By Catherine Brack
CHARLESTON, S.C. | Several years ago, I went car-free. Living in the heart of Washington, D.C., the transition to a purely pedestrian experience was not too difficult. Friends were happy to lend me their cars for short errands, there were ZipCars you could rent aplenty, and for longer term rentals, the airport and Amtrak station were only a few subway stops away. Public transportation is fairly efficient in Washington, and my daily 10-minute walk to METRO allowed me to visit with neighbors and catch up on the ever-present gossip that my neighborhood (and town) generates.
But Atlanta is an entirely different area, and living without a car usually isn’t an option. Atlanta traffic is legendary, and the area has topped polls for years as one of the “worst cities for commuters” (Forbes, 2008). And it’s not just as easy as walking – or even biking – wherever you’d like to go – the metro Atlanta region has been cited as one of the most dangerous cities for pedestrians (Michael Bluejay’s Bicycle Universe). Having grown up in Gwinnett, learning how to drive at Technology Park and on I-285, there was never a question about owning a car – if I wanted to get anywhere, then I needed to own a car.
On a recent visit to the area, I had an appointment to visit a colleague south of the airport, and needed to borrow a car. My mother’s car, which is seldom used and even then only for local errands, was available, so I motored off for my lunch.
Making my way back to Gwinnett, I noticed that the car was shaking – nothing too alarming, but certainly noteworthy. By the time I had passed the Clairmont Road exit, however, the car was vibrating violently. Though I should have pulled off at Shallowford Road, I pushed on, easing into the right hand lane of I-85 North, and slowing down my speed. That strategy was short-lived, as within a minute of pulling to the “slow” lane, the rear driver-side tire burst, shredding on the highway. Luckily, the car remained maneuverable, and I glided into the emergency lane, calling for help and a tow.
How had this happened? From my perspective, the tread on the tire looked perfectly fine. However, the serviceman at the tire center said that since the car was used so infrequently, the back two tires had in fact rotted from the inside out. I was lucky to have only one shredded tire, and not a larger accident on my hands.
Looking back, there are a few key lessons that I was able to take away from this incident:
(1) Car maintenance is important.
(2) Get your oil changed and your tires checked as recommended by your service professional. In case you have a car that is infrequently driven, have the tires rotated every six months. This will allow the mechanics to determine the wear and tear on your tires.
(3) Know three little numbers: 5-1-1. This is the number for roadside emergency service in Georgia.
(4) Carry a cell phone and a car charger for the cell phone.
(5) Living in DC was and is expensive, cold in the winter, frequently a hassle and often clogged with tourists. But there, living car-free eliminated many other elements, such as car payments, insurance premiums, fender-benders, speeding tickets, parking lot drama, and, of course, highway mishaps.
Drive safe, Gwinnett.
- Have a comment? Send to: elliott@brack.net
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