I Gave Up My Car, Here’s Why
Car ownership is prohibitively expensive. The typical new car costs approximately $36,000, whereas the average secondhand car costs roughly $20,000. Aside from the initial price, there are continuing fees such as gas, insurance, and maintenance. Not to mention parking. Depending on where you live, parking can also be difficult and expensive.
Public transit is both inexpensive and dependable. In Los Angeles, a monthly train pass costs only $100, and the trains are quite reliable. Furthermore, taking public transportation is far more environmentally friendly than owning a car.
We can make improvements to our cities to shorten commute times. One method is to establish additional dedicated transit lanes so that buses and trains can go faster. Another option to cut down on travel times is to build more mixed-use communities where residents can live, work, and play all in the same place. Furthermore, walking or biking is generally more practical than driving in cities, and it is more beneficial to the environment and your health.
My list of reasons looked like this:
- Cars are a major source of pollution and global warming.
- Cars and trucks are a major source of traffic congestion and accidents.
- Cars are a major cause of noise pollution.
- Automobiles are a major contributor to sprawl and urban growth.
- Cars demand a significant amount of resources to construct and maintain.
- Automobiles are expensive to purchase and operate.
- Cars are neither efficient nor sustainable.
Don’t agree? Then give me a list of counter arguments.