Last year, we moved a little over a mile west of our previous apartment. This year, we're moving back to our old neighborhood. There are lots of reasons for the move, but one key issue is access to public transit. When we changed neighborhoods, we thought we'd be OK taking the bus to the train to get to work, but it had a bigger impact on our lives than we expected. Our commute to downtown basically increased from 20 minutes to an hour. From now on, close proximity to a train station will always make the top of our list when we're apartment hunting...
posted originally from: AT:Chicago
That's why, when we stumbled across a link on Bruce Mau's site to this article, it really hit home. Joel Makower writes in Reinventing Mobility: It's Not Just the Cars, Stupid:
"What gives us freedom isn't cars, but mobility, the ability to go where and when you want in the way that's most appropriate and affordable for your needs and style. That's true at every point on the economic spectrum...When people can move freely from hither to yon, they're better able to have a job, trade goods, seek an education, obtain health care, perhaps even explore other places to broaden their horizons."
"Less free" is exactly how we felt when our commute got longer just because we moved a mile west. For us, easy access to public transit is the key to our mobility and we won't take it for granted again. How about you? Do you depend on public transit, or do you live in an area where you need a car to get by? What type of mobility equals freedom for you?
Photo: Metra Commuter Train by dharder via Morguefile
I actually think that complete mobility will be the new luxury in the future. When the traffic/bad parking situation gets bad enough, having a car won't be the solution. Instead having buses and mass-transit that come all the time going all the places you need will be the best.
But, you'll have to have a car for hauling groceries. There's no getting around that. Delivery? . . .
view juice's profile
Last summer, before moving to a new a city, we decided to go down to one car. This greatly affected what part of town we would live in. I now depend on the bus system, so picking a neighborhood that had a fairly simple route to work was a priority. And while our apartment is tucked back in a quiet neighborhood, there is a target and large grocery store within a half mile walk. Our favorite markets do require a car, but having necessities within a 5 minute walk is a luxury.
I couldn't be happier with our current location, but close proximity of public trans' and markets will likely be high priorities where ever we move next.
view EmDizzle's profile
I'm always curious when people say that a car is necessary for groceries or other trips. I don't own a car and transport my groceries by carrying a reusable bag. I probably stop and buy groceries 2 or 3 days a week after work because my apartment only has a small under the counter fridge and I like to eat and cook fresh food. I also have 3 rabbits at home so I need fresh veggies for them regularly. Once in a while, I want to buy more than I can or want to carry for the 1.5 mile walk home. In that case, I walk to the store and take a cab home. There is also a bus line that I can take but it is faster to just walk so I usually do.
I'm not saying that everyone should live like I do. I would certainly enjoy having a larger fridge although I don't know what I would do with a full-size one. If I was feeding more than myself and the bunnies, I suspect that I would get a grocery cart like this one:
http://www.spacesavers.com/routca.html
I may end up getting one anyway to transport hay and litter more easily.
I do feel more mobile since I moved to DC. I live close to the trains and there are plenty of buses (although any system could do with improvements like the need for the Purple Line here to connect the ends of the Red Line), and I have access to cabs and ZipCars. I suppose that there are conveniences with owning a car, but none of those seem worth the cost to me. I had a low car payment and reasonably priced insurance and it still cost $300 per month without including gas, maintenance, taxes, fees, etc.
I wish that I could move around the country with greater ease. I rent a car a couple of times per year to visit my parents who only live 360 miles away. I take the rabbits with me though, and buses and trains won't allow animals. Plus, the trip would be double in time and not save me any significant money even if I could bring the animals with me.
view Erica in DC's profile