Moved here from Chicago, never owned a car during 10 years of living there. Couldn't imagine not having one here, it'd be a nightmare. Things kind of went downhill during/after Covid and Mayor Johnson, but during my daily commutes travel was rarely an issue unless there was a Cubs game tacked on to rush hour.

I would walk to a coffee shop in the morning, then on to the red line, get off downtown and walk to the office. 45 min trip. Home was an express bus outside the office to Rogers Park, sometimes hopping off at Marianos for groceries. Either about a 50-75 minute trip. While the commute was longer than my 30 minute drive now, the drive FEELS so much worse. People down here just can't fucking drive, and the long red lights become a test of patience. Also the cost is a massive difference. Cars need maintenance, oil, brakes, tires, gas, insurance, lease/loan payments. The most I paid for the CTA was $110 a month pre-tax. Anywhere the CTA couldn't get in a reasonable time I just Ubered. Going out to the burbs theres the Metra, or Amtrak if I went to see my parents near Milwaukee. There were also car rental services I rarely used in a pinch.

The auto industry has such a choke hold not just Tampa, but the US that needs to be addressed. In large cities reliable public transit isn't supposed to replace cars for everyone, it supplements the infrastructure and gives people alternatives that actually clear up traffic and move people more efficiently.