| I guess I'm with everybody else on taking taxis and public transportation. And let me address WJS's issue of freedom: there is no doubt that owning a car gives you freedom when travelling outside the city center. We took a family trip to Suzhou a few weeks ago (4 adults, one baby) and we had to rent a van and driver in advance, kind of a pain. BUT when inside the city center having a car gives you less freedom - you have to figure out where to park it, and you have to worry that someone will hit it, scratch it, or steal it. Taking a taxi IMO gives you a much greater sense of freedom - you just get out and walk away. We live in a very central location, and we have several friends who don't like to come visit us because it's too expensive to park. I guess they feel that now that they have cars, they don't want to pay taxi fare, and they've gotten out of the habit of taking public transportation. What irritates me is that they seem to sort of feel that I'm to blame for living in an inconvenient place! I'm not very sympathetic, it's very convenient in every other way, there is no right to cheap and convenient parking - plus their cars add to my air pollution. Good post as always! |
Take Taxi or Buy a Car?