One of the first questions I asked myself when I chose to go car-less was: How am I going to buy groceries? So I joined the ranks of other urbanites and bought a folding shopping cart.
It works in a pinch for two- to three-bag shopping sojourns. But for BIG shopping, as my mother used to call it, the folding cart is no bueno. I mean, my kitty alone requires 40 # of cat litter a month not to mention 7# of dry cat food and assorted canned goods. Plastic tires can bear only so much weight. Safeway to the rescue. And I do mean to the rescue. After placing at least a dozen orders in the past eight months, the grocery chain gets two thumbs up from me. No complaints at all, which is saying a lot since I'm known as a curmudgeon, especially when it comes to food. Here's why I like the service: * Easy online ordering site * Flexibility in delivery times * Friendly and helpful delivery drivers * Decent choice of products * Useful coupon/savings program for online shopping (including delivery deals) I still enjoy my leisurely strolls through Oakland Chinatown and Alameda Downtown Farmers' Market to buy ethnic condiments, fresh produce, artisan bread and more; And I will forever love perusing the aisles of local gems Berkeley Bowl and Whole Foods for gourmet and/or vegetarian finds. But Safeway fits the bill for everyday household and food needs -- and especially pet supplies. Delivery charges vary from $6 to $12. For penny pinchers (like me), save money by choosing a delivery date that is a few days from when you place the online order and allow for a four-hour delivery window. If you want your goods tomorrow and within a two-hour window, you will pay more. Some people wince at the delivery fees. I wince at car payments.
Riding the bus, streetcar, subway or train has not been lost on the creative minds behind song, film and TV. Here's a fine collection of public transportation caught by the imagination of creative types. (And in no particular order). "Bus Stop" starring sexy Marilyn Monroe (who knew how to stop traffic with those curves):
"Bus Stop," the cool song by 1960's British band, The Hollies.
"Clang, clang,clang went the Trolley, ding, ding, ding goes the bell," so sang the inimitable Judy Garland in "Meet Me in St. Louis."
Ralph Kramden, everyone's favorite bus driver from "The Honeymooners," which was voted as the second most funny sitcoms ever by Vanity Fair.
"The Wheels on the bus go 'round and 'round," a kiddie favorite.
Jerry Seinfeld's version:
Speaking of Seinfeld, the comedy featured more than a few golden Subway moments in its eight year run. Here's the one featuring the naked guy.
And another one with Elaine nearly suffocating from the crushing (and stinky) crowd. (Every tranny rider can attest to the brutal reality of this clip):
Training in luxury, circa 1950's on "I Love Lucy":
Let's get folksy and rebellious with Kingston Trio's MTA (New York City M.T.A that is):
Sheena Easton's "Morning Train" gives a run-down of the singer's (real or imagined) lover's daily commute to work via public transportation:
I hate this movie, but it does revolve around an out-of-control, speeding public bus filled with terrified passengers. Here is "Speed" with the most amazing and articulate actor ever to grace the screen, Keanu Reeves (dude!):
OK, maybe I did save one of the best for lasts: Duke Ellington's "Take the 'A' Train."
In all aspects of life, there is good and bad and shades of indifference. Such is the case with living in California, sans vehicle. As I write this, my bus is five minutes late. I'd like to claim this as an anomaly. But I'd be lying. Late buses are the rule rather than the exception in the world of public transportation. And now you know one of the ongoing negative aspects of going carless in the Golden State. As much as late buses drive me crazy (to the point where I end up madly Tweeting complaints to @rideact -- AC Transit, to normal people -- about this great injustice) this is #2 on my list of cons for living without a car in Cali. Without further adieu, here is the list: The Cons: Rain Without giving it a second thought I can tell you nothing beats up a carless person more than that wet stuff known as rain. Wind and cold suck too but getting soaked in the rain is unavoidable and inevitably leads to wet bus seats, slippery footing, dampened spirits not to mention messed up quaffs and clothes. Yes, it's safe to say I am not singing in the rain, praying for rain or hoping for the sky to rain o'er me. Late bus When it comes to catching a bus, I am always on time. But why bother? It seems to me that bus schedules are more of a suggestion than commitment. I don't care what city bus we're talking about, public buses are late! In fact, when a bus is on time, which is as rare as a Big Foot citing, its shocking. Cologne and other noxious odors Breathing other people's funk is part of the bus riding ritual. You pray that everyone had the decency to shower and roll on some deodorant and that perhaps they washed their hair and maybe wash clothes on a regular basis, or that the person in closest proximity isn't a fish monger. But you also pray nobody got busy with cheap and noxious cologne or body splash. B.O. is bad, but chemical smells create pounding insufferable headaches that linger far longer than the exposure. I'm pretty sure brain cells are killed during the incident as well. Missing transfers
"Goodbye, bus!"
