4 ms·

I want to learn driving. I live in a city with well-connected public transport (Singapore) so I don't feel the need to learn. However, this year I travelled to

I want to learn driving. I live in a city with well-connected public transport (Singapore) so I don't feel the need to learn. However, this year I travelled to some rural areas in Japan and started to feel the pain of relying solely on public transport which is either extremely sparse, or sometimes non-existent which limits the places I want to visit. That's why I felt like if I obtain this skill, I can explore more places in my travels

busymom0 9mo ago
I plan on learning driving this year too! I think I will still continue using public transit because I enjoy doing research things while on transit (which of course can't be done while driving) but I want to learn driving.
canpan 9mo ago
Same here! I lived in big cities all my life and am used to the convenience of good public transport. Want to travel and rent a nice car, just when needed.
- sokoloff 9mo ago
  I always feel the jump in price from standard to nice rental car is too much to bother with (like a factor of 2.5-5x). So I drive a lot of crappy rentals, but they’re just a way to get from point to point.
  - Nextgrid 9mo ago
    Automatic transmissions (for EU where manual is popular - I guess this doesn’t apply in countries where everyone drives automatics already) are generally only available with higher trim levels and yet don’t cost much more to rent, so this might be an option to get a “nicer” rental.
AdieuToLogic 9mo ago
> I want to learn driving. Two low-risk and cheap ways to develop relevant driving skills are bumper cars[0] and go-karts[1]. This may appear to be silly at first, but both involve the same hand-eye coordination and decision skills of vehicular driving (though the latter is no where nearly as fun as the others). 0 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_cars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_cars 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-kart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-kart
- Fhch6HQ 9mo ago
  This is a curious suggestion. Higher end go-karts I can't contest, but I've never found bumper cars to be anything like operating a car. It would probably help, but at some point they're going to need to drive something with more weight and horsepower.
  - AdieuToLogic 9mo ago
    > This is a curious suggestion. Higher end go-karts I can't contest, but I've never found bumper cars to be anything like operating a car. A unique simulation bumper cars can provide is in collision avoidance and real-time steering/acceleration/braking skills. The value of this is relative and dependent upon a person using time in a bumper car with intent to hone driving skills.
- globular-toast 9mo ago
  The real way is just to ride a bike. You can ride it on the road so you'll learn how the road works as well as how to operate a vehicle. When I got in a car the only things that took time to learn were operating the clutch and manoeuvres in tight spaces (you need to develop spacial awareness that you won't get from cycling). If I had learnt to drive an auto it would have been trivially easy after years of cycling.
  - smileysteve 9mo ago
    The biggest pro of a bike is it teaches you to read the road and traffic ahead for energy conservation (and defensive driving). On a bike, this mostly reduces pedaling; in a car this can reduce unnecessary braking, safer driving distances, which make you a more predictable driver.
biztos 9mo ago
Great idea! Although I have "known" how to drive for a long time, I didn't get my formal license until much later in life than most people, for similar reasons to yours. Now that I have it, I kick myself for not doing this earlier, but as they say: the best time was ten years ago, the second-best time is now. Owing to the city life I often go up to six months without driving anywhere, but when I finally get out on the road again it feels great. Country driving is amazing, in any country where people drive safely. It's even pretty nice where they don't. City driving still stresses me out, but I'm determined to get better at it. Good luck! If you find yourself having trouble getting the license in Singapore, there are other countries where you could get a license more easily, and with that license you could drive in third countries.
throwaway2037 9mo ago
This is a great idea. Countryside driving is lovely in many places in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Since you are based in Singapore, you can easily go across the border in JB, rent a car and drive into the countryside. There so much beauty in a slow drive through the Malaysian countryside. I use Google Maps (satellite view) to find interesting nature, then try to drive to it.
handzhiev 9mo ago
I learned this year at 45 - before that I only had a moped license and used a moped. I am not a "car person" and did not expect I'd like driving. I turned out wrong! I enjoy it and especially enjoy the benefits and freedom a car gives you. You'll most likely not regret it too.
deleted 9mo ago
[deleted]

busymom0 9mo ago

I plan on learning driving this year too! I think I will still continue using public transit because I enjoy doing research things while on transit (which of course can't be done while driving) but I want to learn driving.

canpan 9mo ago

Same here! I lived in big cities all my life and am used to the convenience of good public transport. Want to travel and rent a nice car, just when needed.

sokoloff 9mo ago
I always feel the jump in price from standard to nice rental car is too much to bother with (like a factor of 2.5-5x). So I drive a lot of crappy rentals, but they’re just a way to get from point to point.
- Nextgrid 9mo ago
  Automatic transmissions (for EU where manual is popular - I guess this doesn’t apply in countries where everyone drives automatics already) are generally only available with higher trim levels and yet don’t cost much more to rent, so this might be an option to get a “nicer” rental.

AdieuToLogic 9mo ago

> I want to learn driving. Two low-risk and cheap ways to develop relevant driving skills are bumper cars[0] and go-karts[1]. This may appear to be silly at first, but both involve the same hand-eye coordination and decision skills of vehicular driving (though the latter is no where nearly as fun as the others). 0 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_cars https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bumper_cars 1 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-kart https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go-kart

Fhch6HQ 9mo ago
This is a curious suggestion. Higher end go-karts I can't contest, but I've never found bumper cars to be anything like operating a car. It would probably help, but at some point they're going to need to drive something with more weight and horsepower.
- AdieuToLogic 9mo ago
  > This is a curious suggestion. Higher end go-karts I can't contest, but I've never found bumper cars to be anything like operating a car. A unique simulation bumper cars can provide is in collision avoidance and real-time steering/acceleration/braking skills. The value of this is relative and dependent upon a person using time in a bumper car with intent to hone driving skills.
globular-toast 9mo ago
The real way is just to ride a bike. You can ride it on the road so you'll learn how the road works as well as how to operate a vehicle. When I got in a car the only things that took time to learn were operating the clutch and manoeuvres in tight spaces (you need to develop spacial awareness that you won't get from cycling). If I had learnt to drive an auto it would have been trivially easy after years of cycling.
- smileysteve 9mo ago
  The biggest pro of a bike is it teaches you to read the road and traffic ahead for energy conservation (and defensive driving). On a bike, this mostly reduces pedaling; in a car this can reduce unnecessary braking, safer driving distances, which make you a more predictable driver.

biztos 9mo ago

Great idea! Although I have "known" how to drive for a long time, I didn't get my formal license until much later in life than most people, for similar reasons to yours. Now that I have it, I kick myself for not doing this earlier, but as they say: the best time was ten years ago, the second-best time is now. Owing to the city life I often go up to six months without driving anywhere, but when I finally get out on the road again it feels great. Country driving is amazing, in any country where people drive safely. It's even pretty nice where they don't. City driving still stresses me out, but I'm determined to get better at it. Good luck! If you find yourself having trouble getting the license in Singapore, there are other countries where you could get a license more easily, and with that license you could drive in third countries.

throwaway2037 9mo ago

This is a great idea. Countryside driving is lovely in many places in Southeast Asia and Northeast Asia. Since you are based in Singapore, you can easily go across the border in JB, rent a car and drive into the countryside. There so much beauty in a slow drive through the Malaysian countryside. I use Google Maps (satellite view) to find interesting nature, then try to drive to it.

handzhiev 9mo ago

I learned this year at 45 - before that I only had a moped license and used a moped. I am not a "car person" and did not expect I'd like driving. I turned out wrong! I enjoy it and especially enjoy the benefits and freedom a car gives you. You'll most likely not regret it too.

deleted 9mo ago

[deleted]