DEFEND YOUR RIDE: Megan At The Rapid Transit Cycle Shop

Q: What's your Chevy Cobalt's main use?

A: I mainly use my car to drive to and from school and work. I'm currently attending DePaul University, so I travel from the south suburbs to the north side every day.

Q: How is that commute?

A: Most of my classes generally begin in the early afternoon, so the drive there is generally smooth. There really isn't much traffic, so I get to school pretty quickly. Now, coming home is a totally different situation. I generally don't leave until 4:00 p.m., which is during rush hour traffic.

Q: Sounds like you have some pretty strong views on driving in the city versus driving in the suburbs?

A: The city has too much traffic in my opinion. Sometimes it takes an hour to get to a place that should really only take twenty minutes. That is so irritating too me. I also can't stand bicyclists! They are always in the way. In the suburbs, you don't have to worry about any of that. Traffic is always generally very good. If people ride bicycles they primarily ride them around their neighborhood or on a bike trail. You rarely if ever encounter them, which is a good thing.

Q: Where did you get your car? Did you buy it new?

A: My parents paid for it. After I totaled my other car, I couldn't afford to buy another one, but I really needed one. It would literally be impossible for me to get back and forth from school since I live in the suburbs and public transportation doesn't really even exist out there. My parents agreed to buy me another one.

Q: Now for a few fun questions. If your car had a human emotion, what would it be?

A: Probably dirty because it's kinda of junky in my car right now. I just went to Iowa last weekend. I haven't gotten a chance to clean it. Right now I have some gym shoes, a couple changes of clothes, and perfume. It's kind of like my little changing room at the present moment. Usually I would describe it as happy, crazy, and wild. I even have zebra print seat covers. I'm really into animal prints.

Q: Do you ever pump it up and rock out when you're driving?

A: Oh yeah! Especially if my song is on. I don't care if someone is looking or not. I turn my music up really loud. If it's hot, I roll down the windows, and sing and dance. A lot of people care if they feel like someone is watching them, but I don't. I'm all about having a good time and trying not to let other people's perception of what I'm doing ruin my good time.

Q: If your car had a theme song, what would it be?

A: I don't think I have just one consistent one. Whatever song I'm into at the present moment would be my theme song. I could probably never have a consistent theme song. That would be boring. I guess right now I would say "Blow" by Kesha.

Q: Do you have any rules in your car at the moment?

A: No smoking, no drinking, no eating and I don't like having more than three passengers in my car. I guess I'm so anal because I've been in a couple of really bad accidents. I totaled my last car. This car someone t-boned me. I try to keep my distractions to a minimum nowadays.

Q: Finally, what do you think your next car will realistically be?

A: I wouldn't mind a Cadillac or Lexus SUV. While I love my car, it's a two-door car, so I honestly don't have a lot of room. Getting an SUV would give me a lot more room, plus I can sit higher up. I don't know when I'll be getting another car though. Since this one is relatively new, I think I will try to hold onto it for awhile, or until I have a stable job and can afford to purchase one on my own. If money wasn't an issue, I would love to have a pink Corvette!