The Benefits of Bringing a Car With You To a City

Owning a car if you live in a city is sometimes frowned upon by people, as many states that it's not only harmful to the environment but that it's also pointless because of the ability to take public transportation and is a waste of money. However, as cars are becoming greener and fuel efficient, owning a car in a city does offer many benefits. Keep in mind that it will certainly depend on your budget, but here are the main reasons why:

Convenience of Travel

Sure, you can take public transportation within the city, but what happens once you decide to leave? If you want to get out of the urban jungle and take a trip to a ski resort, the suburbs, or a lake for a weekend getaway, having a car will be almost vital. You can take a bus or train outside of the city in most cases, but then what? You will need a car to drive to your final destination.

By owning a vehicle, you will be able to travel anywhere that you want when you want without having to arrange for a ride or to use a taxi. Plus, even if you're in the city, have you ever been stuck on the opposite part of it when the public transportation is no longer running? You don't have to if you have a car.

In the United States, given how wide open some parts of the country are, you shouldn't sacrifice seeing the beautiful parts of the country, even just outside of your city. Enjoying the fresh air at your convenience cannot be achieved without a car.

It Won't Be As Expensive As You Would Think

Think about your daily expenses when you live in a city. Public transportation can cost a lot. In New York City, using the subway for a single ride costs $2.50 each way. If you have to use public transportation multiple times a day, the costs will add up. In addition, if you're out late at night or early in the morning when public transportation isn't running, you will most likely have to take a taxi, which also can be expensive. Even with the cost of gas in some cities, it can still be cheaper to drive than to constantly pay public transportation fees.

Fuel costs are reduced for city dwellers because they rarely need to go far from home. You should expect better mileage per gallon from modern vehicles because of their increased efficiency. In some locations, driving a car can still save money than taking public transportation, especially now that gas costs are at historic lows.

Run Errands Easier

Imagine being able to go grocery shopping and not having to worry about whether or not you'll be able to carry all of the grocery bags home with you. With a car, you won't have to take this into consideration. You try buying a large screen TV and carrying it back to your apartment! You'll be able to transport items much easier. Parking may seem intimidating, but most cities will usually have a place where you can park.

Avoid Having to Hire a Babysitter

This goes along with the above-mentioned ability to run errands easier. By having a car, you can go around the city or even outside the city with your baby in tow. Many people are leery about taking their children on public transportation and for good reason. With a car, your child can be under your watchful eye at all times, and you won't have to worry about making arrangements, especially if you have to go somewhere unexpectedly.

Enjoy Greater Flexibility

If someone asks you to go somewhere, you don't have to turn it down because you can't get to that area anymore in time. You can just get ready and go. You don't have to confine yourself to your apartment in the city just because you can't find a feasible way to get somewhere at the last minute.

Be Better Equipped for Emergencies

If one of your family members or friends becomes ill and needs to get to a hospital, you will be able to drive them at any time, rather than having to wait for a taxi or taking the person via public transportation. If someone is extremely ill, one of the last places that they should be is on public transportation, both for their sake and for the sake of others.

Save on Time

Public transportation runs on fixed schedules. Even being a few seconds late at times means that you can miss the bus or the train. This can significantly delay you and throw off your whole morning, leading to you arriving to work or to an important engagement late. With a car, you can leave when you want to.

Be Less Stressed Out

Having to walk in the cold to your bus stop or the train stop can be brutal. If it's the middle of the summer, being in the scorching heat on the walk towards the station followed by being on a crowded train can make you sweaty and uncomfortable. alternatively, in a car, you have the comfort of having heat and air conditioning at your disposal, leading to you showing up to work feeling fresh and relaxed.

Even though it's not as popular anymore amongst the younger generations to have your own car, as you can see from the list above, the benefits of having one are numerous!