How I Became an Urban Monster in Just 10 Minutes

[thelakelander]

A car is often—even usually—the wrong tool for the job in a dense urban setting. And using the wrong tool makes you frustrated and impatient.

By SARAH GOODYEAR

The car ahead of me on the one-way Brooklyn street pulled up to the curb. The driver hopped out, leaving his door open, and strode across the crowded sidewalk into the lunch counter on the corner of Fulton. He disappeared inside.

I tried to edge my Honda Zipcar around his parked vehicle so that I could continue on my way, but another car, illegally parked at the opposite curb, made the passage so narrow that I wasn't sure I could make it. I inched forward, calculating my odds. Would I scrape the sides of one or both vehicles? Tear off a mirror? Behind me, I could see the traffic backing up. My heart rate escalated steadily. My palms were sweating. There was no sign of the man who had gone in to grab a hot dog, or whatever. His passenger looked like she was engrossed in her phone.

Someone behind me honked. My adrenaline spiked. In a desperate attempt to bring the missing driver back to his abandoned vehicle, I hit my own horn one time, two times, three.

Just like that, I had turned into a person I hate.

Full article: http://www.citylab.com/commute/2014/12/how-i-became-an-urban-monster-in-just-10-minutes/384128/

[Adam12]

That article sums up perfectly why I hate driving. I feel like that every single time I get in the car. 100% of the trips I make. Without fail. The only thing I hate more than driving is my car itself. It's a seething, passionate hatred that has driven me [pun intended] to intentionally damage my car on multiple occasions. I don't plan to re-sell it. I will just drive it until the wheels fall off and then donate whatever is left to charity. By that time I hope to not need to buy another car.

[ChriswUfGator]

If you hate it that badly you need a car that's more fun. They're someing of a hobby for me, once you find something you like driving is enjoyable.

[Adam12]

I've thought about that, but then I would have a car payment. If there's anything I like about my car, it's that I only have to cover maintenance, insurance, and gas, lol. Still costs me a minimum of $2000/year to keep the stupid thing running and legal. In any case, the car really isn't the problem. If one doesn't live in NYC or perhaps Chicago, keeping a car in the road is simply a fact of life. Oh and that reminds me: I am very fortunate because I don't have a family that requires multiple vehicles.