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

[Mary Anne]

Yes the parking is another whole situation, one one the main reasons a lot of people don't have a car here. We have a driveway, garage and generally a spot in front of our house. It does kill me when I hear about people paying $500 and more per month to garage their car! And then their are the poor souls who deal with the alternate side of the street parking.

 

[Fly4free]

My grandmother, who just turned 92 never learned to drive. She lives in Europe so walking and biking is common there. She also has plenty of family to take her around.

In the suburbs that I grew up in we had a neighbor who never learned to drive. She often would take the bus to the grocery store. Once my mother figured out she needed a ride to the grocery store the neighbor would often ride with us and we got to know her well. She turned out to be one of the most precious people to me. My mother never felt taken advantage of as she often was given baked goods and babysitting in return.

I can't imagine a SAHM not driving. Kids always have somewhere to go. Isn't chauffeur in the job description? I would hate to rely on someone for those emergency visits to the pediatrician.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

I can understand those of you that live in areas that there is no public transportation not understanding how someone cannot live without driving but for me I chose to live in a big city with excellent public transportation, I have lived very nicely without a drivers license, car insurance bill and cost of probably 3 brand new cars. For the record neither of my parents never drove either.

The whole not having a car in a big city thing is understandable, though I'd have a hard time giving up the license. Even when I've flown to destinations, there's almost always been a rental car waiting for me there - be it a business or a recreational destination.

 

[tvguy]

Did she live and work in NYC? A monthly metrocard is only around $100.

$104 a month. Per person. And looking at the website, kids ride free with a full fare up to a certain height (not a certain age).

She worked on West 66th a block from Central Park, and used public transit to and from work.
I know nothing about NYC public transit but she said somthing about what added up was the extra fee they paid beynd a certain distance or zone ????? If that makes sense??? And she had a child after moving there, and as parents know, kids always need to go the doctor, and you don't ride public transit with a sick kid, you take a cab or a car service.

But to be really honest, this was a woman in California that used to drive (not walk) 2 blocks to get coffee.......so I suspect she could have shave a lot of her bill by walking more.
She is a woman who thinks nothing of spending $1,000 on a purse so budgeting isn't a priority for her.
I just know she said they would be able to buy 2 cars in L.A., make payments, insurance, gas etc for less than it cost them to get around in New York without a car.

 

[mamamary]

My mom. She never even had a license. When she was younger she had taken her permit test but it never went any further than that. My parents live in NYC. Although they have a car my dad does the driving. My mom is very content to take subway/busses. Where they live you actually walk to stores.

They have the old alternate side of the street parking. They rent a garage for their car. My dad is in his early 80s now and they are at the point where they will prob. get rid of their car soon.

 

[Mary Anne]

he worked on West 66th a block from Central Park, and used public transit to and from work.
I know nothing about NYC public transit but she said somthing about what added up was the extra fee they paid beynd a certain distance or zone ????? If that makes sense??? And she had a child after moving there, and as parents know, kids always need to go the doctor, and you don't ride public transit with a sick kid, you take a cab or a car service.

But to be really honest, this was a woman in California that used to drive (not walk) 2 blocks to get coffee.......so I suspect she could have shave a lot of her bill by walking more.
She is a woman who thinks nothing of spending $1,000 on a purse so budgeting isn't a priority for her.
I just know she said they would be able to buy 2 cars in L.A., make payments, insurance, gas etc for less than it cost them to get around in New York without a car.

I will tell you right now, she did not take public transportation she took a taxi ==everywhere, even two blocks to get that coffee LOL . She did not live here, she was what I refer to as a temporary long term visitor. She did not make the city her hone Nothing wrong with it but it is very different then being a NYC resident.

 

[mrsdisneyfan]

My mother, my sister (in her 40s), and both of my brothers (in their 30s) don't drive. Really, I have no idea why because they are always needing people to take them places. I can't imagine being so reliant on others all the time.

Hi Mari, I knew you would post.

I am the sister (in her 40s).

I am terrified to drive. Which is funny because I am really not scared of anything else. Just reading this thread has my heart pounding and I am starting to sweat at the thought of getting behind the wheel.

Every now and then (usually after a few cocktails) I say I want to start but when I sober up I never do.

Maybe someday. Just not today.

