To keep or not keep a car in the city?

I have mixed feelings about the car issue in Seattle. Not living in the city I enjoy my freedom of having a car and using it ALL the time. I have friends who live in the city and would never own a car, in fact they get down right abusive about this discussion. I understand parking can be an issue if you live in the city or down town area but what if you want to get out of town and take a drive to the lake? I can see not driving if you are in areas like New York City or even Los Angeles but there are so many areas just outside the city in Seattle that are great to visit and public transportation won't always get you there.
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
3 people following
this discussion
Report

3 Comments

I think that if you are single and living in the city then there really isn't any reason to have a car. All you really need is one friend who has a car that you can take day trips with. An, depending on how often you go, you could always rent a car to go up the lake. It would probably be less expensive in the long run--though I don't know if insurance would make that more difficult.

If you have kids, like I do however, it gets much harder to get things done without a car.

Also, just as a side note, I grew up in the LA area and I never met anyone who didn't have a car--LA is so spread out and the transportation system such a mess that I can't imagine anyone trying to live there without a car. SF and the East Bay however, you could totally live comfortably without ever learning to drive. I've had several friend here who just used the BART and MUNI (rail and bus respectively) to get around and had few complaints.
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
FlowerGirl 2yrs+
With all the rain you guys get up there, wouldn't not having a car be a little inconvenient. I don't know Seattle all the well, but wouldn't it put a crimp in your social life?
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.
SeattleGirl 2yrs+
I completely agree with NightOwl! If you have kids, having a car is a must. I can't see taking them to school and activities without one.

@FlowerGirl, the rain definitely can put a damper on things. From a girl's perspective, imagine doing your hair and make-up ready for a night out, then standing in the rain waiting for the bus. Probably not! I see your point!
Report
The opinions expressed here are those of the individual and not those of StreetAdvisor.

Add a comment

Best Neighborhoods to Live In

Best Cities to Live In

Tell everyone what you love about your neighborhood!

Leave a Review

Have a question?

How are schools? Is the area safe? What about public transit options?" Why not ask our community of locals!

Ask Now

Selling or Renting Your Home?

Maximize the selling price of your home by sharing what you love about your suburb to increase its appeal...

Leave a Review

Corporate Relocation Manager?

Enable your employees to share local knowledge in a private, trusted environment with those relocating... while building community.

Learn More