Do you know someone who doesn't drive by choice?

[cornflake]

Okay, so I think I've got this figured out.

You grew up somewhere in the Northeast, perhaps upstate, or even heaven forbid New Jersey. You were accepted and go to school in the city, probably Columbia (congrats on that, by the way). You move to the city and a common affliction that happens, you become "city affected." As in NYC is the be all and end all, and you are now an expert.

Except you don't really know everything about the city or the people that live there, and most of what you post is wrong.

I could dispute everything you've written, as I've also lived and practiced in the city, but others have already done that, and you've either ignored them or tried to prove them wrong.

People are writing fanfic about me? Wow!

 

[allison443]

I grew up in NYC. Many people who don't own cars for obvious reasons in NYC still have driver's licenses. They rent cars to go on vacations, weekends away, to drive their kids to college, etc. Also plenty of people who live in NYC have weekend places in upstate NY. They aren't taking jitneys to get there.

 

[Princess_Meghan <3]

My best friend doesn't drive- her parents take her to and from work every day. We live in an area where it really isn't possible to walk from place to place. Getting a license was a must for all of my friends but her. She seems pretty happy with not driving, though.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Only if you go, like, on a work trip to Noplace, Kansas and there aren't cabs within 100 miles. Which was the original point we were discussing.

And as I've previously pointed out, MOST of my business travel has involved such trips. I previously mentioned Georgetown, KY. In addition to my former employer having a facility there, so does Toyota - their largest plant in the U.S. actually. And there are countless BIG employers in small towns all over the U.S. While some business travelers may find they can fly from one big city to another for all their business, it's actually pretty common to end up in "Noplace, Kansas" on such trips. And on a side note, I would venture to say that 75+% of all the jobs I've ever had have ended up requiring driving of some sort, even if it wasn't in the job description. I'm sure the same is not true for all - my wife for example has only had to drive "occasionally" for work, although it has come up.

Many people who do not and cannot drive have never seen or found any particular reason to and aren't dependent on other people. That was the original point. Somehow now people are acting as if I said people all over the U.S. don't drive and it's not any inconvenience and etc.

No, I don't see you suggesting that. However, you do seem somewhat confused about the notion of utilizing public transportation and/or cabs if one were to find oneself away from the big city. In many parts of the country, it's not only inconvenient, it's impossible.

I know plenty of people who don't and can't drive. None of them camp, no. I don't know anyone who camps, afaik. Yes, these are the people I know. I am not suggesting no one camps. I don't think it's a particularly common activity for NYers to go on a camping vacation in Wyoming or whatever. Doesn't mean no one ever has but I've not run into one. Yes, I have been to Wyoming. I was not camping, I don't have any desire to go back, god knows.

Maybe if more of 'em could drive, it WOULD be And yeah, you don't want to go BACK, but you wanted to go once, right?

I've known, and know, many, many people who have never had a license. None of them seem to find it hampering. They go on vacations, they travel for work, they do whatever and it causes no issues. There are many people in the thread saying the exact same thing about people they know and themselves.

I'm not saying they go to Noplace, Kansas on the weekends to go camping and it's no inconvenience. They don't.

This is like you saying you don't know people who can tell you what subway line to take from X to Y and me saying that's ridiculous because everyone knows that. We're talking about different groups with different lives and lifestyles.

I guess there are folks who are okay with an entirely urban existence, but it seems like such a sheltered life - much as someone from the city would probably think the same of someone who never got out of the "country".

The thread was about whether people know anyone who doesn't/can't drive. A number of us, mostly from large cities in the NE, said yes. Others expressed doubt that that was really a feasible, not inconvenient lifestyle. Well, lots of people find no inconvenience to it at all. Doesn't mean YOU wouldn't find it inconvenient in your area, in your life. They're fine over here, and fine on trips and etc.

I'm not arguing that I think driving is a necessity in day-to-day life in NYC, nor have I ever suggested such a thing. My point was more about the idea that at some point in time, many of these folks who don't drive would have to find that fact to be a hinderance of some kind. All of them? No. Many of them? Yes. Do they avoid vacations to Noplace, KS because it's unappealing? Or, because it would be too difficult w/o a license? I think if everyone is honest, the answer for some would be the former, but for many, the latter.

