Community cars a bad idea?
You may have seen them. Kind of a money making take on the community bicycles in Portland. All around town (some towns) there are cars parked in special little spots with catchy little stickers. The idea is you can pay a monthly/annual fee and pick up one of these little cars and drive all about the city. Then you just drop it off at an assigned parking spot and you’re done. No messy insurance. No maintenance or car payments. Sounds like a good plan, eh? But I wonder…
While driving home today I had one of these little ZipCars pull out in front of me and then proceed to putt along at 25mph. This got me thinking. This person went out and rented this car. Supposedly they don’t need a car full time. Just here and there once and a while. Where as, I own a car. I’ve had a one since I got my license. I’ve been driving almost daily ( though I bus to work now) for the last 20 years almost. I have honed my skill to Ronin-car-chase-scene levels of awesome. I am dedicated to being on my game and knowing my car and how it performs. Is it possible that these every-other-Sunday drivers are actually a danger?
I’m not trying to say hurrah for me for driving my car in a time of environmental Fail. But I have a bit of a problem with creating a whole class of perpetual student drivers. If you’re not going to drive a car, don’t drive a car. What do you think?
Loading ...
Driving is a skill. If you don’t practice it you lose it. Also, a driver who won’t commit to owning a car is not a serious driver. Driving for them is basic transportation, not a passion. If you are not passionate, if you don’t practice, you soon suck!
I always feel really uncomfortable in a rental car — and that was when I WAS driving regularly.
But driving sucks balls. I’m glad I haven’t had to do it in a long time. If anything I may upgrade to a motorcycle at some point, but with gas prices I suspect my bike is here to stay for awhile. I’d prefer most of all to just not have to leave the house so much. Commuting (and working) is for suckers!
BTW, your poll is broken. gives me a warning no matter what I choose (at first I thought that was just your cute way of forcing agreement)
I took the poll out of the side bar. I think perhaps they were conflicting. Poor design. Let’s see if that fixes the problem. I didn’t have problems with it. But Sam did.