No Car, No Problem

People often ask me how I manage without driving and whether it limits where I can go. Honestly, it doesn't bother me much. I get to where I need to go in various ways.

Growing up, my dad once told me that if I started driving, I'd kill someone. That stuck with me, and though I can technically drive, my anxiety levels go through the roof when I do. His voice in my head is enough to make me reach for a Valium. I’ve only driven a handful of times, mostly to help Terry get home from procedures. Most recently, pulling out of the hospital, someone almost hit us. I freaked, slammed on the brakes, and reversed quickly. It would have been their fault, but still, not cool for my mental state.

The first time I drove, though, I had no fear. It was the infamous ride to New York with Andrew Wilder in his not-so-legally-acquired vehicle. I was fine, but then again, that ride was on interstates with little traffic and fewer lane changes. It was also peppered with pit stops to satisfy certain urges. Growing up in small towns, driving was essential to get anywhere quickly. By the time I was old enough to drive, I didn't need to because I could catch rides with others.

1991 LeBaron Convertible, like the one I drove

When I moved to Atlanta and New York, I relied on public transportation. New York is way more pedestrian-friendly than Atlanta. It’s no sweat to walk from Times Square to the Village if you don’t want to take the train. The only challenge is watching out for drivers in NYC who don’t care about traffic lights. In Kentucky, I depended on my best friend Ernie to get around, though I could walk to the grocery store and my awful job. In Vegas, I bought rollerskates to navigate around. The only struggle was tourists who stopped short in front of you.

The trains go all over NYC & beyond

By 1997, I settled in Atlanta. Terry and I lived in the heart of the city, making it easy to walk or take the train. When he bought his first car in 1999, we became more mobile, though I preferred walking, biking, and public transit. We later moved to a less accessible area, and I started biking more. At one point, I had to rely on Terry to drive me to the airport to catch the train. Thankfully, MARTA expanded bus routes into our county, picking up right in front of our subdivision.

After years of walking to the bus stop and work, scooters began to pop up around town. Renting them for a while, I eventually bought my own—a Swagtron Swagger Elite 5. It was great for getting around without walking or biking, though the battery life wasn’t as advertised. One time, the battery died while I was training at Hobnob in Midtown. I learned my lesson: always have a plan to charge up. After breaking my arm on the scooter, I took a break from using it.

When I started working at the airport, I considered using the scooter to get to and from the bus. After figuring out the logistics and getting my manager's permission, I’ve used it ever since. It, along with my Swagtron SwagCycle Pro eBike, has been handy for quick trips to the gas station and Aldi, but never too far.

The farthest I go from my house on my own accord is Six Flags Over Georgia, thanks to MARTA having bus access to the park. Does it bother me not driving? Not at all. I don't worry about insurance, car repairs, or even gas.

MARTA Bus 196-4 Minute Walk From My House

When Terry and I started house hunting before the economy tanked, one of our non-negotiable requirements was proximity to public transportation. I don't enjoy driving and didn't want to rely on Terry all the time. Our agent, Lily, found several homes on the MARTA line, but most involved lengthy bus rides and equally long train journeys.

Eventually, Lily found a community in Clayton County right across the street from a bus stop. This stop offered a 15-minute ride to the airport, running 2-3 times an hour, seven days a week, with the last bus just after midnight. Although it wasn't MARTA, C-Tran had an agreement with them, so a paid ride on C-Tran provided free access to MARTA trains and transfers.

I used C-Tran countless times and found it extremely reliable. Whether covering a shift at work or heading to Cargo-Master, it was dependable. After my layoff, I had to rely on the bus again for job hunting. Fortunately, I could collect unemployment as jobs were scarce. During this time, county officials started riding the buses with clipboards to evaluate services and conduct verbal surveys with riders, including myself.

People often ask why I prefer public transportation over driving. I find driving stressful and prefer not to deal with traffic. I have a phobia of causing or being involved in accidents. The costs of car upkeep, insurance, and gas are also factors. Plus, using public transport allows me to listen to music, write, knit, or focus on things I wouldn't have time for at home.

In late 2009, it was announced that the Clayton County bus system would be discontinued. Rallies were held as people's ability to commute to work was jeopardized. The 8-mile ride to the Airport MARTA Station would now cost $30, making it an impractical expense for many. By March 31, 2010, C-Tran bus stops vanished overnight, cutting off people from work. This decision also complicated the crime situation in Clayton County, with burglary and robbery rates spiking.

Some enterprising individuals saw an opportunity in this grim situation. Two independent bus lines, including QuickTransit, emerged but failed due to mechanical issues. Southside Transportation, a trucking company, converted to a people-moving business but struggled with timeliness. Waiting for Southside often involved encounters with police, drug dealers, and panhandlers, making the experience unpleasant.

I began working at Macaroni Grill, and fortunately, the manager scheduled me for the same shifts as Terry, so we could commute together. We also gave rides to co-workers, who contributed to gas money. I eventually found two reliable drivers, Phil and Eddie, who charged $3-$4 for rides to the train station. Phil worked from 5 AM-6 PM, and Eddie covered evenings and Sundays.

Phil's van was uncomfortable and his manners were awful. He charged $4 but was often late and rude to passengers. On one occasion, he refused to let an older lady out of the van, which felt like kidnapping. His driving was reckless, and I found Uber to be a better option when Terry couldn't drive me.

Today is March 21, 2015. I work in Sandy Springs, Georgia, and for the first time in years, I won't need to rely on Uber or Phil. I'll be taking the new MARTA bus (Bus 196) to the train and then another bus (Bus 5 or Bus 87) to work. This change will save me money, reducing my daily commute cost from $16 with Uber and MARTA or $9 with Phil to just $5 round trip with the new bus stop. Investing in weekly passes, I now pay $23.75 for unlimited MARTA rides.

Aside from my personal preferences for public transportation, I believe the new MARTA lines in Clayton County will provide residents with better access to higher-paying jobs and a more reliable commute.