Transportation

You may have noticed that it is difficult, but not impossible, to get around without a car. If you can't afford one, it is cheaper and safer to get along at Kennesaw without one. When you buy a car, you have the added expense of car insurance, registration, maintenance, gas, parking permits, emission inspections, and license plate. In the United States, the steering wheel is on the left and we drive on the right side of the road. If you are coming from a country that has the opposite driving practices, it will be an adjustment.

In Georgia, tags or license plates are obtained through county offices, and drivers licenses through state offices. When someone relocates to Georgia, they are required to obtain a Georgia drivers license and a car tag 30 days after establishing residency. To get a license, you have to show proof of age, i.e. your passport. Get more information on this process by calling the Georgia Department of Public Safety Information Line at (404) 657-9300.

The usual procedure is surrendering all drivers license that are not from the State of Georgia. Make sure you know the rules of the road in Georgia by getting a driver's handbook from any Georgia Department of Transportation Office. Some Kroger grocery stores offer drivers license renewal service.

Renew your license every 4 years and every time you change your address. Once you get your license, you need the tag or license plate for your car. The fee for a Drivers License is reduced if you are an organ donor.

Tags To obtain your actual car license or tag go to the county office where you live with: Current car registration Title of car or name and address of lienholder or copy of lease agreement. Emission Certificate. If necessary in your county, this is proof that any post-1975 gasoline powered car has passed the state-approved test. More recent models must pass an emissions test, too. This test is mandatory if you live in Cherokee, Clayton, Cobb, Coweta, Dekalb, Douglas, Fayette, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Paulding or Rockdale County. If your car does not pass the emissions inspection, you have to fix the car so it will pass or buy another car! If you have questions, call Georgia's Clean Air Force at 1(800) 499 AIR1 (2471). Proof of insurance. There will be a tag fee and an ad valorem tax, which is the property tax, based on the value, year, make, and model of your car. Each county establishes this fee. The newer your car, the more you pay. Yes, it can be expensive to have a car. If you do not have a valid drivers license or car insurance, never drive or purchase a car for any reason. Your license is an indication that you know the rules of the road. The laws of the state of Georgia require that anyone who drives must have provisions to pay for expenses incurred in case of an accident. This is what your car insurance does. If the police stop you while you do not have a license or insurance, you could be put in jail. If you do not have a valid driver's license, don't buy a car. You won't be able to get insurance without a license and you can't drive without insurance, so why get a car? If you do decide to buy a car, make sure it is in your budget.   If you get a used car from a car dealer or by checking the classified ads in the paper, make sure you take someone with you who really knows about cars. Have them give the car a thorough inspection. People sometimes like to take advantage of people when it comes to buying a car. You also want a warranty.

Rental Car If you need a car for special times why not consider renting one? Use the insurance that comes with the rental. It will cost more but this is a special time. Public Transportation Have you considered taking public transportation? In Cobb County there is Cobb County Transit (CCT). CCT 2800 Cumberland Parkway SE Marietta, GA (770) 433-9699 Call for fare and scheduling information. It stops right on campus. There is also Express Service with MARTA at the Arts Center, Civic Center, Peachtree Center, North Avenue, Dunwoody and Peachtree and Luckie Street. Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA). 2424 Piedmont Rd. NE Atlanta, GA 30324 (404) 846-1077 MARTA has more extensive route schedules. You can get on MARTA and go directly to Hartsfield Airport. The North-South Line travels from Chamblee to the Hartsfield Atlanta International Airport. The East-West Line travels from Avondale to the Hightower or West lake Station. All trains and several buses stop at the Five Points Station in downtown Atlanta, Georgia. Call for specific fare and scheduling information.

Taxicabs   Taxicabs are also a transportation option. They are more expensive than the bus. You can hail one in the street, go to a taxi stand, or look them up in the Yellow Pages under "Taxicab" and have one pick you up. The following cabs are members of the metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce: American Cab     (404) 873-1410 Atlanta Royal Cabbie     (404) 584-6655 Checker Cab Co.     (404) 351-1111 Yellow Cab     (404) 521-0200 Amtrak   Traveling out of town? Consider the train, although it does have limited service. The morning train going south covers the area to New Orleans, Louisana. The evening train going north covers the area to Washington, DC and New York City, NY. Amtrak Brookwood Station 1688 Peachtree Stree NW Atlanta, GA 1-800-872-7245/ (404) 881-3062 for station information.   Greyhound This is a faithful mode of transportation. You can leave the driving to them. Just remember there is no drinkable water on the bus. Call for fare and scheduling information: Greyhound 232 Forsyth Street Atlanta, GA (404) 584-1731 Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport You already know the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport located off I-85 and Camp Creek Parkway.   Bicycles When all is said and done, don't forget a bike. They are fun, inexpensive, and a convenient way to travel. Just go with the flow of traffic and always wear a helmet.

DID YOU KNOW... The island of Bermuda forbade private cars until 1948? This is one reason there are so many bicycles there. In Venice, all gondolas must be painted black unless they belong to high public officials? One out of every 2 people in Denmark owns a bike? There are more bicycles than automobiles in Northern Ireland? Most car horns beep in the key of "F"? A sneeze can travel as fast as 100 miles per hour? And while you are sneezing you cannot keep your eyes open. Thomas Leiper built the first American railroad in 1809 in Crown Creek, Pennsylvania? It had wooden tracks. The speed of a railroad train can roughly be established by counting the number of clicks heard in 20 seconds? For every 1 1/2 square miles of land in Belgium there is 1 mile of railroad track? It is impossible for a solar eclipse to last more than 7 minutes and 58 seconds because of the speed at which the sun moves? The telescope on Mt. Palomar, California can see a distance of 7,038,835,200,000,000,000,000 miles?

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