If there is anything I’ve learned about college life, it’s that life is so hard without a car, especially when you live off campus. While most colleges have buses and other modes of transportation, there are still moments where you find yourself wishing that you had the freedom of your own car. On the other hand, sometimes getting driven around is not the end of the world. As a passenger, there are still some great benefits.
Pros:
1. You don’t have to drive
This is pretty obvious, but if you’re like me and hate driving not having your own car is not 100% terrible. Getting driven around in traffic is less stressful than having to drive yourself, so that’s something super important to keep in mind. Plus, you get to nap and eat in the car on your way to school.
2. Saves you money
Having a car is so expensive, sometimes I cringe when I hear how much it costs to maintain. While you should always offer to pay for gas, you never really have to pay to change the tires or buy the overpriced parking pass.
3. You’ll always have someone with you
I know this sounds weird, but it’s always nice to have someone around in case something goes wrong. Car accidents, flat tires and traffic jams are unavoidable and having company makes everything go faster. This is basically a plus for both parties.
Cons:
1. Playing the waiting game
This is probably the worst of the struggles for both passenger and driver. There are to different ways this goes down: you’re running super late and your ride is waiting for 30 minutes or your last class gets canceled and you’re stuck waiting for three hours. Either way, no one likes the waiting game and it’s the first rule of not having a car.
2. Constantly begging for rides
You are the master of the “hey, what time are you getting out of class? Can I get a ride?” text message. While most people usually don’t have an issue driving you home, you still feel pretty bad when you’re constantly asking.
3. Having to schedule your life
The lack of freedom is real, again for both passenger and driver. Having to compare schedules can get pretty frustrating, especially when your classes just don’t match up.