Driving Versus Carpooling

The last thing that I want to have to worry about is trying to find a ride somewhere

or having to worry about coming up with money for a cab or bus fare and then wondering whether or not the cab driver will get lost on the way to my home and/or know where he is going as well as whether or not the bus will show up on time.

If you live in a metropolitan area such as Manhattan or San Francisco, having a car can be more of a nuisance than anything. Because these areas are so heavily concentrated with buildings and people, you have to deal with a lot of pedestrian foot traffic back and forth across the streets. Additionally, anyone who has ever driven through Manhattan in a car knows how incredibly busy, crowded and hectic it is with all of the other drivers, buses, thousands of taxi cabs and other distractions. On top of that, you then have to worry about finding an actual place to park. Good luck with that! Parking in an urban area is not cheap! Prepare yourself to spend upwards of $60 in a parking garage and several times that amount if you actually live in the city and want to pay for a permanent parking space at your building.

On the flip side, carpooling can seem like a hassle if you don't live in an urban area. For example, I live in North Carolina where things are much more spread out than they are in New York City. While the towns and businesses in the area are starting to become more pedestrian friendly, we are not quite there yet, which means that it simply makes more sense and is more efficient to jump in your car in order to head wherever it is that you have to go. Whether you are driving, riding a bike or taking a train, how you decide to travel around a particular area depends on the geographic layout of that area as well as the type of environment that you live in. Obviously, someone who works two blocks from their home will find it to be much more cost effective to occasionally walk to work or even ride a bike to work versus getting in their car just to drive a short distance. However, things such as the weather may affect this decision.

To put things into perspective, to take a cab in New York City, you can most often get away with paying ten dollars or less to travel a couple of blocks. However, to take a cab in North Carolina, plan on spending at least $30 and up in order to get around wherever it is you have to go. In the past, I have used both the taxi cabs as well as the public buses in the area and have found them to be less than stellar. In addition to having to get up extra early in the morning to allow myself extra time to get to the bus stop, you then have to factor in the possibility that the bus may be running off schedule and also that when you are on the bus, the bus has other stops to make!

My advice? Unless you live in a major city, or in an area that is pedestrian friendly, keep your car keys handy!

by: David Williams 2

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