I am 19 years old and I don’t want to drive.
Never in my life have I wanted to sit behind a steering wheel and have total control over a motorized vehicle that’s weight can be measured in tons. And I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
My entire life, I’ve listened to horror stories about people getting seriously injured or losing their lives to drunk driving or terrible car accidents.
The possibility of getting into a car accident has plagued my anxiety-ridden mind every time I’ve stepped foot in a car.
I haven’t needed to get my driver’s license either. With a plethora of rideshare apps like Uber and Lyft, as well as public transportation and bike rentals, I’ve had the means to get wherever I need to go.
While most U.S. cities are not necessarily “walkable,” it’s easy enough to navigate cities like Eugene on foot, and it may even be easier than driving.
UO senior Quincy Smith has had a car on campus since her sophomore year, and says that its usefulness is balanced with its hassles.
“It definitely helps me when I have to go grocery shopping,” Smith said. “Or, when it’s pouring rain and I don’t want to walk to class.”
But, having a car in general isn’t cheap. With the costs of gas and parking, Smith says she’s spending more money on travel expenses than when she didn’t have a car on campus.
Part of those expenses includes repairs from the three separate times her car has been hit.
“I think Eugene is not a great place to have a car,” Smith said. “My car has been hit so many times.”
Even with the supposed extra sense of freedom that people often associate with having a car, there are costly downsides.
UO sophomore Nathan Pratt is utterly aware of these costs and lists them as a major factor behind his disinterest in driving.
“In this economy, if you want to drive and get a parking spot and get gas and get insurance…I don’t know exactly how you’re going to pay for classes on top of all of that,” Pratt said.
Although he has his learner’s permit, Pratt has no intention of driving at the moment. He uses public transportation almost daily and has a monthly PeaceHealth rides subscription.
He is firm in his belief that his choice to drive has not dampened his college experience.
“I think that there are certain things that I can’t do as easily, especially leaving Eugene,” Pratt said. “But, I don’t think that it’s significantly worse than anyone else, and financially, I know it’s a lot better.”
For a lot of people, having a car and being able to drive to and from campus signifies a sense of independence and self-sufficiency necessary for the transition into adulthood. For others, having a car is exclusive to those who can afford the costs.
But the ability to drive and have a car doesn’t dictate where a person can go, especially in an age where public transportation and taxi services are available at the click of a button.
An inability to drive doesn’t have to equate to a dependence on others.
