We live in a close in suburb to a major city. There used to be a trolley going from the city to our suburb. But, our public transportation is pretty awful. I can get from Baltimore to DC faster than I can get from Baltimore to where I need to be in Baltimore
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One of my cherished memories of elementary school in Ann Arbor Michigan was taking a public city bus to the YMCA and Library downtown after school. My Mom took me the first time and then after that I did it alone. I was probably ten. I loved it. It was scary, but achievable. I felt like Marlo Thomas conquering the city all on my own.
Yes! I would love to be able to give my kid a bit more freedom in that regard. But public transportation here is really a mess. Such a shame, since it used to be decent (unless the history books have a warped remembrance of the trolley lines).
I find everything about driving tedious: car maintenance, parking places, gas stations, and the actual driving. Having a pedestrian/public transit lifestyle is and always has been a primary factor in choosing jobs and homes.
I do have a car share membership for those times I need to venture to "uncivilized" parts of the country, but yes, I think of it in those terms, when I go.
(Sorry for deleted comment; my bro forgot to log off.)
I drive, but not an actual daily commute to a job because I no longer have a 'job' per se. Sometimes my work requires a lot of driving; usually not so much.
Prior to 1987 I didn't drive and didn't need to drive, because I lived in major cities with good public transit, and I was young enough to bike everywhere. From 1987 to 2007 I drove a car to work because that was how it had to be.
Things are far apart here. We're technically 'in town', but it's a mile to the nearest bus stop, and two miles to the nearest grocery store. Buses are few, and since each 'run' has to cover the whole area, a trip that takes half an hour by car can take two or three hours by bus. There is no bus service on Sundays or after 10 PM.
EDIT: Of course you realize that your Friends List is not very representative of the US in general - here are the figures from the US Census Bureau.
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But a smart ten year old can do it.
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I do have a car share membership for those times I need to venture to "uncivilized" parts of the country, but yes, I think of it in those terms, when I go.
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I drive, but not an actual daily commute to a job because I no longer have a 'job' per se. Sometimes my work requires a lot of driving; usually not so much.
Prior to 1987 I didn't drive and didn't need to drive, because I lived in major cities with good public transit, and I was young enough to bike everywhere. From 1987 to 2007 I drove a car to work because that was how it had to be.
Things are far apart here. We're technically 'in town', but it's a mile to the nearest bus stop, and two miles to the nearest grocery store. Buses are few, and since each 'run' has to cover the whole area, a trip that takes half an hour by car can take two or three hours by bus. There is no bus service on Sundays or after 10 PM.
EDIT: Of course you realize that your Friends List is not very representative of the US in general - here are the figures from the US Census Bureau.
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