How to Survive Without a Vehicle
Cars, trucks, motorcycles, anything with wheels and a motor, have become basic necessities in our industrialized and fast paced world. We depend on them just like they depend on gas, because without them, we would not function proficiently. We use them as a crutch to get to and from everywhere we go and if we suddenly did not have them, we would be lost.
These pointers should keep your life in check if your vehicle was to suddenly break down or taken away by your parents, for you teenagers out there.
1) Call for a ride. Your phone still works doesn’t it? Any good and loyal friend would be happy to offer their services to help you out. Offer gas money for their trouble. They will probably refuse, but it is the courteous and friendly thing to do.
2) Walk or ride a bike. Chances are, your legs still work too, even though you might not want to use them. In our overly obese nation, it is a good way to get out there and get your heart beating and your blood pumping while getting to where you’re going at the same time. Who knows? You may even inspire an overweight friend or even a complete stranger to get out there and follow your example. And you don’t even have to pay for gas!
3) Public Transportation. Go to the bus stop! Sure, it may not be your style but it’s a cheap way to get from here to there and it doesn’t take too much longer than driving your own vehicle anyway. You can also bet that there will be some pretty funny and interesting characters in there too. After all, people watching is a great way to make time fly if you think bus riding is slow.
4) Call or hail a taxi. (For people who live in bigger cities) They may be a little bit pricy, but those taxi drivers will be sure to get you to where you are going as fast as they can. The faster they drop you off, the faster they can pick up another vehicle-less person and get some of their money.
5) Hitchhike! Now personally, I don’t recommend this one. You never know what kind of weirdo would want to pick you up on the side of the road, but who knows? Maybe you’ll get lucky and it’ll be a cute girl just looking for some company.
... the studio lot and you could see where the movies are made! You could meet some people I know and we could even go to the ocean and swim. HEY! I just had a great idea, maybe you could stay out in California for awhile instead of going back to New York. You could live with me! How does that sound?”
Many of these problems occur because of the United States’ dependency on the automobile. Statistics show that when given the choice, individuals prefer using an automobile due to its convenience, comfort, and speed. Also, it is shown that many households have more than one automobile (U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey). Automobile dependency is caused by underpricing and planning and investment practices by cities (Rodrique). Because the automobile is the most commonly used method of transportation, cities tend to allocate all the money for transportation to improve roads and parking areas for automobiles (Radziner). This causes funding for other transportation methods to be pushed to the side. Also, consumers do not bear the full price of driving automobiles because most road infrastructures are subsidized. This causes overuse and congestion. Congestion occurs when the demand for transportation surpasses the supply. Not only does excessive use of the automobile affect congestion and traffic circulation, but it also leads to a decrease...
In the July 1997 issue of Commentary, James Q. Wilson challenges the consensus among academia’s finest regarding the automobile in his bold article, Cars and Their Enemies. Directed towards the general public, his article discredits many of the supposed negatives of the automobile raised by experts, proves that the personal car is thriving and will continue to thrive because it meets individual preference over other means of transportation, as well as presents solutions to the social costs of cars. Wilson emphasizes that no matter what is said and done in eliminating the social costs of the automobile, experts are not going to stop campaigning against it.
Automobiles play a major role in today's society. Almost every American owns at least one motorized transportation vehicle. Some say they make our lives better by reaching places faster than before. Others say they are a harmful to the environment. Have they made our society better or worse? They may be fast, but do we as humans want our environment to suffer because of time. Face it, cars pollute. And they release destructive chemicals into the air. Air pollution can threaten the health of many subjects in the environment including human beings.
In the twentieth century, the introduction of the motor vehicle in the United States became not only noteworthy, but also vital in the development of modern American civilization. This technologically complex machine led citizens to vast future dependency on the invention. While mobility was suddenly not limited to alternative, more convoluted options such as railroad stations or bicycles, yet copiously amplified to aid convenience and expanded leisure opportunities. From auto-racing to redesigning infrastructure, motor vehicles allowed progression, digression, and essentially uttermost change to lifestyles of the American people.
