The car-free teenager thread
#76
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Hi, I'm 18, and right now I'm car free. I got my license 2 years ago, and got my car a little over a year ago. But due to mechanical problems, having no job for periods of time, and my car failing inspection, I've gotten rid of it. I love riding my bike, and plan to start riding to school once it warms up. But I realized that living where I do, and working almost requires me to have a car. But I still dislike driving, alot.
#77
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Teenagers buy cars for procreation not transportation. So you should probably start from there .
Oh, and there's a long string of excuses about freedom and such but it's really all code for procreation.
Oh, and there's a long string of excuses about freedom and such but it's really all code for procreation.
#78
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I think most people my age wants cars because they are status symbols.
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#82
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This is a big generalization, so there will be exceptions. And it's my biased subjective opinion.
Edit: And it's funnier than the other reasons.
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The status symbol is about procreation. I was a teenager, a few years ago, and I wasn't getting any. It was still all about sex. Even status was about sex in high school. Kids with higher status had it because they either had more sex appeal or more sexual endeavors with kids who had high sex appeal. a.k.a. you were nobody if you couldn't get a pretty girl, or weren't a pretty girl.
This is a big generalization, so there will be exceptions. And it's my biased subjective opinion.
Edit: And it's funnier than the other reasons.
This is a big generalization, so there will be exceptions. And it's my biased subjective opinion.
Edit: And it's funnier than the other reasons.
Hahahaha, I agree, but im like a computer geek and i dont have a chance anyway so I just gave up. Plus a black fixie with yellow rims is hotter than any car you can show me.
Who needs a girl when you got a bike?
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i dont know if any of you read bicycling mag, but they had a quiz about how you love your bike v girlfriend/wife and it was pretty funny. it asked about how often you think about it compared to her, how many pics you have of it, how much time/money you spend on it. i def had more points with my bike than gf: maybe thats why we broke up lol... no complaints here(more money for bike)
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I'm glad I live in San Francisco, I've never driven a car here at age 19 and don't plan to in the for see able future. More than half my friends can't drive either and have no urge to.
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Really starting to think about skipping the car. I will be getting my license next year but I am unsure about giving into the car. I have been thinking it is just not favorable for me to own a car. Gas is going up and it will be expensive to insure me being a teenager. Currently, everything I would do with a car I could do on a bicycle. Not to mention helping the environment. School is less than two miles away and I can fix anything mechanically on my bicycles. So what am I asking? Well I am asking about for experiences or advice. I hear a bunch about people living car free, but not anything about teens and car-free living. What do you think?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/world-o...7594325178229/
You might be much like me when you reach your fifties too-healthy and free!
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I drive but do not have a car. I ride places when im going alone, i drive when im going out with people, unless someone else is driving.
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For a teenage driver...
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
#91
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For a teenage driver...
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
I am pretty surprised that my parents are fine with my choice to go car-free at least until college. Its no big surprise to them since I already use my bicycle for going to stores, etc, all the things someone my age would use a car for.
Its no big deal to me, I don't see why most people make a huge deal out of it. It takes a little more effort to be car-free but it pays off, literally.
#92
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For you "never get/need a car!" people. How does one manage time? Say you are invited to a party, or some social gathering. Maybe a last minute lunch/dinner. What do you do when you only have X amount of minutes to get somewhere? Could owning just a bike cause social problems?
I also like having a car for emergencies or having to drive a loved one somewhere when they can't. What do you do when you have to tell your friend you can't drive him to the ER because he just ate some poison of some kind and you both are car free? (dont say call 911)
These are situations that I as a person can't risk dealing with. I would just like to know a car free persons view and argument on this.
I'm 18, I used to ride my bike everywhere but I stopped when I got a car. I also moved to corn fields and it was a 20 minute drive to my school... so don't hate, it was forced.
I also like having a car for emergencies or having to drive a loved one somewhere when they can't. What do you do when you have to tell your friend you can't drive him to the ER because he just ate some poison of some kind and you both are car free? (dont say call 911)
These are situations that I as a person can't risk dealing with. I would just like to know a car free persons view and argument on this.
I'm 18, I used to ride my bike everywhere but I stopped when I got a car. I also moved to corn fields and it was a 20 minute drive to my school... so don't hate, it was forced.
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i know a man who's gone his whole life so far without a car or lisence. he's about 50, i think.
but he owns a bike shop, and his wife drives.
i'd like to go my whole life without driving, but it's just not possible for some of us.
that's why i bought a bike rack for my car.
but he owns a bike shop, and his wife drives.
i'd like to go my whole life without driving, but it's just not possible for some of us.
that's why i bought a bike rack for my car.
#94
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I also like having a car for emergencies or having to drive a loved one somewhere when they can't. What do you do when you have to tell your friend you can't drive him to the ER because he just ate some poison of some kind and you both are car free? (dont say call 911)
If you really need to get somewhere in a hurry take a cab or something. If that happens to you often, than its probably bad planning. Just analyze how many days a month something like that comes up.
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For a teenage driver...
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
Insurance: $125 /month
Gas: $50 /month (at least)
Oil & other tuneups: $20 - $50 /month
The speeding ticket that everyone gets: $120
Costs that you would never even think of: $500
Riding your bike and not having to pay for any of this: Priceless
Trust me, it's worth it.
#96
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Ok your right 911 is good for that situation. What about if your wife is pregnant? All I'm saying is it's good to have a car and a license for situations a bike just doesn't cut it.
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#98
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Ugh, my mom tells me it's a life skill. So is biking. Mom, get me another bike, skip the coffin and the car. I'm 15 and haven't started drivers ed, don't plan on it either.
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