Driving and owning a vehicle can be a petty expensive option for some especially with gas prices and insurance here on the lower mainland. There are also a lot people these days who think that owning a car is not a necessity anymore especially with improvements to transit and other transportation options such as car share programs, Uber and cycling.
As for myself I have chosen to own a vehicle for the sake of convenience. That is I can drive anywhere I want whenever I want. I don't necessarily drive to work if transit is a better option. I have no issues taking transit. For example, it's a 20 minute bus ride from home to downtown. However, I wouldn't necessarily take transit to Surrey, which would be close to an hour or more. I also cycle when the weather is good. I enjoy keeping my options open but granted at a cost.
That being said, some of my friends don't own vehicles and sometimes it's awkward either at the end of a night out or having to go somewhere outside of Vancouver core (Vancouver East, Burnaby, Delta, North Shore, etc). Sometimes I feel obligated to offer them a ride. I feel like a selfish ass if I don't. When I do give them a ride, I then feel used because they're out of my way i.e., they're not on my way home as I go west and they go east ($25 cab ride). And if you want to do any outdoor activities like hiking, I'll most likely end up having to drive them as well and become like a chauffeur (get them and bring them home).
Note: I don't mind offering a ride here and there but I don't want to feel obligated to do it every time.
I wonder how others deal with this? Do you usually offer a ride home to your car less friends after an evening out? Do you always end up having to drive your friends when traveling (hiking, Seattle, etc)?
As for myself I have chosen to own a vehicle for the sake of convenience. That is I can drive anywhere I want whenever I want. I don't necessarily drive to work if transit is a better option. I have no issues taking transit. For example, it's a 20 minute bus ride from home to downtown. However, I wouldn't necessarily take transit to Surrey, which would be close to an hour or more. I also cycle when the weather is good. I enjoy keeping my options open but granted at a cost.
That being said, some of my friends don't own vehicles and sometimes it's awkward either at the end of a night out or having to go somewhere outside of Vancouver core (Vancouver East, Burnaby, Delta, North Shore, etc). Sometimes I feel obligated to offer them a ride. I feel like a selfish ass if I don't. When I do give them a ride, I then feel used because they're out of my way i.e., they're not on my way home as I go west and they go east ($25 cab ride). And if you want to do any outdoor activities like hiking, I'll most likely end up having to drive them as well and become like a chauffeur (get them and bring them home).
Note: I don't mind offering a ride here and there but I don't want to feel obligated to do it every time.
I wonder how others deal with this? Do you usually offer a ride home to your car less friends after an evening out? Do you always end up having to drive your friends when traveling (hiking, Seattle, etc)?
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