Comments on: how to ditch your car for good: part 1 - why? http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/ Advice for a generation of men raised by women Sat, 22 Nov 2008 06:02:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: how to get your bus schedule via text message at Urban Monarch http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-67226 how to get your bus schedule via text message at Urban Monarch Mon, 26 Nov 2007 23:12:06 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-67226 [...] It’s no secret that UM is committed to public transportation, and TxtBus.net is going to make our lives a whole lot easier. [...] [...] It’s no secret that UM is committed to public transportation, and TxtBus.net is going to make our lives a whole lot easier. [...]

]]> By: living green by accident at Urban Monarch http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-54602 living green by accident at Urban Monarch Wed, 10 Oct 2007 15:49:54 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-54602 [...] I use my ‘grocery bag’ strictly for practical purposes; it’s easier to manage one heavy duty carry all than a collection of plastic sacks. Shopping at Wild Oats rather than a ‘conventional grocer’? It’s the easiest place to reach on public transportation.  As for the train ride? Selling my car made economic sense and was also smart considering the amount of imbibing I do. Still, these changes, in addition to my newfound ability (and desire to) recycle at work and my recent switch to all paperless statements for my banking / credit card accounts (one of which promised to plant a tree on my behalf for doing so) makes me realize I’ve suddenly become far more environmentally friendly, even if the reasons have been pure serendipity. [...] [...] I use my ‘grocery bag’ strictly for practical purposes; it’s easier to manage one heavy duty carry all than a collection of plastic sacks. Shopping at Wild Oats rather than a ‘conventional grocer’? It’s the easiest place to reach on public transportation.  As for the train ride? Selling my car made economic sense and was also smart considering the amount of imbibing I do. Still, these changes, in addition to my newfound ability (and desire to) recycle at work and my recent switch to all paperless statements for my banking / credit card accounts (one of which promised to plant a tree on my behalf for doing so) makes me realize I’ve suddenly become far more environmentally friendly, even if the reasons have been pure serendipity. [...]

]]> By: how to ditch your car for good: part 2 - how? at Urban Monarch http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-44409 how to ditch your car for good: part 2 - how? at Urban Monarch Mon, 13 Aug 2007 06:28:59 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-44409 [...] Also check out Part 1: Why? [...] [...] Also check out Part 1: Why? [...]

]]> By: GB http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25798 GB Fri, 25 May 2007 07:40:09 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25798 Actually, here in London, we have those very nice black cabs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney_carriage) with loads of leg room. What I usually do is get to my date's pick-up location however I can (usually public transport), grab a cab there and then make myself announced to the girl. Then what's nice with cabs is that is that you are dropped right in front of the restaurant/club/opera (no parking to look for) and if it is posh enough, they usually have someone to open the door for you! I mean, unless you have a really really nice car that you want to show off, and that the girl is even remotely interested in how big the size of your car is, the cab is always more romantic... granted, you will have to finish the night in one's flat, but you wouldn't want to finish it on the back-seat of your car, would you? :) Actually, here in London, we have those very nice black cabs (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hackney_carriage) with loads of leg room.

What I usually do is get to my date’s pick-up location however I can (usually public transport), grab a cab there and then make myself announced to the girl.

Then what’s nice with cabs is that is that you are dropped right in front of the restaurant/club/opera (no parking to look for) and if it is posh enough, they usually have someone to open the door for you!

I mean, unless you have a really really nice car that you want to show off, and that the girl is even remotely interested in how big the size of your car is, the cab is always more romantic… granted, you will have to finish the night in one’s flat, but you wouldn’t want to finish it on the back-seat of your car, would you? :)

]]> By: Greg http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25703 Greg Thu, 24 May 2007 21:21:26 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25703 Ok, so how hot would it be, if you're taking a girl out on a 'date' and don't have a car... Call the cab company, tell them where to pick her up, where take her, and say "hey, i'll have a cab pick you up around 9p" ...pay the driver when he gets there. Ok, so how hot would it be, if you’re taking a girl out on a ‘date’ and don’t have a car…

Call the cab company, tell them where to pick her up, where take her, and say “hey, i’ll have a cab pick you up around 9p”

…pay the driver when he gets there.

]]> By: cash http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25688 cash Thu, 24 May 2007 19:44:07 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25688 Thanks GB, and that's an excellent point. Since my car had been paid off I didn't even think about what used to be around $300/month in payments. The savings really are severe. Glad to hear the ladies like the cabs too, I'll have to try that out myself!! Rowr! Thanks GB, and that’s an excellent point. Since my car had been paid off I didn’t even think about what used to be around $300/month in payments. The savings really are severe. Glad to hear the ladies like the cabs too, I’ll have to try that out myself!! Rowr!

]]> By: GB http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25671 GB Thu, 24 May 2007 18:07:31 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25671 I have been living car-free in Paris and London for 8 years now, and I just can't think of a single good reason to buy one. For a start, you didn't take into account the very price of the car itself! Imagine what you save every ten years or so (even less, people tend to switch cars every 5 years). Total cost of ownershi of cars throughout your life is immense (think this nice condo you couldn't quite get because you were missing $30,000) And for all these instances where taking the transport system isn't good enough (too early in the morning or too late in the night, too much stuff to carry around...) I don't hesitate a second in taking a cab (usually around £10/$20 these days)... and it actually as proven a hit with the ladies! They say that you have to have a car when you have children... well, we will see then! And I actually believe family life without a car is achievable... Look forward to read the other instalments! I have been living car-free in Paris and London for 8 years now, and I just can’t think of a single good reason to buy one.