 

[bushdianee]

I remember my grandmother learning how to drive. I must have been about 6 or 7 at the time. My other grandmother never did drive and my mom never did either. I grew up in a pretty large city but at the time the public buses were pretty good. Then we moved to the midwest when i was 19. I finally got my license at age 25 when I got sick of our bus system and was able to afford a car on my own.

 

[Miffy]

I live in NYC. Loads of people here don't know how to drive, never learned, and don't care. You don't need a car in the city (in fact, it's a huge expense and terrifically inconvenient) and public transit is fabulous in NYC. So here, it's not only not unusual, it's unsurprising.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I live in NYC. Loads of people here don't know how to drive, never learned, and don't care. You don't need a car in the city (in fact, it's a huge expense and terrifically inconvenient) and public transit is fabulous in NYC. So here, it's not only not unusual, it's unsurprising.

yes i completely agree. To be honest if i lived in nyc i wouldnt drive either. Its very expensive and inconvenient. Public transit is definitely the way to go. Downtown toronto is different thou. Its not as big as nyc so having a car would be convenient IMO.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S2 using DISBoards App

 

[anniemae]

I used to work with a woman who did not drive. She was too scared. I think she got her permit a couple of times, but never took the driving test. Her hubby drove everywhere. Luckily there was public transportation to her job. Her hubby took her food shopping, or she would catch a ride to the supermarket with friends who were going and didn't mind bringing her along. She had a neighbor who always offered to take her along whenever she was running errands to the drugstore, mall, post office or things like that. Other than that, she took taxi's everywhere.

She would always say it was so much cheaper than buying a car and paying for insurance, gas, maintenance etc.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

My partner only drives if he absolutely has to (ie. I'm traveling on business), otherwise he does not drive, if he needs to go somewhere, I take him. He has a license, he is on my insurance, we decided together on what car to get, but he doesn't drive 99% of the time.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Every now and then (usually after a few cocktails) I say I want to start but when I sober up I never do.

If driving only sounds like a good idea after you've had a few cocktails, then I would have to agree driving might not be for you




Sorry, just couldn't resist

 

[sissy_ib]

One of my aunts, who is in her 70s now. She was in a very bad wreck when she was younger and has never driven since.
My grandmother also never drove much. She had a drivers licence but she just never liked to drive so she doesn't. I think I have seen her drive once.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My partner only drives if he absolutely has to (ie. I'm traveling on business), otherwise he does not drive, if he needs to go somewhere, I take him. He has a license, he is on my insurance, we decided together on what car to get, but he doesn't drive 99% of the time.

Several folks have chimed in with similar stories, but I believe there's a pretty significant difference between someone who chooses not to drive unless they have to and one who couldn't drive even if they DID have to.

I got a promotion to our headquarters in the city (many years back). Lots of public transit there. But, the first order of business - before my promotion even officially kicked in - was to go visit our plant in Mississippi before it closed. The plant was a 2-hour drive from the airport in Jackson. I couldn't imagine telling my new boss that someone would have to come get me in Jackson because I don't know how to drive

 

[kirstenb1]

Hi Mari, I knew you would post.

I am the sister (in her 40s).

I am terrified to drive. Which is funny because I am really not scared of anything else. Just reading this thread has my heart pounding and I am starting to sweat at the thought of getting behind the wheel.

Every now and then (usually after a few cocktails) I say I want to start but when I sober up I never do.

Maybe someday. Just not today.

I have to ask, how do you get around? Is where you live connected to public transportation? I've lived in small towns all my life, so when New Yorkers said they don't drive, I thought it was odd. But then I realized they have transport everywhere they need for daily life.

Personally the only people I knew who didn't drive were my grandmothers who were born around the turn of the century. I don't think women commonly drove then. But I can't think of anyone here in central Va who doesn't drive by choice.

 

[cornflake]

Sure, tons of people. Most of whom don't have a license and have never had a license.

My high school had no driver's ed, nor did most schools.

There was one student in my class who could drive by graduation, and that's because they lived all the way out on Long Island. I know a number of people who still can't.

It's, as mentioned by other posters, completely normal to not only not drive but to have never driven, if you grew up here - if your parents did, not unusual they never did either.

$104 a month. Per person. And looking at the website, kids ride free with a full fare up to a certain height (not a certain age).

