So, I live in Houston. If you guys are familiar with the city, you'll know it has the worst public transportation system below the Missouri Compromise line. Buses are 45 minutes apart, minimum, are always late, and there's no train system to speak of outside of the downtown area.

I'm legally old enough to work, but not old enough to have a car (technicality in the Texas law code). I'm also broke, so of course, I started looking for work.

I found a $5.15/hr + 2% commision job at an advertising firm (and we're talking 2% off of 30k sales, it's good stuff), and I live 7 minutes from it by car. I went to my first day yesterday. I waited 20 minutes under 96 degree Texas weather for a bus that was late, then stood around as the bus drove in circles. Finally, 20 minutes after entering the bus, I reached my destination. I was late.

This isn't the worst. I also applied to tutor at an educational center that's about 20 minutes away. The bus ride was two hours long.

Not having a car in certain parts of the country is the single biggest crutch that can exist. Of course, many of us use the excuse when there is an otherwise reliable way of getting around, but outside of school, there is no social environment that can be accessed without a car. Hell, the closest mall is 50 min away by bus, and that's if the bus comes on time!

I'm still going to my job, because sometimes, sacrifices must be made for the sake of a fat wallet. However, I would like to share this experience with you so you don't take transportation for granted. A car is very important for flexibility and independence, and both of these are integral to a DJ. I couldn't imagine setting up a date, then showing up 45 min late and sweating because the bus wasn't on time. Thankfully, I will be able to legally drive very soon, so hopefully, I can get some money together for a decent ride.

Cheers.

I hear ya. Public trans. isnt so bad here in NJ. I commute to Manahattan and go to college in Newark, I took the bus or the train and I was on time most of the time, but it sucked not having a car. I didnt get one until i was 21 because i chose to. I weighted the pros of having a car (reliability) and the cons (gas, parking, heavy traffic in the city, insurance) and since I'm a cheap bastard i waited until I had enough money saved to not care about car expenses. I had to stand a lot of crap like incovenient schedules, rude people, standing in the sun or snow for a bus, having enough change, and missed on a lot of stuff by not having a car, but I saved so much money its not even funny. Just think how much worse it could be. In Africa people walk days thru the dessert to sell their camels.

You need a car. Get something that's not totally ugly and runs.

You're going to need a car eventually, start getting in the habit now.

I bought my car for $1800.. the only picture of it you need to see is this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/mykickers.jpg

Does that make people hurt so bad that they cry? Well, if it doesn't, I've failed

AC/DC said:

You need a car. Get something that's not totally ugly and runs.

You're going to need a car eventually, start getting in the habit now.

I bought my car for $1800.. the only picture of it you need to see is this one:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v487/HangTen3000/mykickers.jpg

Does that make people hurt so bad that they cry? Well, if it doesn't, I've failed

Click to expand...

Apparently, the state i'm going to college in has some silly license law, so I'm looking at another delay. It's good that the NE part of the country is more compact with better mass transit.

You guys think the public transport system is USA is bad??You haven't seen nothing yet.

I live in Jakarta,Indonesia..And,to your raised eyebrows,there is apparently no real public transport system here.The state runs a couple of buses that have one robbery/mugging incidence a day.And then there is this new 'busway' that ONLY runs in the business district of the city,where 90% of the people already have cars,or can easily walk around the area.And the city is still 'planning' to have a subway developed.There is so much corruption that most ministers could have built their own subway,but the city doesn't get any of that.

Heck,the buses here are not just late,you never know if they would even come or not!

Hope you're all laughing after reading the state of the transport system in this country!

Before I learnt to drive,I had a real tough time getting around.Stupid taxis are expensive,ever since the new fuel rate hike.Most of us have a driver in this country,so I had to actually wait for that fool before I could go out.And I still don't have my own car yet,I use my dad's car,the one he doesn't use during the day.But the system in this country is so bad,I drive without a license.I'm an year below the legal age to drive.If a cop ever catches me,all I have to do is bribe him Rp.100,000 (Around US$12) and keep driving.

I used to have a bike before,which I'm legally allowed to have,but you cannot make out on a bike,some girls are afraid of riding on bikes and such,some parents don't allow their daughters to go on bikes;there were too many variables so I dumped it.

But what makes it all worse is that every other kid I know in my school has a (super)rich dad.So they get brand new BMWs and Hondas and Land Rovers,heck some even get Mercs when they're barely 16.

If everyone else faced the same transport problem,then it would be a common thing,nothing to sweat about.But when you're one of the few people who actually face this problem in your school,it's a different thing.

Luckily I'm leaving this country in 2 months,so I don't let it bother me much.But there was a time when I used to be so angry about the disparity between me and the other guys in school.

I can understand your frustration,flabbergasped.But don't worry,it's just a matter of time before you get your own car.