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Living in Vegas without a car

Discussion in 'Living in Sin (City that is)' started by AbFab, Jun 19, 2019.

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  1. Don the Dentist

    Don the Dentist LV resident

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    I grew up in NYC and did not get a driver's license until I was 30, when I moved out to Long Island. Took some lessons and passed the test. Learned to drive a hi-lo working in a warehouse part time and during the summer when going to college...guess it helped a lot!
     
  2. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    As with most things here, this should prove a self-fulfilling prophecy, and that's OK.
     
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  3. K-9treatbaker

    K-9treatbaker VIP Whale

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    Vegas is very doable without a car. I have talked to countless people on the bus, in the casino's that do not own a car. They get around just fine, and now with Ubler/Lyft it is even better.

    Sure not owning a car may be an inconvenience, but keep in mind, car insurance in Nevada is one of the highest in the country. Then you have the gas, maintenance, to consider as part of the cost.

    Now, talk about bad drivers, Las Vegas has all the bad drivers. LOL One of the things to watch out for are people running red lights. We have seen it on every trip we make to Las Vegas.

    When we visit Las Vegas, we now take the bus to where we want to go, and we have never had a problem. Not saying, a problem couldn't come up, but at least we don't have to fight gridlocked traffic on the strip, deal with road rage, or worry about what lane we need to be in, when looking for an exit or a property. Now, that Uber/Lyft is there, we are also going to use it on our upcoming trip.

    I did read an article, where they were stating, it was cheaper to take Uber/Lyft, using their discount codes, than owning a car, with all things considered.

    Since Vons's does deliver, that is a great option as well.

    Many, many, apt. complexes are on bus lines, and have stores etc. within a very close range.
     
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  4. TomTWI

    TomTWI Custom Title

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    I had to get used to not stopping on yellow or get rear ended. Vegas drivers expect you to keep going and a couple cars will continue on after red. However, always stop for pedestrians in crossings or parking lots.

    TomTWI
     
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  5. azlefty

    azlefty VIP Whale

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    @AbFab if you do this, please share your experience with us.

    Please consider that unlike NYC, buses don't run every 5 minutes. They could be 15-30 minutes apart or more. But I'm sure it is possible and probably enjoyable. Buy some strong sunblock.

    P.s. one of the newer bloggers at LVA seems either not to have a car or chooses not to use it. He may be a useful resource.
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
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  6. Flowers

    Flowers VIP Whale

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    I've never lived in Vegas but in the summer of 2008, I was there for a bit more than a month. I was in the middle of a cross country tour so I had the car with me that I owned at that time but I still got a 30-day residential bus pass and used that quite a bit to go all over the valley, from Boulder Highway to Rampart and Red Rock and to yes, this tiny casino out by the motor speedway that was in a really shady area. It was an adventure. That being said, public transportation in the Las Vegas metro area IMO is at the extreme opposite end of the spectrum from public transportation in the NYC metro area, even more so during non-rush hours.

    One thing to consider is taking the time to learn how to drive, even if you don't buy a car. I think it would be good to know given that you are are moving out West. You might eventually buy one but IMO it's not one or the other; you've got good advice from VMBers about neighborhood selection and after you get settled, you can think about driving lessons and renting a car for say a weekend when you think you might be doing lots of moving around, shopping, etc.

    I am sure not having a car will be a mixture sometimes of a being pain in the ass but also liberating and it is a choice that an increasing number of millennials are making every day. NYC is different from a public transportation perspective, I've been driving since I was a teen (growing up in Western NY) and I've owned cars in the past but not owning one now is so liberating as well as netting me out positively, significantly, from a financial perspective (e.g., no car insurance, parking costs, etc. etc.), and that's after factoring in ride sharing, cabs, etc.

    Wishing you the best with your choices and keep us posted!
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2019
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  7. azlefty

    azlefty VIP Whale

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    Hmmm, given what @AbFab has told us about itself, I don't think I agree. If you are fearful about driving, you will be a poor driver. Driving is something you have to do without hesitation, because it requires a lot of split second decisions that should be second nature. It's best to learn how to drive when you are young, stupid, and believe you are invincible.
     
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  8. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Driving obviously needs to be approached with immense respect. One need not be fearful but if that is the case, as lefty points out, is that already a strike against learning? Maybe.

    Two points are being made here. The first is that it is possible to exist in Vegas w/o a car.

    The second is a lifestyle matter: How limiting -- or expensive -- is it if a resident at least does not have access to a car from time to time, let alone more often or all the time, by virtue of renting. Sure Von's delivers and if anyone can plan that well in advance on all those needs, bueno. But let's get past the need to get to work and to the pharmacy/big box retailers/wherever. Uber/Lyft and public transit can tag those bases. But we do too much to ever try to live that way. Say we lived in Vegas, up in Summerlin, and had a tee time in Boulder City? What if we want a weekend getaway to St. George or a spring day trip to DVNP to see the wildflowers? What if we want to go to Calgary and see all the natural beauty along the way, too? And I would never attempt to vacation in a place like Hawaii and not be able to drive around in a rental. We simply do not want to be tethered, even if the plan was to spend more time than we typically do "at home." Now if by chance we lived in Manhattan, I'm sure we'd not remotely contemplate car ownership. But we know how to drive and that's why rentals exist (along with shared/public transit ... it all has a function).

