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Stigma of not having a car in Columbus

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Started 1 year ago by cbus11
Latest reply from kessler

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cars
dating

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cbus11

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I have a male friend in his later 20's who is moving to Columbus from NYC. He does not have a car and told me he is not getting one. I understand that he will save money and maybe help the environment. His basic motivation though is not having to deal with a car.

I am sure you can get by fine without having a car if you plan a little. What I am more wondering about is the social stigma. He is single and I think most people in his dating pool would be turned off by this. In NYC not having a car is fairly normal, but Columbus is a different animal. Since a lot of Cu'ers seem to be pretty social I am wondering what are your thoughts?

Posted 1 year ago #
Snarf
Dystopia
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I would think taking a date out on the COTA would be fairly stigmatizing.

Posted 1 year ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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A car would probably make dating easier, but maybe he will find a girl with a car and won't need to worry about it. Sure, as a girl, it is nice to be picked up, but you can always meet out somewhere and if things get serious, offer some money for car sharing.

I vote no big deal. And if he lives close to plenty of fun date spots, that's fine. I guess he could always pick up a date with a cab too.

Posted 1 year ago #
rus

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I've known three people who've gone without cars here, two women and one man. None of the three have had problems getting dates... at least not transportation related problems.

Posted 1 year ago #
Anne
King Lincoln
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or, cbus11, prepare to have your car borrowed! :)

Posted 1 year ago #
sixby9is42

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Anne wrote >>
or, cbus11, prepare to have your car borrowed! :)

Yeah. If he plans to stick around for at least a few years, I think he's going to cave in eventually. I don't think he realizes yet how much different the transit situation is in Columbus compared to NYC.

Posted 1 year ago #
cbus11

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Anne wrote >>
or, cbus11, prepare to have your car borrowed! :)

Lol

I guess in general, I am putting too much stock in the social necessity of a car.

thanks

As far as his knowledge of Columbus, it revolves around a weekend hanging out in the SN (gallery hop), Campus (had to show him the Shoe), Arena District and jaunt up to Easton. We walked most of it.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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I don't think there's much of a "stigma" per se. Some people might think it's weird, others might think it's cool. Most will probably be indifferent.

Posted 1 year ago #
AmyArt21
Short North
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My boyfriend doesn't have a car. He takes the bus and walks and I don't mind picking him up and being the one to drive because he's super cute and generally awesome :)

Posted 1 year ago #
shmack

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i didn't have a car for two years and relied heavily on COTA. having moved from nyc, it was really nice not having to worry about finding a DD or moving my car, or anything related to cars and drinking. however, even living in the arena district, downtown, and short north areas, i still much prefer the option of having a car at my disposal whenever i needed. i wonder if there are new zipcar type programs that your friend might make use of?

Posted 1 year ago #
groundrules

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tell him to get a scooter. instant friends.

Posted 1 year ago #
Brant
Gahanna
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How not having a car became Hollywood shorthand for loser.

http://www.slate.com/id/2262214/

Posted 1 year ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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What is he from the 1950's?

Car-less in Columbus for 7 years. Best decision I ever made. No stigma.

Posted 1 year ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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cars are glass and metal deathtraps

Posted 1 year ago #
berdawn
near that stretch of N. High Street in the Short North
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cyclist II wrote >>
cars are glass and metal deathtraps

bodies are skin and water deathtraps

Posted 1 year ago #
cyclist II
Short North & Peach District
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Brant wrote >>
How not having a car became Hollywood shorthand for loser.
http://www.slate.com/id/2262214/

greenberg was a terrible movie. the topless scene(s) were the only good parts.

Posted 1 year ago #
rus

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cyclist II wrote >>
the topless scene(s) were the only good parts.

there's a surprising amount of movies like that.

Posted 1 year ago #
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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cbus11 wrote >>
I have a male friend in his later 20's who is moving to Columbus from NYC. He does not have a car and told me he is not getting one. I understand that he will save money and maybe help the environment. His basic motivation though is not having to deal with a car.
I am sure you can get by fine without having a car if you plan a little. What I am more wondering about is the social stigma. He is single and I think most people in his dating pool would be turned off by this. In NYC not having a car is fairly normal, but Columbus is a different animal. Since a lot of Cu'ers seem to be pretty social I am wondering what are your thoughts?

Don't know if he bikes but we have a handful of folks getting around car free (or pretty close to it) posting here.

MORPC has (or had, need to double check) a voucher program that helps pay for a cab 2-3 times a year if you are biking/walking/bussing/car pooling and need a ride in an emergency.

Hertz replaced Zip Car on OSU. Might be a good thing to look into for those times when he needs something.

As others said, it can be done. I did it for 3-4 months before my job situation worked against me. If he stays relatively close to wherever he's living he should be fine. Just depends on what he's planning on for work. Over short distances, COTA is pretty decent. Walking isn't bad most of the year. Cycling is pretty easy, just depends on the routes and what not.

Posted 1 year ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
MORPC has (or had, need to double check) a voucher program that helps pay for a cab 2-3 times a year if you are biking/walking/bussing/car pooling and need a ride in an emergency.

http://www.morpc.org/transportation/ridesolutions/grh.asp

Posted 1 year ago #
StowCbusCleveland
Jackson Township, Canton, OH
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I hate to be the cynic, but for your typical Ohio girl? Yeah, I think there will be at least a mild stigma. Plenty of otherwise nice, normal, potentially interested girls will put that info in the "con" column. Whether it's because it signals a lack of economic status, a major inconvenience, or someone with an atypical lifestyle, I think a number of girls will be turned off. I do think his time in NYC will give him back plenty of those lost points though. A cool backstory is worth a lot, and it can be spun his way I think.

It's not like it's something you can't overcome, but on the grading scale of positive, negative, or doesn't matter, I think it's likely to be at least a mild negative with a number of potential dates. If you're a glass half full kind of person, you might see this as a filter for superficiality instead of an impediment.

Posted 1 year ago #