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I'm torn on the whole car thing. On one hand, I'm a born suburbanite who grew up with a car and have had one nearly my entire adult life. One the other hand,

I'm torn on the whole car thing. On one hand, I'm a born suburbanite who grew up with a car and have had one nearly my entire adult life. One the other hand, they are expensive and complicated and getting more so by the minute. I really don't want all that electronic baloney on my car. A car that relies on software - hmm. Not so sure about that. I'm looking for similar mobility and convenience offered by a car with less complication and expense. I wish carsharing was more widely available.

kscaldef 17y ago
motorcycle / scooter? Or just a bike with panniers?
- gorenflo 17y ago
  yeah, bike. should use it more.
protomyth 17y ago
As robryan said above, it really depends on where you live. I am currently doing contract work in ND, so a car is needed (motorcycles are garaged 6 months of the year, no public transport, apt 40 miles from work (close as I could get)). Further, you need something in relatively good maintenance, because getting stranded could be very bad. Electric is also not an option (too long drive during day, renting, no garage / recharge area). I don't think you can escape software these days. Down south, motorcycles might be a better buy. If you are in an urban area, there are companies that sell electric vehicles. They won't do highway speeds, but are rated for in town use.
Mz 17y ago
FWIW: I grew up in the 'burbs and currently live (without a car) in an apartment in the 'burbs, not all that far from the neighborhood I grew up in. As a kid, I hated my hometown and wanted nothing but out. I did manage to get out for 2 decades by marrying a career soldier but ended up coming back during my divorce (to live with family while job hunting, not because I had any desire to be here). I am currently contemplating & researching a possible move to a more walkable neighborhood closer to downtown and it has caused me a lot of food for thought about my perceptions of the city I grew up in -- including the fact that I didn't actually grow up in the city at all, I grew up in the 'burbs and my family had as little as possible to do with the city itself. One thing that has occurred to me is that going downtown (by car, of course) was always dreaded because of the traffic, alien culture, lack of parking, fear of having the car vandalized (or other crime), etc. But if I live closer to downtown, in a more walkable neighborhood with better bus service, all of those concerns disappear: Parking is not needed, there is no car to advertise my wealth or social status or get vandalized/stolen, etc.

kscaldef 17y ago

motorcycle / scooter? Or just a bike with panniers?

gorenflo 17y ago
yeah, bike. should use it more.

protomyth 17y ago

As robryan said above, it really depends on where you live. I am currently doing contract work in ND, so a car is needed (motorcycles are garaged 6 months of the year, no public transport, apt 40 miles from work (close as I could get)). Further, you need something in relatively good maintenance, because getting stranded could be very bad. Electric is also not an option (too long drive during day, renting, no garage / recharge area). I don't think you can escape software these days. Down south, motorcycles might be a better buy. If you are in an urban area, there are companies that sell electric vehicles. They won't do highway speeds, but are rated for in town use.

Mz 17y ago

FWIW: I grew up in the 'burbs and currently live (without a car) in an apartment in the 'burbs, not all that far from the neighborhood I grew up in. As a kid, I hated my hometown and wanted nothing but out. I did manage to get out for 2 decades by marrying a career soldier but ended up coming back during my divorce (to live with family while job hunting, not because I had any desire to be here). I am currently contemplating & researching a possible move to a more walkable neighborhood closer to downtown and it has caused me a lot of food for thought about my perceptions of the city I grew up in -- including the fact that I didn't actually grow up in the city at all, I grew up in the 'burbs and my family had as little as possible to do with the city itself. One thing that has occurred to me is that going downtown (by car, of course) was always dreaded because of the traffic, alien culture, lack of parking, fear of having the car vandalized (or other crime), etc. But if I live closer to downtown, in a more walkable neighborhood with better bus service, all of those concerns disappear: Parking is not needed, there is no car to advertise my wealth or social status or get vandalized/stolen, etc.