The easiest way to relieve traffic congestion in metro Atlanta is to increase the number of carpoolers. It's that simple. Unfortunately, no matter how high gas prices climb most people will never carpool. Why? Because people love their cars. Not necessarily the car itself, but what having the car means to them. Their car is their safety net, their oasis, a symbol of freedom. Ask 10 people who don't carpool why they drive alone to work. Nine out of 10 will tell you it's because they like having their car at work.
Your car is your second home. Your respite. Whether you drive a $300,000 Bentley or a ‘67 Doge Dart.
You might not control the TV at home, but you are the king of the radio dial in your car. Blues, jazz, rock or rap, in your car, you get to choose the entertainment.
You might not control the air conditioning settings at your house, but in your car you can make it as hot or cold as you want it. At home your spouse likes to keep the house warm. In your car you can crank the AC up as high as it can go and soak in the chilly goodness.
You can customize your car in a variety of different ways. You can make it look the way you want. You can make it feel the way you want. You can make it smell the way you want. Racing stripes down the side with calf-skin seat covers and a pine tree air freshener. It's all up to you.
You can tint your windows so no one can see you. You can paint your car neon green so everyone can see you.
You can spend a fortune on fancy rims or go with the every popular three-hub cap look.
You are the boss in your car. You are in charge of schedules. You decided who stays and who goes.
You get to keep whatever you want in your car. Sweatshirts, fishing poles, basketballs or umbrellas. Whatever you think you might need that day at work you can just keep it in your car.
Your car can even have a mini pantry. Snacks, gum, water. You get to stock your own snack machine in your car.
You can sing at the top of your lungs in your car. You can sleep in your car. There have been many times that I spent my lunch hour at work sleeping in my car. I would feel weird asking my carpool driver if I could catch some zzzzz's in their Sebring.
You can break wind in your car. You can belch in your car. In a carpool these things are usually frowned on.
But perhaps the biggest reason people don't carpool is the freedom driving your own car to work gives you. You're not tied down. If you want to leave work early you can. If you want to stay at work late you can. If you want to go to the gym after work you can. If you want to grab a bite to eat after work you can. Being in a carpool limits these freedoms.
While I wish everyone would carpool, I certainly understand the allure of driving to work alone.
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