The Automobile's Ownership of the American Soul

Do we really enjoy driving?  Owning a car?  Paying insurance, title, registration, maintenance, fuel?

Living in Charlotte for ten months now I am reminded daily why driving should never be the first choice of transportation.  When I lived in Gastonia from 2000-2004, I was used to driving everywhere.  Growing up in rural Illinois, you simply had no other choice.  I was horrible at figuring out how to adjust my direction of travel if it was shifted from my original A to B route.  Home to work, school, store, theater, whatever it was I could handle.  Call me on the phone and ask me to go to some other location and I had to think about it.  I would even manage to take a longer route simply because I was familiar with it.

Then I moved to Chicago and it all changed.  Cycling, public transportation, and walking all required adaptability in your daily routine.  I quickly figured out how to adjust my route to save time and energy.  It's not that Chicago itself changed my thought of transportation, but the fact that it's history of alternative means were so ingrained.  Cyclists within the city boundaries were typically understood and respected.  Talk to people who live away from the core area of the city and you will probably hear differently. 

The first year back in Illinois, I was living in the suburbs which continued my need for driving.  January 2006, I moved into the city and opportunities to access other means of transportation were at my fingertips.  In June 2007 I began riding my bike as my core transportation.  Riding to work and school combined for a round trip of nine miles.  I drive, ONE WAY, to class and work ten miles in Charlotte.

I had not realized just how much I appreciated public transportation and cycling until I moved.  I had a weird expectation that I could manage getting around Charlotte with my bike alone.  I can't explain how, regretfully, wrong I was in that belief.  Enter driving on a daily basis.  Now fuel cost is added into the mix, more maintenance, exposure to road hazards, and who knows what else may come up.  Why do we enjoy being owned by our vehicles?  We don't drive it, it drives us, we're just the tool it needs to tell it when to go, stop, turn, brake.

Let's take control and apply the brakes on the entire idea of vehicles as the sole form of transportation.  This does not mean vehicles will not be involved in transportation, just less, even more so the second or last desired option.  Riding the train was so much fun, listening to music, talking, people watching, reading, knowing a small bit of focus was needed to ensure I got off at the right stop.  If I didn't?  Just catch the next train heading back.  While driving?  Watch out for that pothole!  What is this idiot in front of me doing?  Do I have enough fuel to get to work?  Where did this traffic come from?

A large part of Charlotte's problem is the planning.  The only area that provides concentrated housing is Uptown.  Away from Uptown, you may have apartment complexes and other similar housing arrangements, many new structures surrounding the light rail line.  This is great, take it to the next step Charlotte, let's be serious about expanding the LYNX system.  A new mayor is now elected, will that solve the delay?  A system like a new and growing rail line requires support vocally and structurally.  The bus and rail system need to be as in sync as possible, this will expand the opportunities for a resident to take advantage of this resource.

A random individual was explaining a trip taken via CATS from their home to Southpark Mall.  It was the first time they had attempted it and were severely disappointed.  It took them over two hours via bus that otherwise would have been a twenty minute drive.  How is someone suppose to sacrifice two hours of their life just to make a trip to the mall?  That is not acceptable.  Her resolution for the ride home, "Hi Mom, can you come pick us up?"

We have discussed the goal once school is finished in the next couple years.  Accept the decision to move was a learning experience and return to Chicago.  I have enjoyed my time in Charlotte thus far, my desired lifestyle will prevail though...

What to do...

I have reached a crossroad that simply has two options,

1. Stay on course with the Management program and I should finish the degree May 2011.
2. Change majors to Construction Management and it will take me roughly three years, finishing December 2012.

The main reason for it being a struggle is Management has become a redundant topic for me.  I doubt I would learn much from the course material.  Where I would gain would be during discussion and that can happen outside of a classroom.

On the other hand, Construction Management is a more technical based including surveying, materials, cost estimating, physics, codes, permits, etc.  This could build upon my training next fall with the ANG that is carpentry 101.

I define myself as a professional student.  It's unfortunate that I have remained in college for nine years now.  At times I wonder if I have intentionally setting myself up for this situation.  After completing my associate's in Human Resource Management from Gaston College, I moved to Chicago and began class with the sole purpose of being accepted to UIC.  I attended College of DuPage and Harold Washington College.

Finally accepted at UIC, I completed three semesters then an opportunity to return to Charlotte came up.  Last step in the puzzle is beginning at UNCC requiring even more courses to enter the Management program.  After this fall semester, I should have the credits necessary to enter the Belk College.

Walking away with a degree in Construction Management will provide me more tools with what we plan to do in the future.  Management will simply provide me with a degree and relief that it has finally been achieved.  Is it worth graduating and moving on, or should I take the dive and change direction.

An important note to make, if a class is failed or missed because of time conflicts or course load limitations, you will end up waiting another year to attend.  The course planning is very rigid and leaves little room for error.

Other options could be to complete the Management bachelor's and then attend CPCC for their Construction Management or Civil Engineering Technology.  The adviser I spoke with today said their CM program was more trade oriented while the CET program was technical oriented providing the structure needed to transfer to UNCC and complete the Construction Management degree.

How Different Groups Spend Their Day

I, still, find this to be a fascinating article.  The data represents a day in the life of Americans.  Eating, shopping, work, education, TV and movies, etc...

Click through the segregated groups to review how their days are handled.

Just realized that I am listed under 25-64 category.  I don't feel like I can be in this label being in school and only working part-time!  Bah.

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/07/31/business/20080801-metrics-graphic.html?scp=3&sq=infographic&st=cse