The Driving Pogues...

[John C]

From another thread, Philip just mentioned that he doesn't have a driver's licence. I know Shane doesn't drive (could you imagine?!) and, somewhat famously, Spider was a used-car-salesman who didn't have a driver's license. I'm not sure whether or not he does have one these days, but I suspect probably not.

James lives in LA where it would be impossible not to drive so I suspect he does.

So what about the rest of them... who drives and who doesn't?

Mr Chevron?

[philipchevron]

From another thread, Philip just mentioned that he doesn't have a driver's licence. I know Shane doesn't drive (could you imagine?!) and, somewhat famously, Spider was a used-car-salesman who didn't have a driver's license. I'm not sure whether or not he does have one these days, but I suspect probably not.

James lives in LA where it would be impossible not to drive so I suspect he does.

So what about the rest of them... who drives and who doesn't?

Mr Chevron?

I don't know. Darryl does, Jem does, Terry does. Not sure about Andrew. James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be. It's the first time I've been asked to categorize the Pogues by who does and who doesn't drive and I find it faintly disturbing. I just always figured there'd be people who would drive me places, so I never gave it any thought.

[treadhead1944]

From another thread, Philip just mentioned that he doesn't have a driver's licence. I know Shane doesn't drive (could you imagine?!) and, somewhat famously, Spider was a used-car-salesman who didn't have a driver's license. I'm not sure whether or not he does have one these days, but I suspect probably not.

James lives in LA where it would be impossible not to drive so I suspect he does.

So what about the rest of them... who drives and who doesn't?

Mr Chevron?

I don't know. Darryl does, Jem does, Terry does. Not sure about Andrew. James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be. It's the first time I've been asked to categorize the Pogues by who does and who doesn't drive and I find it faintly disturbing. I just always figured there'd be people who would drive me places, so I never gave it any thought.

And of course Europe has a REAL public transportation system, opposed to the non-running joke here in the US

[philipchevron]

From another thread, Philip just mentioned that he doesn't have a driver's licence. I know Shane doesn't drive (could you imagine?!) and, somewhat famously, Spider was a used-car-salesman who didn't have a driver's license. I'm not sure whether or not he does have one these days, but I suspect probably not.

James lives in LA where it would be impossible not to drive so I suspect he does.

So what about the rest of them... who drives and who doesn't?

Mr Chevron?

I don't know. Darryl does, Jem does, Terry does. Not sure about Andrew. James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be. It's the first time I've been asked to categorize the Pogues by who does and who doesn't drive and I find it faintly disturbing. I just always figured there'd be people who would drive me places, so I never gave it any thought.

And of course Europe has a REAL public transportation system, opposed to the non-running joke here in the US

Make that Europe minus Britain, actually. Even on Amtrak they flinch at selling you tickets at 4 or 5 times the price of the equivalent airfare.

[treadhead1944]

From another thread, Philip just mentioned that he doesn't have a driver's licence. I know Shane doesn't drive (could you imagine?!) and, somewhat famously, Spider was a used-car-salesman who didn't have a driver's license. I'm not sure whether or not he does have one these days, but I suspect probably not.

James lives in LA where it would be impossible not to drive so I suspect he does.

So what about the rest of them... who drives and who doesn't?

Mr Chevron?

I don't know. Darryl does, Jem does, Terry does. Not sure about Andrew. James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be. It's the first time I've been asked to categorize the Pogues by who does and who doesn't drive and I find it faintly disturbing. I just always figured there'd be people who would drive me places, so I never gave it any thought.

And of course Europe has a REAL public transportation system, opposed to the non-running joke here in the US

Make that Europe minus Britain, actually. Even on Amtrak they flinch at selling you tickets at 4 or 5 times the price of the equivalent airfare.

There is that, yes, but one is still able to get from one end of the country to the other without a freeway or airplane. Nigh impossible here. And don't get me started on the local transport system here. Where I live is the largest concentration of wealth in the US. Also there is a tremendous amount of working poor (of which I am one). When the county held talks about starting a bus system (that goes nowhere, connects with nothing and stops running at 7pm) a local blue haired lady made the comment that a public transportation system would bring in the "wrong element", apparently not realizing that the "wrong element" she referred to most likely mows her lawn and cleans her house

[Jon]

I'm in my late 30's and I don't drive and people find it weird, I cycle everywhere and when the rain's coming down hard, I get the bus as there's nowhere to park within a mile of where I work.

I've got a Cook Islands driving licence, valud only for Rarotonga, but as I'm in Bristol, it's of no use - it's a good souvenir though.

[Eckhard]

James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be.

Personally I prefer my wife to drive. She enjoys driving, I think of driving as work and prefer not to.

But it's a rather surprising thread idea nonetheless, john c

[John C]

But it's a rather surprising thread idea nonetheless, john c

It was just me thinking out loud really...

[fluke]

Make that Europe minus Britain, actually. Even on Amtrak they flinch at selling you tickets at 4 or 5 times the price of the equivalent airfare.

I allways think the PT in london is quite good. (?) Many trains, good communication on when a train is coming and so on. The pt here in the Netherlands is terrible. Such a tiny country but it takes ages and loads of money to get somewhere. Loads of delays for all kinds of stupid reasons. I'm really glad I own a car so I wont have to travel by train or bus.

[Low D]

I'm in my late 30's and I don't drive and people find it weird, I cycle everywhere and when the rain's coming down hard, I get the bus as there's nowhere to park within a mile of where I work.

Good for you. I bike even when it's raining hard (unless i'm with one or more of the kids, and even then sometimes) b/c the bus always makes me nauseous.

I'm turning 34, and only got my license 2 1/2 years ago, 'cause with the 3rd sprog it was just getting stupid not to (although i must brag that i have moved as many as 4 children at once by bike) (to do this, i've had to order many accesories from the Netherlands).

[Jon]

luckily I also don't have any kids which people also find weird, but neither Mrs Me or I have felt a need to reproduce
I've always said that she's the designated driver and I'm the designated drinker, although she thinks it's time for a role reversal

[Sandyfromvancouver]

I've had a license for a long time. Even had to take a second drivers test when we moved temporarily to the States for a couple of years.

Last summer I got the word that because my vision was poor (temporarily due to a drug side effect) I should knock off. So I've been getting around on the transit system entirely, except for the rare occasion I can get a ride.

Hasn't been bad, though some bus lines get insanely crowded at times.

A local reporter took taxis everywhere he would have driven and discovered it was cheaper than owning a car.

[Guest]

James almost certainly does but Danielle prefers to, which causes many of us to wonder just how bad James's driving must be.

Uh, it's hella bad. I work for a public agency and I have a (I don't know if you would call it funny or creepy) story of how I would up with James in my computer system. He came up on a search I was doing to lcoate an absent parent.

[Low D]

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?

[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.

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 . . . .