For a start, you didn’t take into account the very price of the car itself! Imagine what you save every ten years or so (even less, people tend to switch cars every 5 years). Total cost of ownershi of cars throughout your life is immense (think this nice condo you couldn’t quite get because you were missing $30,000)

And for all these instances where taking the transport system isn’t good enough (too early in the morning or too late in the night, too much stuff to carry around…) I don’t hesitate a second in taking a cab (usually around £10/$20 these days)… and it actually as proven a hit with the ladies!

They say that you have to have a car when you have children… well, we will see then! And I actually believe family life without a car is achievable…

Look forward to read the other instalments!

]]> By: Telan http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25506 Telan Wed, 23 May 2007 18:41:46 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25506 I really can't say for the rest of California, but San Diego as a whole is awful. We have the transit system divided by North County and South County. The Coaster runs along the coast and is actually very nice if all you need to do is get to places along the 5 like San Diego to Oceanside, etc. Most business-types actually take the Commuter Bus, which runs along the inland areas to Downtown in the morning, and back north in the evening. There are some good things (like the "Guaranteed Ride Home" program, which if you use the commuter buses or Coaster allows you 3 guaranteed rides home each year, by having the service call and pay for a taxi home for you) but for the most part, the system is a failure. God forbid you have to transfer from North County to South County (if I didn't have a bus pass, it was about $8 a day to pay) or are remotely interesting (screaming and crying children, lecherous old men, scary scary drunk homeless). If the train actually stopped by my college (and considering it was a UC, it should have...) or if the buses weren't so old and unreliable (mmm only managing 40mph if you're lucky...) I would love to take public transportation. The trains have the most wonderful seats to sit in. :D Oh! I also wish it wasn't so expensive for just a day trip. We'd been looking at taking the train from San Diego to Anaheim for a Disneyland trip, but it was $40 per person for a day, versus $30 for gas + parking. I really can’t say for the rest of California, but San Diego as a whole is awful. We have the transit system divided by North County and South County. The Coaster runs along the coast and is actually very nice if all you need to do is get to places along the 5 like San Diego to Oceanside, etc. Most business-types actually take the Commuter Bus, which runs along the inland areas to Downtown in the morning, and back north in the evening.

There are some good things (like the “Guaranteed Ride Home” program, which if you use the commuter buses or Coaster allows you 3 guaranteed rides home each year, by having the service call and pay for a taxi home for you) but for the most part, the system is a failure. God forbid you have to transfer from North County to South County (if I didn’t have a bus pass, it was about $8 a day to pay) or are remotely interesting (screaming and crying children, lecherous old men, scary scary drunk homeless).

If the train actually stopped by my college (and considering it was a UC, it should have…) or if the buses weren’t so old and unreliable (mmm only managing 40mph if you’re lucky…) I would love to take public transportation. The trains have the most wonderful seats to sit in. :D

Oh! I also wish it wasn’t so expensive for just a day trip. We’d been looking at taking the train from San Diego to Anaheim for a Disneyland trip, but it was $40 per person for a day, versus $30 for gas + parking.

]]> By: Greg http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25476 Greg Wed, 23 May 2007 15:56:31 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25476 Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that most of California, bay area excluded, is plagued by absolute shit public transportation. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought that most of California, bay area excluded, is plagued by absolute shit public transportation.

]]> By: cash http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25470 cash Wed, 23 May 2007 15:31:42 +0000 http://www.urbanmonarch.com/how-to-ditch-your-car-for-good-part-1-why/#comment-25470 Thanks for the comments, all. Goat, agreed about the occasional delay (even with our brand new trains). Thankfully, they are extremely efficent at moving a train out of the way so a working one can take its place. The one exception was a time a bus hit a train ahead of us and we were delayed like an hour (thankfully this was coming home, and not headed to work!) Greg, YAP! I bet somebody would change her tune if she had a few swigs of contraband Roset. Ole! Telen; I had no idea SD had such poor public transportation. I can also see your point about 'sketchy' riders being a consideration, especially for girls. Out here, at least on the train, it's typically full of 'commuter' (i.e. employed, professional) types in the morning and in the evening rush hour, which is when I typically take it. When we ride the buses, it's a different story to be sure. ;-) Danimal; TWO great points. Healthwise, I'm personally getting a minimum of 3 miles of walking in A DAY. As for not supporting the oil companies, and just oil in general, it's just another fringe benefit of a carless life. Thanks for the comments, all.

Goat, agreed about the occasional delay (even with our brand new trains). Thankfully, they are extremely efficent at moving a train out of the way so a working one can take its place. The one exception was a time a bus hit a train ahead of us and we were delayed like an hour (thankfully this was coming home, and not headed to work!)

Greg, YAP! I bet somebody would change her tune if she had a few swigs of contraband Roset. Ole!

Telen; I had no idea SD had such poor public transportation. I can also see your point about ’sketchy’ riders being a consideration, especially for girls. Out here, at least on the train, it’s typically full of ‘commuter’ (i.e. employed, professional) types in the morning and in the evening rush hour, which is when I typically take it. When we ride the buses, it’s a different story to be sure. ;-)

Danimal; TWO great points. Healthwise, I’m personally getting a minimum of 3 miles of walking in A DAY. As for not supporting the oil companies, and just oil in general, it’s just another fringe benefit of a carless life.

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