How Cars Burden Your Wallet

Originally titled: The Financial Burden of Car Dependency

Discussions around the costs of living tend to revolve around housing and food prices. However, car dependent urban planning creates a substantial burden, especially for people who work jobs that do not cover the costs of a car.

Local News Reports:

Additional Readings:

[Super_bus_machine]

As I’ve always said, cars are essentially a tax for most people. You have to own them to survive. It’s like the automobile industry has created a society ideal for them to profit.

[Sho-tdwg]

Even in cites with buses, when I went to job interviews a common question was "Do you have reliable transportation ... such as a car?"

[themallard]

As a former salesman, and parts and service guy, we always used to say “the car, it’s what keeps America poor“

[Basta]

When you live in the suburbs without a car, its really hard. You can't get a car for lack of money, can't get money for lack of job, can't get a job for lack of transport.

[Aeyekay]

No one should have to own a car to participate in society.
And designing a city with that principle on purpose is criminal

[DSAhmed]

More irony: Places in America with good walkability, bike infrastructure, and public transportation options actually exist. These places currently are MORE expensive to live in than sprawling car dependent places because they're extremely desirable and very rare. They don't have to be a rare.

[flipvdfluitketel]

Can't get a car because you don't have a job, can't get a job because you don't have a car. The American dream.

[problu]

As a teen, I was fanatically opposed to cars, because their production, ownership and use is highly inefficient and costly all around. Unfortunately, at age 27, I surrendered to car culture. As you pointed out, it is near impossible to get around without a car.

[KayleLang]

Roads for cars are just really ugly. When we have pedestrian sideways that is wider than 1.5m and have a decent barrier, you just feel so much more comfort.

[schrodingers_cat]

Both a financial burden and incredibly ableist that so many places demand you travel by car and not have any viable alternatives for people unable to or who simply don't want to

[neckenwiler]

Thanks for pointing out the depressing reality depicted in these supposedly feel-good stories about poor people who, through some happy stroke of luck, managed to get a car.

[joanignasi]

Not to mention one of the reasons so many people depend on a car in the US is that in most areas in American towns or cities only allow single family detached houses to be built, if you can't afford to live in a house you may be forced to live very far away from your workplace and with density kept artificially low due to the same zoning rules, public transit would likely not even exist for your destination.

[driley]

As someone who grew up rural, still lives in the middle of nowhere, and has never known an existence where a car was not required in order to participate in society....I wish these dozen or so rail lines that criss cross my area, including one ACROSS THE STREET FROM MY HOUSE, still carried people like they did when they were built. I'd save much money.

[binomial]

A few years ago I discovered Mr. Money Mustache and his articles about the high cost of driving. It made me realize just how expensive cars are. Now when anyone asks why I bike everywhere I say, "Poor people drive; rich people bike, " and then proceed to dive into automotive fiances. It is bit of shame so few anti-car youtubers talk about the high personal cost of cars. Keep up the good work.

[MrBaskins]

that custodian story is prove we live a heartbreaking dystopia

[knarf_on_a_bike]

I live in a terrific city, across from a subway station, in a walkable neighborhood and my primary means of transportation is my bike. I chose where I live precisely because I can live car-free, and it's a great way to live! Great channel, BTW. New subscriber here.

[jg_quan]

I live near the chick fil a in that one news story and I want to add this - the street that fast food place is on, college ave, is the most hostile street in the area. It has no sidewalks and the speed limit is 35 but there is almost no patrol so people routinely go 50 (including me admittedly before I realized how damaging cars are to society). It is also the main road that takes people from the interstate to the downtown area where a lot of car dependent office jobs are. I cringe every time I have to drive on that street and damn near have a panic attack every time I have to walk or bike on it. It’s a miracle she was alive to see the day she “won” a car.

Also, ironically, the stores directly to the left and right of the chick fil a is a gas station and a bike shop.

[barrydheil]

That story about Alabama hit close. I live in a small town on Ontario Canada, and half the streets in town have no sidewalk. To get to some workplaces almost seems to require a vehicle or the willingness to walk along the side of relatively narrow roads. I am lucky enough that should my car break down I could make it to work, all I would be right now is cold. One problem is that frostnip and frostbite is a potential issue with walking to and from work, especially during harsh winter cold where 15 minutes can start to damage your hands without any gloves. Another problem that is easier to fix is that some sidewalks do not get cleared, rendering them near useless, especially if the snow is higher than boots or is difficult to walk through. If the sidewalk plows properly cleaned all sidewalks and would begin plowing during snowfall, that issue would likely be rendered moot.

[herlescraft]

a reply I once got when discussing this very thing with an American was this:
(sarcastic) "Everyone works in an office and is a healthy person between the ages of 20 and 40 with no children and can pedal a bike for 30 minutes in all kinds of weather"

giving for granted that children in the US will be unable to move around without the presence of a car owing parent is to me the biggest tragedy of all. when I was school age i walked on my own up to secondary school and used a public bus for high school...

[supernenechi]

This is the sort of discussion that should be had on news stations.