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Oooh, $120/wk (max) to rely on public transit in LA —and not get fired, mugged, lost, etc.? Who thought this up, the local oligarchs? 🖕🏼
As someone who commutes with public transit and doesn’t even own a car, I haven’t had any of that happen to me in the ~14 years I’ve been here 🤷♂️ I guess if you count being briefly turned around I’ve been ‘lost’ (how much more lost can you get with a GPS in your pocket?). I’m not an intimidating dude by any means, although I’m sure women have a different experience.
I, on the other hand have experienced most of that, some even multiple times. (and, I was warned beforehand by friends that had tried it and decided it was risky at best. Did it anyway, found out.)
p.s. nice nick 🤘🏼
Where I currently live, they incentivize people by allowing them to "mothball" their vehicles at will so it stops costing you: if you don't use it, you de-register it for use on public roads, it costs a few euros to do so, and that instantly freezes road tax and insurance payments. If you need to use it again, re-register it on the internet, and it's instantly usable again.
It's nice because you may want to be mostly car-free, but still retain a vehicle - or several - for special occasions. Me, I keep a minivan parked in the garage most of the year, and I use it a few times a year to move furniture or buy oversized items for my workshop of for the garden, and to drive my disabled wife somewhere if she needs to get there fast and can't wait for an accessible cab.
We don't get paid not to drive, but it pays not to drive here. I wonder if the LA incentive offsets the running costs of a keeping a vehicle insured and taxed.
I've never heard of any programs anywhere in the US like what you described. It sounds great and I wish that it was more common, but I also think that it would mainly work in places that have good public or other alternative transportation infrastructure.
Yes of course. This is done to promote public transportation. But this is Europe, and even out here deep in the sticks, I'm not far from a bus stop with a regular, reliable, clean and affordable bus service.
Very nice!
It's certainly not as cheap and not as simple, but in my state it's fairly easy to go to a DMV and get a 30 day temp plate. You have to do it in person and it's like $30, but still handy. Insurance is required and a separate matter. (also just looked it up to confirm the above and you can get a one-way permit for $5 which it sounds like you could make the start and end point your house with an intermediate point, still can't do it online tho)
Thanks for that. I didn't realize until now that my state also issues temporary permits, somewhat similar to what you described.
I don't even know how to drive, can I get some cash as well? (I'm not even on the same hemisphere btw)
this post was submitted on 06 Aug 2026
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