by Sandyfromvancouver Tue Jan 29, 2008 6:06 am
Low D wrote:Sandyfromvancouver wrote:I should knock off. So I've been getting around on the transit system entirely...
Hasn't been bad, though some bus lines get insanely crowded at times.
Sorry to hear that. I frickin' hate the busses here in Vancouver. Maybe it's because i live in East Van so we get shafted on busses, like most things. Maybe it's because the new busses won't let you put a bike on the rack after dark (blocks the headlights... somebody making way more money than me did NOT do their homework!). Maybe it's because it's so bloody expensive (bus passes for 3 kids + 1 adult - what we need to get 'em all to school & back - are now $200/month!).
We're actually looking at buying a van, 'cause we taxi & rent cars throughout the year, but faced with transit costs the same price as gas + insurance, it's looking like we'd be better off owning. Which is pretty crazy, aren't they supposed to be motivating folks to get OUT of cars, rather than forcing 'em against their wills INTO 'em?
One of my kids lives in East Van, and I often go there for various reasons anyway. I would agree, the transit system serves that part of the city very poorly, and as you say, no big surprise. It really is a serious pain. The bike racks not working after dark is ridiculous. So is the lack of anything to hold onto at the front as the bus lurches into motion. Great fun.
There are many reasons to get a car. Driving is convenient, for sure, with kids, and it's good at night. The costs of owning do mount fast once you take the leap, however. You have to include payments, repairs, insurance, dings especially if you have kids driving, parking, gas and other stuff that cars need.
Mostly our car sits dissolving in the rain, because we bicycle, walk, or take the bus. The old beast gets used for the fun stuff. But I bet my kids are way older than yours, and I did use the car lots when they were young. Cars are also useful, because kids talk to you as you drive and they tell you stuff you wouldn't otherwise hear. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that . . . .
[quote="Low D"][quote="Sandyfromvancouver"]I should knock off. So I've been getting around on the transit system entirely...
Hasn't been bad, though some bus lines get insanely crowded at times. :shock:
[/quote]
Sorry to hear that. I frickin' hate the busses here in Vancouver. Maybe it's because i live in East Van so we get shafted on busses, like most things. Maybe it's because the new busses won't let you put a bike on the rack after dark (blocks the headlights... somebody making way more money than me did NOT do their homework!). Maybe it's because it's so bloody expensive (bus passes for 3 kids + 1 adult - what we need to get 'em all to school & back - are now $200/month!).
We're actually looking at buying a van, 'cause we taxi & rent cars throughout the year, but faced with transit costs the same price as gas + insurance, it's looking like we'd be better off owning. Which is pretty crazy, aren't they supposed to be motivating folks to get OUT of cars, rather than forcing 'em against their wills INTO 'em?[/quote]
One of my kids lives in East Van, and I often go there for various reasons anyway. I would agree, the transit system serves that part of the city very poorly, and as you say, no big surprise. It really is a serious pain. The bike racks not working after dark is ridiculous. So is the lack of anything to hold onto at the front as the bus lurches into motion. Great fun.
There are many reasons to get a car. Driving is convenient, for sure, with kids, and it's good at night. The costs of owning do mount fast once you take the leap, however. You have to include payments, repairs, insurance, dings especially if you have kids driving, parking, gas and other stuff that cars need.
Mostly our car sits dissolving in the rain, because we bicycle, walk, or take the bus. The old beast gets used for the fun stuff. But I bet my kids are way older than yours, and I did use the car lots when they were young. Cars are also useful, because kids talk to you as you drive and they tell you stuff you wouldn't otherwise hear. Oops, maybe I shouldn't have said that . . . .
