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I might be getting a job in the city in the fall. I live in the city. I currently commute out to the 'burbs because for some reason or another (I can't really figure it out), my company refuses to invest in the city. I am a city guy, urban dweller, through and through...and I love it. Suburbs drive me crazy...no really interesting architecture, very decentralized, everyone drives, pedestrian unfriendly, and filled with big box stores and blandish restaurants.
So, if I get this job I am thinking about giving the car to my girlfriend to use for her job (she has an old beater now), and I will take public transportation. Car's already paid off, but I figure I can beat the insurance and gas payments by buying a $40 monthly bus pass that whisks me from outside my apartment building to downtown in 15 minutes (good time to read), and sharing the cost of one auto with my girlfriend.
Given the choice between an automobile and convenient public transportation, would you chose the latter?
I guess it would depend on where you live. If you're in the suburbs you NEED a car. If you live in a good city there should be a good public transit system available for cummuting purposes. Personally I don't like driving. Having a car is a MAJOR expense and with $4 a gallon at the pump doesn't make me feel any better. Costs for public transit are skyrocketing as well but still a cheaper alternative than the other.
I would ride a bike everywhere if I could
But I work 40 miles away from my house and I have two kids.
I would as well. It's better for the environment and it's better for your body.
I think it would be a positive shift in improving our lives but unfortunately that will never happen as cities are designed for long cimmutes unless you're living somewhere like NY or Chicago where a car isn't necessary.
The other issue is how are you going to transport your personal items as you can only fit so much in a backpack? Or say you buy a TV and need to take it home etc...
I'm amazed as to how many cities in the U.S. lack not only good but even decent public transportation. Some places don't even have busses or rail or maybe one of the other. Another MAJOR failure of the local goverment but as anything there's politics and money associated with such decisions. Unfortunately, it's not about making a better city but more about how PROFITABLE it will be.
I would as well. It's better for the environment and it's better for your body.
I think it would be a positive shift in improving our lives but unfortunately that will never happen as cities are designed for long cimmutes unless you're living somewhere like NY or Chicago where a car isn't necessary.
The other issue is how are you going to transport your personal items as you can only fit so much in a backpack? Or say you buy a TV and need to take it home etc...
I'm amazed as to how many cities in the U.S. lack not only good but even decent public transportation. Some places don't even have busses or rail or maybe one of the other. Another MAJOR failure of the local goverment but as anything there's politics and money associated with such decisions. Unfortunately, it's not about making a better city but more about how PROFITABLE it will be.
Baltimore, Md is not awful with public transportation. I would never suggest anyone live in Baltimore though. They have the MARC Trains, subway, lightrail and buses that run pretty regularly. It has been about 10 years since I used them but they were somewhat decent then.
Depends on the city. In St. Louis, I generally would recommend the automobile unless you conveniently live within a very short walking distance of the Metrolink. St. Louis' many interstate highways and efficient roads for getting downtown make having an automobile a no-brainer. You can get pretty much anywhere in the city at least from where I am, at the very center of the STL MSA, within 20 minutes or less. In KC I'd suspect an automobile would work too, unless KC has a train like the Metrolink, which as far as I know it doesn't...although I could be wrong. I can't believe I know so little about the other major city in Missouri just 200 or so miles due west of me!
Both. I think New York is the only city in the nation where you can live w/o a car because of their extensive network of trains. But everywhere else, you need a car. I like to have both imo. It's great to have a great public transporation system. But it's also great to have a backup.
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