She worked on West 66th a block from Central Park, and used public transit to and from work.
I know nothing about NYC public transit but she said somthing about what added up was the extra fee they paid beynd a certain distance or zone ????? If that makes sense??? And she had a child after moving there, and as parents know, kids always need to go the doctor, and you don't ride public transit with a sick kid, you take a cab or a car service.

But to be really honest, this was a woman in California that used to drive (not walk) 2 blocks to get coffee.......so I suspect she could have shave a lot of her bill by walking more.
She is a woman who thinks nothing of spending $1,000 on a purse so budgeting isn't a priority for her.
I just know she said they would be able to buy 2 cars in L.A., make payments, insurance, gas etc for less than it cost them to get around in New York without a car.

Of course it's per person. But think about it - how in the world would it possibly be cheaper to commute by car?

Do you spend less than $104 a month on gas, maintenance, insurance, etc.?

Also, no, that makes no sense unless, as someone else said, she lived in Westchester or Long Island - NYC doesn't do zoned transit fares for the subway and bus. You pay the same fare within the system (excluding express buses, LIRR, Metro-North [these are commuter things that go either outside the City or on specialized routes] and you can ride all dang day, heck, forever, from the Bronx to Brooklyn and back, if you do it correctly (like without getting out).

Even still, with M-N or LIRR, it's cheaper than the cost of a car. For the fun of it, I just looked - a monthly ticket from the City to Chappaqua, which is significantly out there (like 50 minutes from the City, driving, with no traffic, plus a $4 toll each way unless you want it to be an hour and 50 minutes) - is $266. So, with that plus the metrocard, that's $370 a month. Nevermind her ludicrous two cars crap - can you have one car, insurance, gas, etc., and what about a car payment for $370/mo.?

Also, yes, you ride mass transit with a sick child. Even if you happen to take a cab, it's not going to be that much (I can take a cab from one end of the island to the other for like $25. Most trips are <$10, that's like, across town, midtown to up or down, etc.).

That she'd mention car service screams princess to me - no one does that unless they get car service as a perk from work. Even then, you only use it to go home when it's really late, not like run errands. You also take it to the airport but that's not her deal. She's completely full of crap.

 

[rockawaybeachgirl]

I agree with the PP- I've lived in 3 of the 5 NYC boroughs a good portion of my life and have NEVER heard of someone leaving because of the public transportation costs! Housing, food, sure- but public transport? No way! And the zoning thing makes no sense - heck yesterday my brother took a train from the Bronx, through Manhattan, Brooklyn, and into where we live inQueens and it cost him the same amount ($2.25) as it would cost to go one stop.

To answer the originL question- my dad never drove, neither does my aunt who is 76. I've had my license since I was 17, but didn't drive from the age of 20 until 32. Same with my husband,who got his license at 36 when he moved to long island with his then wife. The town we live in is not a big city, but it's definitely walkable. My 2003 car has 80'000 miles on it, and our 3 year old car has 15,000. So not much driving here....

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My high school had no driver's ed, nor did most schools.

We don't have it here anymore, either. My mom always said she wished they'd do away with an English credit & make driver's ed manadory - and Mom was a teacher

 

[msjprincess]

$104 a month. Per person. And looking at the website, kids ride free with a full fare up to a certain height (not a certain age).

She worked on West 66th a block from Central Park, and used public transit to and from work.
I know nothing about NYC public transit but she said somthing about what added up was the extra fee they paid beynd a certain distance or zone ????? If that makes sense??? And she had a child after moving there, and as parents know, kids always need to go the doctor, and you don't ride public transit with a sick kid, you take a cab or a car service.

But to be really honest, this was a woman in California that used to drive (not walk) 2 blocks to get coffee.......so I suspect she could have shave a lot of her bill by walking more.
She is a woman who thinks nothing of spending $1,000 on a purse so budgeting isn't a priority for her.
I just know she said they would be able to buy 2 cars in L.A., make payments, insurance, gas etc for less than it cost them to get around in New York without a car.

I'm guessing she either lived outside of the 5 boroughs or she took cabs everywhere. Or she's just exaggerating, it just doesn't make sense.

As far as having a sick kid goes, how often does that happen? Maybe I have really healthy kids but if I take them to the doctor twice a year, that's a lot. And depending on what's wrong with them, yes you can easily use public transportation.