It never fails; I always miss the #20 bus upon ascending from the BART underground world that is the 12th Street Station. And invariably, it's always one of the coldest Bay Area days in history while I wait and wait and wait for the bus to finally pull up to the corner of Broadway and 11th. By then, my fingers are numb, my soul broken and my feelings are mixed between wanting to hug the bus driver or punch him/her in the face. Missing transfers is an ongoing problem in other cities as well. It's as if the transportation planners are devious souls who relish the idea of suckers like me watching in desperation and despair as the tail lights of the desired bus quickly disappear from site. No seat Standing on a moving bus is an athletic event. And not in a good way. Bus drivers drive like Mario Andretti, streets are riddled with pot holes and the shocks on buses are long overdue for replacement. You get the picture. Luckily, standing is a rare occurrence. Stuffiness I am happy to report that most of the time the air on a bus is free flowing and the temperature comfortable. But sometimes, the air on a bus is as stifling as that of tenement housing in a grimy city. The air is stale and in short supply. Fight-or-flight kicks in for me every time, which tells me my lungs and associated organs are lacking for oxygen. I would rather walk five miles home than deal with a stuffy bus. The Pros: No car payment America's great love affair with cars is a costly one. The average monthly car payment is $325.89. OK, I made that up. But I bet I am close to hitting the nail on the head. How many Americans are earning a salary just north of the state minimum wage yet handing over $200 to $300 a month for a car payment, which doesn't include insurance, gas and maintenance? Too many. Sure, most people need to own a car or at least have access to one in order to work or attend school. But far too many people also fail to attempt to live and work within the same zip code, which would allow them to walk, ride a bike or bus to work. Such a plan is not in the consciousness of most Americans. Owning a car is a right and a ritual. I for one appreciate my carless situation every month as I pay my bills, free of the burden that is a steep car payment.
No Parking Do you know when I appreciate being a carless person? On the rare occasion I am with a friend or family member in their car and parking is hard to find, or when they receive a parking ticket. I admit it, I chuckle inside. Suckers! (Of course, I get my dose of pain when I am standing in the cold,wind and rain waiting for a tardy bus). No more paying at the pump I remember when gasoline hit $1 a gallon in the late 1970s. I was pissed. I have been pissed ever since. Of course, now gasoline hovers around $4 a gallon. I think... I wouldn't know. It's a DMV-free life for me As it stands, I only need to deal with the much maligned (and rightly so) Department of Motor Vehicles every four years to renew my driver's license (for those rare occasions I rent a car or take over the wheel for one of my intoxicated friends or family members). There are no words to describe the joy I feel from this reality of being (nearly) free of the oppressive DMV. Freedom All the things listed above as positive experiences equal freedom, so much so I regularly fall into a state of euphoria. Truly, there's something liberating about eschewing society norms and expectations. I guess going carless in California is the closest thing I've done to becoming a rebel, if not a misfit. Which is way better than sticking humongous ear disks in my lobes or tatting my body to the point of no return, or taking up a weird religion.
Carless in Sacramento citizens understand the joke that is Sacramento Transit better than anyone. Between limited service hours, a non-transfer policy for buses and the lack of a true inter-modal station, transit in Sacramento County is shameful! Even though I am living in the Bay Area and thoroughly enjoying the great public trans, I was reminded of Sacramento's transit problems in today's Sacramento Bee in the editorial: "Region Needs More Transit Options for Transit to Airport." One out take from the editorial:
"Although the airport makes a lot of money off parking, leaving it little incentive to improve transit, county supervisors should be looking out for the needs of all airport passengers. They should get together with airport managers, Regional Transit and Yolobus and see if there is some way to improve bus service to the airport."
Sacramento Press published this piece that I wrote about my decision to ditch my vehicles. What the hell. I'll post it here too.
The great American love affair with cars dates back nearly a century – about the time Henry Ford promised a car in every garage. However, for me — a licensed driver of 34 years — my affair with cars has reflected more of the love-hate kind. On the one hand, who doesn't love to sit behind the wheel of a sleek and powerful sports car, propelling down the highway at ungodly (and illegal) speeds? And what about the freedom found from driving an indefatigable, fat-tired Jeep over hill and dell? Or the requisite California experience of cruising back-country roads (or the Pacific Coast Highway) in an oversized classic convertible with the stereo blasting?
• Take a Walk: Hoofin' it is definitely the best way to get around downtown San Diego, and to an extent Pacific Beach, Mission Bay and parts of Coronado. But walkin' ain't happening as a general way to navigate San Diego, which is spread out and mostly suburban. So if you are a car-less SD resident, living downtown or in one of the beach communities is key. Otherwise, you'll need a bus or train. Read on... (p.s. San Diego is the 18th most walkable large city in the U.S. with a Walk Score of 56). • Hop a bus: From the Mexico border to La Jolla, from downtown to El Cajon, the San Diego MTS covers a wide swatch of the county. Bus schedules are here. The Airport Flyer (Route 992) is a convenient mode of transport from downtown to the SD International, costing $2.25 each way. The Breeze bus service operates in the inland communities of San Diego County. • Ring Ring goes the trolley: Ding Ding goes the bell. The San Diego Trolley takes riders to the vast regions of suburbia, including Santee, La Mesa and Lemon Grove and popular destinations like Qualcomm Stadium, Old Town and the Gaslamp District. • Coasting: The gem of local public transportation is the Coast train system, which runs from Oceanside to downtown San Diego daily (except Christmas and Thanksgiving). The Coaster connects to LA Metrolink in Oceanside and several other regional transits services.
Walking in San Bernardino County: Don't! With few exceptions, this is not the most walk friendly counties around. Somewhat walkable is Claremont (52 score) and very walkable is Upland (72 score). Both cities are cute as a button, as well, with lots of shops, bars and eateries. Ride the bus: Omnibus in South County. Regional bus service includes:
