Why does Texas not have good transit? (Austin, El Paso: apartment, insurance)

[MynameisnotPeter]

There's barely any public transportation anywhere in Texas. How is someone supposed to get around without driving. Driving can cause severe panic and anxiety in some people so it is not good to have no other way to get around. Who wants to sit at home all day just cause they can't drive? What's with this stupid cat centric bs? It's stupid, I should not have to operate a car to be able to go places. It's not cslled being lazy its called I can't handle driving cause I'll have a severe panic attack. I should have a way to get around! I don't even care if it uses tax dollars, it doesn't seem like its gonna happen unless the government pays for it. Also everyone having to drive is causing our environment to be polluted but many people don't have any other way to get around. How about some more buses and taxis in Texas? Those can be used anywhere, but some places still have no transportation at all.

[smuboy86]

Instead of society adapting to people, people need to adapt to society. Texan society is car-centric due to large open space, sprawling cities and a sense of freedom.

[MynameisnotPeter]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Instead of society adapting to people, people need to adapt to society. Texan society is car-centric due to large open space, sprawling cities and a sense of freedom.

I think Texas might not be a good place for me. But I'd like to stay in. I wish I knew how to adapt. I'm scared that my problems can't be fixed even by professional help. I don't want my problems to control my life, I shouldn't have to adjust my whole life around them.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

sprawling cities and a sense of freedom.

That force you to have a car and pay increasingly high insurance and fuel costs. You have to be out of your mind if you think a car in a sprawling city spells freedom in any fashion.

[FalconheadWest]

Why does this have to be a "Texas" thing? Many cities in Texas have transportation. Move to a city that has it.

[smuboy86]

Originally Posted by annie_himself

That force you to have a car and pay increasingly high insurance and fuel costs. You have to be out of your mind if you think a car in a sprawling city spells freedom in any fashion.

Of course it does. Tomorrow if I want I can hop in my car, I can go to numerous towns in the country side. Hell if I wanted I could drive all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Way more freedom than a predetermined bus ride.

[annie_himself]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Of course it does. Tomorrow if I want I can hop in my car, I can go to numerous towns in the country side. Hell if I wanted I could drive all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Way more freedom than a predetermined bus ride.

Cars have a purpose but freedom doesn't usually include thousands of dollars a year.

[southwest88]

Originally Posted by smuboy86

Instead of society adapting to people, people need to adapt to society. Texan society is car-centric due to large open space, sprawling cities and a sense of freedom.

There used to be a trolley (electric?) system in the heavily transited downtown of El Paso (TX) once upon a time. I believe the rising US car companies went around behind shell corporations in the post-WWII period, bought all those light rail and trolley systems, etc. in good-sized cities, and tore them down. The Texas Lege is quite infamous for being willing to take anybody's money - and 'sides, once they slapped a depletion tax on exported (from the state) oil/nat gas, it was pretty much a gimmee for Texas. (This was also true for all the other oil/nat gas producing states, don't think that TX is all that special, their pleadings notwithstanding.)

There still are vestiges of bus and taxi systems in the larger cities in Texas. You can look around and see if you can hook up with one of their stops nearby. The other thing to check is to see if there is Special Transportation/Medical/Handicap available. If you have a diagnosis that keeps you from driving, you may well qualify for that service. Check on the Internet, or your local or regional public transportation system to see if you qualify, where the nearest pickup point is (they may even come to your house/apartment), and how the service works where you are.

Best of luck, compadre.

[JoninATX]

Find a place that's close to a transit area. In Austin we all types of transportation. Rail, rapid buses, a bike share program, lots of pedi cabs, as well as taxis. Pick your choice.

[Trainwreck20]

My brother has lived in Austin without a car for about 25 years now, give or take. He relies on the bus system for everywhere he can't walk or bum a ride.