Driving, Cars, and being an Adult...

I need to vent.....

I'm 19 and don't know how to drive....Never learned how and don't really want to know how... But now I'm getting all this presure from people to get my drivers liscense, and to "grow up"..... now, I have no problem with walking, and usually turn down offers for rides.. and the rare times that I do ask for a ride, I will dish out 10 bucks or so for gas, out of the kindness of my heart....

I guess I'm still a child at heart, but I don't think I need to "grow up" like everyone likes to tell me.... I live with my aunt and uncle right now, and it's the first time I've lived with family for over 3 years, I've been on my own sence the age of 16..... I've had to fight for every thing that has gotten me this far..... If any one should have to grow up, it's the people around me....I'm in the process of renting an apartment, (trying to be grown-up like)..... and trying to figure out what I will do for the next 50 years or so of my life......

So what I want to know is, are cars really that important?
People have got on for hundreds of years with out them, and cars have only been around for the last hundred years or so....
I've been doing fine for almost 20 years without them........

 

If you can get around alright without a car...don't get one. It's not that big of a deal. I have friends that live in Chicago and New York and never got their driver's license because, well, they don't need to. Public transportation works fine there...

My boyfriend doesn't have a car...because he doesn't need one. *shrugs* Tell them you don't want to support the oil industry if you don't have to.

 

well, it depends. i can get around boston fine without a car...but try getting out to other parts of massachusetts and i'm pretty much stuck. i'd say it is the same with any other major city.

then, it depends on how much you are going to travel for your job or school. i know that i need a car to school from home (boston to middle of vermont - 3 hour drive) i can't walk that and taking a bus or train is just not cost effective for me.

 

If Your A Adult You Have A Choice,a Mind Of Your Own..

Always Remember,, No Matter What Influences You , you choose To Justify Your Actions,,..

What You Choose Is Your Choice..

An You Have To Live With Yourself..

Luv N Lite..

 

Good points, all of you, but I guess what I'm really trying to say (in not so forward of a way) is that I'm dodging the responsabilities of Maturity........ I don't want to get a car and drivers licsense because with that comes insurence, and tune ups and gas ..... and soon it will be all the other everyday bullshit that people have to put up with, and buy the time I'm 25 I wont remember what it was to be a kid, and not have any worries because I'll be caught up in my every day routine of responsibility.....

 

And what I'm saying is...don't get a car if you don't need one and then you won't HAVE to. I don't think you're dodging adult responsibility by not getting a car. I don't want to pay all that shit...and I wouldn't if I didn't have to, but I live a forty five minutes from where I go to school and fifteen minutes driving distances to get to work...It's unrealistic to me, but I wish I could.

And you said that you've lived on your own basically since you were 16...well, it's obvious you have SOME adult responsibility if you've done that.

 

i think you should get a liscence,, an a beater car an etc..

even if ya let it all go liscences only have to be renewed an they double as id..

an in the long run ,, if ya so chose..,,,,

a liscence would be handy to have..

 

i say if you really dont want to have a car and you can get around fine without it (like other people have mentioned), more power to you and good for you.

i havent had a car in over a year and im very happy that i am getting one again... but i live in an area where public transportation sucks ass, that i wanna go places pub. trans. cant take me and i hate relieing on other people for rides.

 

i'd highly suggest getting a drivers liscence, its useflull skill to have. But keep in mind this dosnt nesessarily mean you need to buy a car, you could get yoursself a bike or a little moped or somthing, and use it to put around the city. And Then for that once or twice a year you might actally need a car, just rent one.

I'd buss to work myslf, but its too far away. my 20 minute comute becomes a 90 min bus ride that requirs 3 bus transfers. the transit system is stupid up here.

 

eh, really depends on what is important to you. I don't have a drivers, never have, and my learners is expired atm. My city is small enough that even when the busses don't run, you can at least walk to most places within an hour or two (or, most places I visit that is) or else I have friends the general vicinity who won't object to me sleeping on their couch until hte busses do run again.

I will say this: when I started dating the guy I'm seeing right now, I had a couple people rag on me for dating someone who's carless. So it may factor into the kind of realtionship/girl you want. Me, meh, I don't drive at all and I don't htink it's fair for me to judge/be picky based on whether or not someone has a car when I don't. Not all chicks think that way though

 

I think that if you are living in a big enough area with a good public transportation situation with all of the possible needs you might incur: hospital/courts/colleges/food/etc, then you don't need a car.

HOWEVER, having your license is a very useful thing. Not only does it double as your ID, but when you're in a situation where you know a person that shouldn't be driving but has no other way to get home, you can drive so that they are safe. Or in case of emergencies.

But you're not being immature or putting off maturity at all if you choose to not bog yourself down with the debts that come with a car. You're being level headed and living well within your means. That is more than mature.

 

Sound Reasoning. ^ ^ ^

 

yeah, i was just uninterested in driving, but got sick of asking for rides. people get sick of hearing the request, too. to you it may seem like you're not asking often, but to some cranky bastard it seems like you're asking every day. get the driver's license. don't get a car. though the freedom of a cheap vehicle is pretty nice. when i got my license, at an unheard of 17(!) in SoCal, i knew everyone would be sending me for bread and milk and shit like that, thinking i'd be all excited to drive. whatever. totally uninterested.

 

Just because you get a license doesnt mean you need a car. Get your license. That way if you ever do need a car, youll be able to get one. I dont know how it works there, but here you gotta have a learners permit for 8 months to a year before you can drive on your own. If one day you were to decide that you did need a car, you wont have to wait this period of time, if that applies to you.

Plus, its a really good way to ensure that you have a bad picture of yourself on you at all times

 

I just now got my license just now. i never needed it before, but now that im going to have a baby, i need to start driving.

 

since there is NO public transportation where I live, I had no choice but to get a car....I bought (even though my parents bought my sister a car) I had to buy my own back when I turned 16. I've went through quite a few vehicles since then, but without them, I'd be fucked. I'd have no way to get around. Even my wife has a car, and she walks to work.

 

get your license even if you dont have a car

 

yeah, thats the best way of putting it...

 

So I just bought my bosses 1977 VW Van, and got my license......

Oddly enough, I feel like i caved, gave up to easy.......

 

Yeah you sure did.

Shouldn't have got the van. What was the reason for that? If you've got enough stuff aorund you, then you shouldn't NEED a van, right?

Although, kudos for getting your license.