The Weekend Assignment is posted each Friday at Outpost Mâvarin; a roundup of responses goes up the following Thursday, so if you’d like to join in, you’ve still got some time. Karen says: Don’t worry if you don’t get your entry in by the end of the weekend. It’s called the Weekend Assignment because John Scalzi originally designed it to give folks something to write on weekends, but times have changed since then. Now the meme is launched on Thursday nights / Friday mornings, just a little later than Scalzi used to post it, and you have a whole week to respond. Still, I for one am grateful if you don’t all wait until the last minute!
Weekend Assignment #219: What is your favorite form of transportation, and why? You can choose any means of traveling by land, sea or air, with just one catch: it has to currently exist in the real world, or have existed in the past. No TARDIS, no Star Trek transporter, no flying DeLoreans, all right?
Extra Credit: What’s the most unusual form of transportation you’ve ever taken?
“Here in my car, I feel safest of all, I can lock all my doors, It’s the only way to live…in cars”
As much as I bitch about traffic, when I think about it, I have to say that my favorite form of transportation really is the car. I used to enjoy flying, but I don’t do it often, and the glamor has long since worn off of air travel. I have yet to live anywhere where daily travel by train or boat is a realistic option, and honestly, I think buses are just…well, let’s just say I prefer to avoid them. I haven’t been on a bike in over 25 years, and while I’d like to try it again, I don’t think I’d really use it as a serious transportation option; plus, it’s really hard to find one that’s the right size for me.
I’m going to crib a little from Karen’s own response to this query, because I share some of her reasons:
“You can take a car to the McDonald’s on the corner*, or to the major amusement part at the other end of the country. You can leave when it’s convenient for you, rather than conform to someone else’s schedule. You can decide, in the spur of the moment, to change course and stop for an ice cream, or photograph a sunset, or explore an historic fishing village. You can travel up and down all but the worst roads…You ride in comfort and relative privacy.”
(*Well, for me it would be Starbucks instead of Mickey D’s, and if it’s really just down on the corner I’d rather walk…but you get the idea.)
The best thing about driving a car is the autonomy. You can go when you want, where you want – as long as there’s a road to the place you want to get to, it’s accessible by car. It may not always be the fastest way to go – which brings us back to my favorite seven-letter four-letter word, traffic – but it’s the most flexible. For some people, cars are also a statement of who they are – their personality, their lifestyle, their self-image (or the image they want to project).
I’ve gained more appreciation for cars since I met my husband; before I knew him, I was unfamiliar with the species known as the “car nerd.” Tall Paul is a Southern California native who grew up with the area’s famous “car culture,” he subscribes to three car magazines (plus one motorcycle publication), and he loves driving. However, he would love it more if he didn’t drive a Honda Civic – a car that does not really project the statement he wants to make about himself, nor meet his criteria for being fun to drive, but does at least get good gas mileage. (I drive a Civic too, and just for the record, I’m very fond of mine; it’s a good fit for me.)
Since I’ve made the choice to live somewhere that’s really hard to get around without a car, I guess it works out well that it’s my preferred way to travel anyway – despite the traffic and the price of gas.
As far as the extra-credit question goes, I think that the most unusual form of transportation I’ve ever used was a semi-submersible boat; I’ve been on them twice in the Caribbean, and once in the harbor at Catalina Island. The boats have a lower deck with windows all around, and when the water is clear, you can get great pictures of the marine life.
What’s your favorite way to get around?
Ah, yes, cars are essential in Southern California. Back in high school, I wrote to Harlan Ellison about going out there someday, back when I thought I was going to write teleplays for a living. Since at the time I didn’t have a driver’s license, I mentioned maps and buses. HE wrote back, in part, “Don’t come to Southern California unless you have a car!” Since then I’ve been there lots of times – and yeah, it’s always by car.
Have a great trip!
Karen – He gave you good advice. My son still doesn’t have a driver’s license (he’s almost 24!), which was one reason I didn’t encourage him to move out here after college. He’s living in Washington DC, where life without a car is actually not that difficult to manage.
The semi-submersible sounds interesting. I’d be nervous about getting seasick. Or is it better semi-submerged. Either way it would be a great view!
Mike – My husband tends to get motion sickness, and he didn’t have any trouble with the semi-submersible. It might be that since it’s partly underwater the currents aren’t as bad (?). In any case, you’re right about the great view!
Cars are good, especially in this weather we’re having. But if I could ride my bike more places, I would. I think that’s my favorite way to get around.
Susan – Cars do have that climate-control thing in their favor, too – hadn’t thought about that one.
I prefer cars too. I do like riding the train–what little chance I’ve had to do that. It’s not practical for every day use as there isn’t a train line that would get me to work and back home again. I do love traveling by plane–but, as you said, the glamor has warn off a bit. Not to mention my sinuses really act up when I fly now–they never did when I was younger. I get this sharp pain in my ear sometimes–I think my eardrum will blow. I’ve found ways around it, but when it happens–oh, I hate it!
As for buses, I feel the same way you do. Although, I have to say that I have fond memories of riding the bus to visit my grandmother when I was growing up. Early in my childhood, we were a one car family and so if we wanted to visit my grandparents who lived all the way across town, we had to take several different city buses to get there. It was frustrating and yet also fun in its own way. More so to a young child, I am sure, than to my poor mother who was toting two cranky children around. 🙂
Literary Feline – We actually live right near the train station, but I’d need to take the train all the way into downtown LA and then another one back to Hollywood for work, which is a bit too much on a daily basis.
I took buses a lot as a kid too, for similar reasons, but we were a one-car family because my mom couldn’t drive (she was legally blind and couldn’t get a license). That may be part of why I’m not so fond of them now :-).
I have to go with the Acela! I love riding the train, so soothing, and the Acela is the first class of trains. The ride is smooth, there are ambient radio stations to listen to, comfy seats, good bathrooms, and decent food. You can even fall asleep without a crick in your neck.
Kate – Not living in the Northeast, I wasn’t familiar with the Acela, but based on its Wikipedia entry, I can definitely understand why you would select it!
You are spot on about cars being an extension of personality in LA. I’m here in St. Louis. The majority of cars are Ford Taurus, Ford Focus, Chevy pickups, and other practical cars. Haven’t seen one BMW or Jag yet — although we did see a Mercedes and a really cool Pontiac sports car called the Solstice.
Kiva – It’s not just the BMWs and Jags; it’s the Hummers. Granted, the LA freeways are their own form of combat, but who really needs a Hummer?