Are you a member of Generation Y or the parent of a member of the 18 to 34 generation?
There are 80 million of them, And among other things, they aren't obsessed with driving. A quarter of them didn't have driving licenses in 2010. I was shocked by that statistic.
Will be interested if you agree or disagree with anything else in this profile of that generation?
Here's the link:
http://news.yahoo.com/americas-generation-y-not-driven-drive-145632280--sector.html
FD
Virtue
1 hour ago
Hmmm. My brother at the older end of the range is more like an Xer. Hard working jo. My 18 yo DD is another story. She refused to get her license until she was almost 18. She didn't see why she needed to drive.
ReplyDeleteI can't get over kids not wanting to drive. It used to be a rite of passage. And the kids wanted the freedom of having wheels. Amazing.
DeleteFDn
I'm a mom of a Gen Y'er, she is 22 and doesn't drive. It doesn't seem to be important to her to learn either.
ReplyDeleteAs I said earlier, I had no idea kids weren't eager to drive.
DeleteFD
As with any generation, I think there are positives and negatives...those I have managed in the work world have actually been pretty stellar for the most part, and the driving thing isn't a huge deal, IMO. They are different from us X's...as much as we are from the Boomers...who are different from the Traditionals. But all have something of value to add to society. I find it all very fascinating. I do feel terrible for those Y's just graduating from college into the current economy. It is really rough out there for them.
ReplyDeleteYes, difficult to be coming out of college in this economy.
DeleteFD
So are we talking only about lack of desire to drive or the fact that young people coming of age the last few years will be lucky if they can find a job at all, let alone one that pays well enough to allow them to afford a car and insurance? I would have to earn pretty much twice what I do now in order to afford car payments, insurance, and gasoline. Possibly knowing that owning a car is unlikely causes the urge to learn to drive to decrease. And then there's the whole thing with lack of desire for independence these days.
ReplyDeleteSo are you saying you don't have a car? I can see not having a car in places like NY, Philly and Chicago but in most cities without good mass transit, it would seem to be difficult.
DeleteI hear of kids moving back in with their parents (assuming because they couldn't afford their own place) but didn't know there is a lack of desire for independence. The son of one of my friends may be going to China to work because of the lack of opportunities here.
I remember 15 or so years ago when my oldest got out of college and was interviewing for a job a five hour drive from home and she was asked if her parents were OK with her living that far away and she said that she said, "They just want me out of the house.''
FD
I definitely don't have a car. I'm lucky I have electricity.
ReplyDeleteHmmm... My kids, 24 and 19 got their license the first day that they could. That was what I expected them to do. Now that LJ is in NYC he is delighted to be without the responsibility of a car. But Mollie as well as Nick and me live in a place where there is NO mass transit. We drive or stay put!
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed that this generation often shows no desire to leave home! Not a problem I think I'll have, but the second I got out of college I wanted a place of my own. Even a few years later when I moved back to my home town I got my own place - just doors from my parents, but it was mine!
Hugs,
PK
Interesting fact that I did not know. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteI am part of that generation but on the older end of it ha! I have never understood these kids that don't want to learn to drive.... When I became old enough I immediately got my license and was beyond excited! It was a feeling of independence! I still to this day enjoy hopping in my car and just taking a ride (that is when I do a lot of thinking ha). This generation also seems to just have no drive at all about many things. Like going out with friends.....when I was growing up we couldn't wait until Friday and Saturday night.....now a days, these kids don't do anything for fun.....at least not the ones that I know. I mean, even jf we didnt have anything planned, we would meet in a parking lot and just listen to music, laugh, and be teenagers! The whole thing just bothers me.....from the not wanting to drive/get license, to not going out and just staying home, to no motivation about life. Just weird to me. Again.....I am part of the y generation if you look at my age, but I don't consider myself part of it really.
ReplyDeleteBelle
There does appear to a lack of motivation at times with Gen Y...but there are those few that are driven to grab all they can in whatever venue they are in. Being a Gen Xer...hell, all we want is succeed.
ReplyDeleteJack
It could be due to increased regulation as well as cost. I made my gen ys get their licences as soon as it was possible but it was a huge chore due to the number of tests they had to complete and the number of learner hours. There is the cost of petrol while learning and then there is the cost of insurance when they get a license. It is prohibitive. They can't drink at all and drive either. So where is the incentive if they can continue to enjoy life the way it has always been, walking, public transport or being taken around by parents.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry but I think its a good thing we dont want to drive. There would be alot more dui's...just a thought
ReplyDeleteI am a "member" of this generation (31). I drive, bit because I live I'm suburbia. If I lived closer to the city I would rely more on public transportation. The costs of driving are high.
ReplyDeleteI think for the younger end of this generation, the issue is motivation and helecoptor parents..