The yin and yang of going carless in California

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.