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Do you drive?

1 by Hunter
Founder
Well? Do you? Do you like it? I find that driving is SO over rated unless your one of them car hobbyists... Nowdays, what with the increasing oil prices and the cost to maintain and repair a car (even the slighest bit of damage...) it's more expensive than using public transport. And although it doesn't really factor into it, the road is the most dangerous form of transport there is. I guess a Bus can get into an accident just as easily - But it's not as common, and still much safer unless your on one of them highway coaches.

So what do you think, in your opinion (and from experience) are the goods and bads of driving? Sure, you could say that it's easy to get to almost ANYWHERE much faster and easier than cycling/walking/public transport... But uh... does that really matter? Can't you just leave earlier? Some days you wanna just GET HOME as fast as possible and can't stand a crowded bus... other days, you wanna take your time, think things over and relax.

For example, there have been times in the past where I've had the choice of getting a ride home, or taking two buses. I almost always take the bus now, because I just want to spend time with my friends. Sure, there are days when you wanna just fall into a hole (for one reason or another, you may have had a falling out, an argument, whatever), but that has nothing to do with how fast you get home. Getting somewhere faster because you feel low is just running away from the problem. Does this make any sense? ;)

I'd like to hear some arguments and counter-arguments on this. I don't just wanna hear "it's easier and more convinient to drive". Also, are you a relaxed driver, or are you a nervous/wary driver?

2 by karajorma
Ascended SG Graduate
It depends on where I'm driving to. I quite like moterways (as long as they aren't too busy) cause I like to open up the engine a little :) If ever I'm going anywhere far away I drive. Quite simply it's cheaper and faster than taking a train thanks to the dreadful rail system we have in the UK. (If I want to go anywhere I'd got to take an hour to get into London for a start where as since I live practically on the M25 I've got a headstart when it comes to taking the road.

If I'm going into London however there isn't a hope in hell of me driving. Even before the congestion charge parking was too expensive.
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3 by Hippo
Ascended SG Legend
Well, from what i saw in Scotland, driving in tEU and driving in US is quite different... In Scotland, there were busses that could pretty much take you everywhere. In the US, there's very little in the way of busses, other than in the cities... So it comes down to, that in Euope (from what i've seen at least, which was mostly cities), driving is left almost soley for trips, or emergencies, where as in the us, its the only effective way to get places (other than a bike)... Trains here are only good for going into and throughout a city, and even that is iffy...


But yes, i drive... You could prbably not tell i've been driving for such a short time compared to the way i drive in traffic... I take people from crew to mcdonalds on a pretty regular basis, and they've said that i'm not half bad... (though, now mcdonalds workers know us for buying them out of apple pies twice, and getting 8 bags of food, and always going through the drive through immediately after each visit)...

4 by aldo
The Blessed One
I'm learning to drive at the moment. Kind of need to, nowadays, if I want to get a job which isn't working at home (I work at home at the moment; it's very dull).

5 by Black Wolf
Ascended SG Graduate
I drive - I've been doing it since I was a kid. It's the advantage of growing up in the country - lots of back roads, and friends with open paddocks. I can't think of too many people from my town who don't/can't drive, just because of the nature of the place.

Given the nature of Australia, and Perth specifically, everyone drives. Things are just too spread out not to. We have very low population density here (compared to most international cities). If you need to get from one place to another, public transport is actually pretty decent, but you will end up adding a rather significant amount of time to your travels, and it stops pretty early (around 10:30/11:00 weekdays).

Personally, I do enjoy driving. It's something I just...like. I'll admit taking on the city traffic had me frazzled the first few times I tried it (and admittedly,m I'm still not the greatest at it) but I'm yet to crash, and I don't get lost an awful lot. I find it easier to think when driving than, say, walking or biking, since, ironically, those two actually require more concentration (though, admittedly, my thinking drives tend to take place rather late at night when there's little to no traffic).
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6 by kasperl
SG General
I'm 17, and that means that I won't be even taking driving lessons till the end of this year.

I take a bicycle to school, 10 km (a tad over 6 miles) for a one-way trip. The only way I get any excersise, most of the time. For longer-distance stuff, I take trains. I actually like taking trains and stuff, even when there are delays. An MP3CP player and a bit of money for hamburgers can generally make a train trip quite pleasureable.

When the entire family goes somewhere, we take the car, though. That might have something to do with the fuel being payed for by my dads work, though.

When I get my license, I'll probably only drive to those places that are hard to reach by car, or for the really bug shopping/moving.

7 by Moonsword
Elite SG Elder
I'm from the US, and I can confirm what Hippo said is true for the South, too. I actually just got back from Atlanta (Gwinnett County, see my thread).
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8 by Taristin
Ascended SG Initiate
I drive.
I enjoy it.
I find myself taking longer routes to work and school, simply because I love the trip. It's like those commercials... It's not the destination, but getting to it... :)

It also helps if you have a fun car, as I do, and if the traffic is minimal. Although, in traffic, I can listen to my music alot more. :)

9 by Top Gun
Elite SG Commodore
I'm over 18, and could have had a license about 2 years ago, but I still don't have one. :P Driving would have come in handy for getting home from after-school activities in high school, as opposed to having to constantly wait around for one of my parents to pick me up. Other than that, I never really understood the teenage fascination with being able to drive; however, since I'm anything but social, that may have influenced my perspective. :P Right now, I see driving as a way to get between two points, not as any sort of specific journey. Then again, if I was in something like a 67 'Stang (or an '05, for that matter), with miles of open road in front of me, I might feel a bit different. :D
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10 by karajorma
Ascended SG Graduate
Hippo wrote:In the US, there's very little in the way of busses, other than in the cities.
After having to catch the bus all the time when I was in Albany for a month I can see why no one in America likes them. You guys have the strangest way of waiting for a bus I've ever seen.

Waiting for a bus in the UK - People stand at the bus stop. If someone is there already you form a queue. Person waiting the longest gets on first and gets to sit on the seats if there is a shelter at the stop.

Waiting for a bus in the US - People stand anywhere they bloodly like. If someone is there already you stand in front of them if possible. No one cares who has been waiting the longest and just steams forward when the bus stops. If you've choosen to take a seat you've got bugger all hope of getting on the bus until all the people who stood in front of you have done.

Lets just say that I wasn't hugely impressed by the American way of doing things :)
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13 by liberator
SG Defender
I drive at least 42 miles a day. 21 to work and 21 to home. On my days off that goes up to 180 miles over 1.5 days. I don't mind it except that gas is up to $1.95 per gallon.

There is no public transport that runs from Athens to Huntsville, or indeed from Huntsville to Huntsville. Our trains are used almost exclusively for industrial cargo hauling.
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15 by aldo
The Blessed One
The Brits are unquestionably the best queuers in the world. If you have any large group of people in one place, then the Brits will flock together into a queue.

Incidentally, driving is quite fun where I live, because the scenery is beautiful. It's really relaxing driving the 10-20 miles from my house to Milngavie through the hills and countryside.
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