 

[Lorelei Lee]

Just came across this old thread and really had to laugh. If "no one" owns a car in NYC and "no one" has a driver's license . . . Why did I always have a problem parking in my old neighborhood in Manhattan? I mean, who were all those people running outside to move their cars on alternate side parking days? And yes, the garage in my buulding charged almost as much for a parking spot as some people pay for an apartment, but for some reason there was a waiting list because alk the spots were taken.

FWIW my boss back in the 80's lived on the Upper West Side abd drove his Benz downtown to the office every day. The Benz had Jersey plates. Seems he registered tge car using his second home as his address . . .Second home was down the shore.

 

[married2mm]

I've found this thread to be most interesting.
I'm in the UK,didn't learn to drive by choice,now can't ,even if I wanted to,due to medications/health issues.

I can honestly say,it's never been a problem..
where we live,there are plenty stores within walking distance,as is the doctors surgery.
for hospital appointments,I like my dh to be there anyway,so he works around these.
there are also buses into larger towns,malls,or taxis on call if I wanted to travel further afield.

I also know many others,who have not learned to drive- I'm certainly not alone!

 

[IheartMickey]

My mom drives but will not drive highway or in areas that she doesn't know well. I do have to say she has adjusted to FL well considering, but it can be a really pain in the butt if I'm sick and we need to drive out of the neighborhood.

My grandmother nor her mother drove. They walked.

 

[mfd25wife]

Like a PP, I find this thread interesting.

I am one who drives, but avoids it if I can. We had a horrible wreck 3 yrs ago. I broke my neck, 10 breaks in 8 ribs, punctured a lung, and had a head bleed. I was not driving, but I due to the broken neck, I couldn't drive for 5 months. We figured out real quickly after that, that I was scared to. I am better now, but still prefer not to.

Where we live, we don't have public transportation. If you can get to "the big city" there are 2-3 mini buses that drive people from certain places to the mall, the major medical clinic, walmart, etc. However, they only go to certain spots so you would have to drive to get there and there is no place to park. They are meant to carry people from the low income area or the couple of assisted living places to main errand stops. There are no cabs. Sorry. They do not exist everywhere.

I found the driving ages and discussions of drivers ed interesting. DD was nervous about driving but excited. She was able to get a hardship license at 15. AR allows them at 14. She had a job in a different city from her school and both of us worked. She got the hardship for work and cheerleading. AR issues permits at 14 if they pass the test. 6 months from the time of the permit, they can request for a hardship license where the teen gets 3 references, a letter why they request it, and parents submit the times they are stating they want the teen to be allowed to drive such as 3pm-9pm from school to work to church. There are addresses and they must keep the approval in the car and submit it if pulled over. If caught breaking the rules, they lose it until they are 16. Drivers ed is not required but most kids take it because it lowers the car insurance. It's $100 and it deducts much more than that off the insurance.

Concerning vacations, going to one of the many lakes in AR and MO is popular. You aren't going to find a cab or bus to any of them. Skiing, fishing, canoeing, scuba diving, etc. are all popular. Many people camp and/or hike. No, there is no public transportation to those spots either. I've been to beaches where I've not seen cabs running up and down the roads. We drove to FL from AR to go. You can't fly from here to the popular beach destinations. I don't know anyone who does even though it's an 8-10 hr drive. I understand why many in NYC don't drive (I've visited once on business), but it would be impossible to not drive around here unless you have friends or family to drive you.

 

[PigletsPal2]

I posted on this thread way back in September (page 3) that I could drive but didn't because of medical issues. I wasn't prohibited from driving, I just wasn't comfortable.

Well, about three weeks ago, DD#1 had a car problem and we needed an extra driver to take her to the repair shop to pick up her car when it was ready. DD#2 got home from work too late to do it and DD#1 couldn't wait until the weekend to collect her car, so I was elected.

Those of you who live in Central Florida (Kissimmee/Celebration/Four Corners/Clermont area) know how "brave" I was to get out on Rte. 192 and Rte. 27 in the middle of the day! I was a nervous wreck, but I was driving a Volvo tank, so I figured I'd come out OK on the slim chance there was an accident. It wasn't a long drive, but it did give me confidence that I could do it again if necessary. I even stopped at the McDonald's drive-through for a celebratory sweet tea!

Yay for me!

Queen Colleen