Is car necessary in USA?

[Willowwww]

Is it necessary for a nurse who is immigrating to the U. S. to buy a car for commuting, especially if they find a job in rural areas? Can they manage with a bicycle, or is a car absolutely required?

And if so, how would someone who has just started receiving their salary afford a car?

[WindAtMyBack]

Maybe. In most places, yes. You might get by riding a bicycle or even walking in some places if the weather is good. Riding a bike when it's -30C can be torture. Riding a bike with snow on the street could be a problem also.

The US, Canada and Australia were mostly built after the invention of the car. Plus they are geographically large. So things are more spread out than other places.

Some larger cities have good public transportation in the denser parts of the city. In other cities it's not good. Most suburbs are too spread out for public transportation to be efficient.

If you live close to where you work and shop, you can walk. It's common for college students to not have transportation. I walked everywhere the first college I went to. So did most other students. I don't know if students still do that, but there is nothing stopping them from doing it.

If you immigrate on a work visa, I assume you have a sponsor. Ask them about it. They might even line up a car for you.

There is always a demand for nurses in the US. But your English needs to be very good, including all the medical terminology. A nurse can't make mistakes due to language misunderstandings.

[Orion84]

I would say that, in a rural area, especially, a vehicle is a necessity, yes. If you live and work in the same small town, then a bike might work temporarily, but for anything else, you'd need a car.

The thing a lot of people don't quite understand about the US is just how massive it is. In rural areas, there can literally be more than 100 miles between towns, and you could never make that distance on a bike.

Rural areas don't have much in the way of alternative options, either. There aren't taxis & buses on every corner, so you really can't rely on anything but your own vehicle, or the kindness of others, to get around.

Fortunately, a used vehicle from those areas can be relatively inexpensive, too. You could pick up a beater for a few hundred dollars, just to get you around until you can save up enough to afford something a little nicer.

[Anonymous]

It is in my town. Everything is spread out and on mountains or up canyons. 40 years ago it took seven min to cross, now 45-50.

[Ariesman81]

Live close to the hospital. Rural is relative. I'm a 25 minute drive from the nearest hospital. But I'm sure there's places for rent within a 15 minute bike ride of that hospital.

[LiamJHayden]

In rural, unless you work at a doctor's office or hospital within easy walking distance from where you will be living a car will be essential.

[Cubus]

It is, unless you live in a very big city that has a subway, like New York, Los Angeles or Chicago.

[Anonymous]

Unless you live in an urban center a car is pretty much a necessity. I mean mass transit can get you to a lot of places, but not all. And that is only if it is an option in your area.

[beefcakebradybatson]

In far too many Canadian and American cities, H**L to the YES !!!

[In_Trance]

A rural area in the US is like a rural area where you are.
Think about that for a minute

[Pterodon]

Yes it is if you want true freedom