21 mile walking commute

[mxt0133]

This guy has been busing and walking 21 miles to work since 2005 in Detroit.  Now that everyone found out they want to buy him a car.  As I'm reading I'm thinking "Nooo.  Get him a bike!!!."  They have raised funds of $35K and a car dealer wants to give him a car and all he need to do is pay the tax.  The article states that car insurance in Detroit runs on average $5k (that shit can't be right, that a new car every 4 years, can anyone confirm?).  Even if the did get a free car how long will he be able to keep it with the cost of insurance so high?  With $35K he can even get a fancy electric bike with heated seats and handle bars!

I'm also thinking why doesn't he move?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/01/detroit-resident-21-mile-walking-commute/22698439/

[cavewoman]

I saw that on CBS this morning.  The anchors of course said "aww", but I want to know where do they find this guy?  How did that grow to become national news?

Same with the person they find to be the "human element" to go along with a story about savings rates or organic cooking or anything.  How is that particular person vetted out to be the representative for a story?


I'm really hoping he takes the money but doesn't buy a car.  Or does buy one, participates in the photo ops, and sells it.  Buys a bike.  Invests it.  Uses it to move closer. Anything

[jba302]

This guy has been busing and walking 21 miles to work since 2005 in Detroit.  Now that everyone found out they want to buy him a car.  As I'm reading I'm thinking "Nooo.  Get him a bike!!!."  They have raised funds of $35K and a car dealer wants to give him a car and all he need to do is pay the tax.  The article states that car insurance in Detroit runs on average $5k (that shit can't be right, that a new car every 4 years, can anyone confirm?).  Even if the did get a free car how long will he be able to keep it with the cost of insurance so high?  With $35K he can even get a fancy electric bike with heated seats and handle bars!

I'm also thinking why doesn't he move?

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/02/01/detroit-resident-21-mile-walking-commute/22698439/

Michigan insurance is absolutely idiotic. It is pure no-fault, meaning if you hit someone, your insurance pays your bills and their insurance pays their bills other than killing / significantly maiming someone or if the non-at-fault person does not have MI coverage. Insurance companies are leaving Michigan personal auto in droves due to this. Which means, since it's a disaster to figure out rates, they just charge a lot. And still lose money.

[I'm a red panda]

A good part of that 21 mile commute seems to be on bus, not purely walking (how could you walk that far twice a day?)

A bike would only help if the buses are equipped for them, which in many places buses are not.

[Travis]

I glanced at this headline here a couple times today and came back to post after I saw that people on Facebook are forwarding articles where the headline says he's walking 21 miles.  CNN is running a full article where they don't mention the bus drive length (some reports don't mention the bus at all) unless you watch the entire video that goes with it.  His walk is 7 miles one way which still takes him a couple hours, but it's far from the full commute length that has been going around.  Even at 7 miles one way that is serious dedication for most people

[vern]

He would get mugged for his bike.

[Scandium]

I think NPR said people had raised 200 grand for him? He could buy a new bike and throw it away each day! Seriously though why would you walk 7 mi every day for years and not get a bike? Guy does seem like a dolt.

[Kyle Schuant]

He's been walking 21 miles a day for 9 years, never misses a day of work, and his boss pays him $10.55 an hour.

That man definitely needs to find a better workplace.

[marblejane]

Ugh...

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/28045659/man-who-walks-21-miles-to-work-surprised-with-new-car

[burly]

I guess he never thought of moving closer to work?

[minority_finance_mo]

I guess he never thought of moving closer to work?

This. And you wouldn't be bundled with the gas/maintenance/insurance of a car. I just don't see how people don't see the reoccurring costs involved with owning a car. Even if you buy a clunker for 5-6K, you're probably still looking at ~$500/month for gas, maintenance  and insurance for a new driver.

[NearlyThere]

and then it gets worse for the walking man

https://news.vice.com/article/detroits-walking-man-walks-on

[mxt0133]

Thanks for the follow up article.  It's amazing how the working poor get taken advantaged of $220 a week for rent in Detroit that's crazy!  I had a feeling this was going to happen to him with all the publicity. 

[2lazy2retire]

Thanks for the follow up article.  It's amazing how the working poor get taken advantaged of $220 a week for rent in Detroit that's crazy!  I had a feeling this was going to happen to him with all the publicity.

No wonder the GF was making multiple calls when he moved out.

[vern]

I just read Charlie LeDuff's book Detroit: An American Autopsy.  It was grim but difficult to put down.

Look for it at your local library if you're interested.