    I'm not bagging on anyone. We just couldn't live that way.
     
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  9. deansrobinson

    deansrobinson VIP Whale

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    If it were possible, I'd be car-less. If you run the numbers, we spend a lot of money just to have a vehicle on stand-by.

    Yep. That's the way it works. Freedom.
    I don't know how things work in Vegas, but back here, if you're living in the burbs, you need the car or an alarming amount of time to accomplish the most simple of errands.
     
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  10. pfunk

    pfunk Low-Roller

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    It all depends on what you plan to do in Vegas. Do you need to work? Where? If you lived in some of the condos near the strip such as Turnberry or Panorama, you can get around very easily with Uber/Lyft. Everything you’ll need will cost you $8 or less. I would avoid the Paradise area you mentioned as it’s a sketchy area. The Chinatown area has some new construction and its gentrifying. Everything is fairly convenient in that area with good transit options.
     
  11. NotFromConcentrate

    NotFromConcentrate It’s a Cassowary :)

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    I really don’t have much to add here, as the subject of being car-free as a Vegas resident has been very thoroughly covered off so far in this thread, with a general consensus that...

    - It can be done
    - It will be a pain in the ass
    - Your ability to do much of anything non-essential will be severely limited

    What I will add is that as a lifelong non-driver, these are the same conclusions I’ve drawn about considering moving to Las Vegas. The public transit is actually pretty good, but the general layout of the city is not friendly to a non-driving non-tourist.
     
    [TENTATIVE Late Jul/Early Aug] Vegas by way of Chicago/Elko/Reno!
  12. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    And that latter observation is applicable to a good measure of America's large cities, and notably so in the West. The dumbest thing greater LA did was abandon what was once a pretty damn good and far-reaching grid of streetcar lines. But, hey, it was all for the vaunted personal automobile.
     
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  13. K-9treatbaker

    K-9treatbaker VIP Whale

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    I also agree with your statement. When we did drive to Vegas, we always did the 3 sec. rule (I think that is what it is called) and made sure no one was running the red light. Even valet's reminded us of that. LOL And there are bad drivers everywhere. Even here in Arizona. LOL
     
  14. Viva Las Vegas

    Viva Las Vegas Elvis has left the building

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    I've lived in Chicago for nearly 16 years now as public transit primary, rental car for special occasions. I've also relied heavily on public transportation for lengthy Vegas trip, hitting the entire valley (Henderson/Airport to Strip/Downtown to Boulder Strip and Summerlin. Vegas Public Transportation is limited compared to NYC or Chicago, but you can make it work if you are realistic and have flexibility. I just retired, and will likely get a car at some point for the flexibility to travel both micro and macro, but will still embrace public transportation (in addition to cycling and walking) wherever I live.

    My advice is rent short term when you arrive in Vegas and make sure you like the neighborhood and all aspects before locking in a mortgage or long term lease. I am a lifelong resident of Chicago, yet I spent extensive time walking various neighborhoods I was considering over several days. You can gain info on the internet or word of mouth, but gaining first hand knowledge and exposure of what is important to you, including transportation options, will make sure you don't make a costly mistake.

    You're from New York, and if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere! :beer: You'll be fine, Vegas public transportation is good enough for a city the size of Vegas if you have patience. Congratulations and good luck with your move!
     
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  15. alexm

    alexm VIP Whale

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    Just to add something that I have not seen mentioned. There has been a lot of talk about retail access and those sorts of things, but the OP has already disclosed his preference to stay home and as such, delivery services come to mind. Between postmates and amazon now and even Vons delivery, there is really no necessity to enter a retail space except for sheer desire to do so. If you are good with not going the delivery fees are usually less than r/t uber
     
  16. AbFab

    AbFab Low-Roller

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    Yes I'm a homebody...a female homebody though...lol
    I would use Vons delivery service and I'd hit the outlets, which I already know how to go via bus as I visit them almost ever trip in Vegas.
    Right now I'm looking at apartments in the Paradise area....Henderson seems real nice, however using bus from Henderson to different parts around town seems limited.

    Also, thank you to everyone's for your insight!
     
  17. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    Paradise? Now that's the Strip and backing areas and on down toward SouthPoint, right?
     
  18. AbFab

    AbFab Low-Roller

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    Yes
     
  19. ken2v

    ken2v This Space For Rent

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    As I thought. Very sketchy area for the most part. We all gotta live comfortably before even worrying about a bus trip being a longer excursion than from another locale. As others have opined, Henderson or Summerlin should be considered.
     
  20. win4me

    win4me VIP Whale

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    @robert m. Thank you for the detailed info, which got me to explore the RTC app, which has a link to their new (I think?) ride share app called TriptoStrip. I have only used the bus system on one trip to Vegas, but I may try using it on my cooler weather trips. @AbFab, you may find the ride share service of use, depending on where you end up living/working. IMG_7805.png Here is a snapshot from the TriptoStrip app. I just registered & received an alert that they added a new route "Downtown to M Resort".
     
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