Are there any pro's to owning your own car that outweighs using public transport?

Quick "emergency" trips to drug store or grocery or Clinic

Pick up family member from airport

Rescue someone who's car broke down or stuck w/o transportation

Public Transport has problems with union/employee strikes, tracks can be damaged, accidents at crossings create delays

My greatest need for individual car is because my hubby is disabled. It is so labor-intensive to merely load him and unload him from just the car, that using other means really multiplies the time & energy spent ! Public transportation is also not readily available in our city, since it was voted out in 1980. It will take a major economic crisis to bring it back up for a vote, and that would still make it at least 5-7 years out!

051908 3:36

I walk whenever I can - and use public transport other times - I don't drive as I've never taken lessons. Anyway... what about the smelly stuff pumping out of your cars exhaust ! At least a bus can carry MANY more times the passengers a car can !

If you live in a place where public transportation is easy to find and use, then the CONS will outweigh the PROS of owning an automobile. Owning a car is very, very expensive. The cost of the car, the maintenance (which is getting more and more expensive each day), the high fuel costs, the insurance cost, the inspection cost and taxes and regulation fees, and the repair bills which are never cheap. But if you live in a GD place like Southern US states (which I do) then you either have a car or you will die from unemployment and hunger. So to answer your question, it all depends on where you live and what situation you live in. If I lived in a place like New York or London, then I might only need one car for the entire family (for parties, vacations, etc) and not have to have four cars like I have now. I know that fuel prices are high and that my four cars are damaging the environment, but I have no choice. THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN THIS PART OF THE NATION SUCKS.

Public transit isn't available everywhere. Some people don't have the option to take the bus or rail. It may be too far for them to walk to work, or you can't walk home from the grocery store with 10 bags full of groceries. Some people need a car and a decent sized car at that.

It really depends on which city.

Cars are nice for shopping, bringing home groceries, etc.

I think public transport can be difficult for one person with multiple children. I see women with a baby in a stroller and a young child and they generally look very stressed on the trains.

Only large cities offer public transportation.

My town of 30k plus you are on your own even though we are less than 10 miles from one of biggest cities in state .

okay not to sound like a germ afobe but you don't have to crowed around a lot of people

Also unless you live in DC New York or another major city finding public transport is difficult.

The main advantage that I can think of is that you can go where you want when you want without having to wait. Also, you don't have to deal with the public and all that entails. Less possibility of exposure to others germs.

I've heard (if your a short comuter) that mopeds are going to be great in the not to distant future, I guess some of them get like 70 mpg

PRO #1, employment. 99.999% of the employers see it as the best thing for a employee to have. Even when you live next door to your employer. Pro #2, for personal FREEDOM

Your not A cow boy or girl with out Wheels. #3 pro self expression, you are what you drive...