Automobiles play an essential role in American society. As if being the major means of transportation was not impressive enough, automotives can be seen on T.V., in movies, in magazines, and can sometimes be indicative of a person’s wealth and social status. On average, Americans drive nearly 40 miles and drive for just over 50 minutes driving per person per day (http://www.bts.gov). That means a person spends roughly one-sixteenth of a day driving. It would make sense, then, to make such an essential part of society as efficient, cost effective, and clean as possible. However, that is not the case. As the years have passed cars have actually begun to move away from efficiency. Hawken writes, “[The automobile] design process has made cars ever heavier, more complex, and usually costlier. These are all unmistakable signs that automaking has beco...
We will begin with examples and tips on how to choose the safest automobile on the road, then we will look at precautions automobile companies are taking to keep you safe, and finally we will see some issues that are still to be taken care of as the automobile industry soars.
Teenagers are getting back on the roads and behind the wheel, meaning the risk of accidents is higher. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death among 15- to 20-year olds. Automakers are creating ways to make their automobiles safer in order to reduce these deaths. Teenage drivers are inexperienced and need the extra protection to keep them safe if an incident were to occur. Automobile safety features are necessary for the teenage driver to stay protected and alert.
One of the main benefits of owning a car is convenience. A person can go to and from work, go shopping, go to the doctor, go to parties, go to practically everywhere without having to depend either on other people or on public transport...
Today, people use their own personal vehicles to travel more than ever before. Personal transportation is no longer considered a luxury; it is now considered a necessity. The number of cars in the United States has been growing steadily since the 1970s. The number of miles traveled by cars has risen nearly 150 percent, yet the United States population has only grown roughly 40 percent during that time (hybridcars.com, Driving Trends). Although it may seem like we are advancing into the future, in reality, we are moving backwards from the effects these vehicles have on our bodies and the environment. The pollution produced by these vehicles has brought us to the day where we must find other modes of transportation that cause less harm to the world in which we live. Advances in technology have developed hybrid vehicles to try and slow down the amount of pollution. Driving a hybrid vehicle, instead of a conventional gas powered vehicle, can reduce the amount of pollution that affects our lives and the environment around us.
...loped to advance our society. Many say that today we are paying for it with our health and our earth is suffering. Others believe that there are parts of this earth that our children would never have been able to see had it not been for the automobile. Fortunately, we live in a democratic society and are given certain freedoms. One of those freedoms is the freedom of choice. As long as our society is given a choice, our society will choose the automobile for all of the reasons it benefits us. The environment is important, but scientists should develop a product that will protect the earth from harmful emissions of the automobile, not eliminate the car.
Every day we see them. Every day we hear them. Every day we interact with them. Cars have taken over the world. It was 1807 when the first combustion engine was created and it was considered a complete failure. It only took 200 years for the vehicle to revolutionize the way we live. Many use the car as a daily commuter, or to run to the grocery store or to travel across the country. With over 1 billion cars worldwide they are a big influence. The car has allowed urban sprawl to be possible. The economy has been affected by the car. The car has a bad side, it hurts our environment. So where does the car lie? Do the benefits out way the negatives?
at Central Park. You can stay longer than the 5 minute break, and catch the next
“Motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of unintentional deaths for teens (16-17),” reported The New York State Department of Health. The most exciting thing about being sixteen in the United States is driving. Teenagers can not wait to be sixteen to drive, however, they do not understand the dangers that come with driving at such a young age. Sixteen is the age between child life and adulthood. It is a time when they are not stable and undergoing change, which makes them unsuitable to drive. Many teenagers would say that they need to get to places. In response to that claim, there are public transportation systems and bikes as available alternatives for young drivers. The financial stability and matureness of eighteen year olds proves
The fast population growth rate of humans means that the necessity for transportation vehicles is also enormously increasing. Studies have shown that in 1999 the worldwide number of vehicles registered was 700 million. From this huge number of vehicles, the US has a large share, which includes 200 million cars and light trucks. The number of cars worldwide also grew three times faster