing ANYWHERE in that! its hard enough working in it. but thats just me. even though my bronco has a busted rear window and the heat cant really make up for it, id rather drive the 10 miles rather than walk or ride a bike to work. that way i only freeze for 10 min. rather than an hour or so.