Transportation

Not having a car as well as the lack of public transportation limits participation in daily activities.

Outsiders' Views

Outsiders hold mixed views about whether lack of transportation is an issue in Fuquay-Varina. Two service providers answered the question, "How does transportation, or lack of it, affect life in Fuquay-Varina?" by stating that transportation "is not an issue," and one said that "Fuquay-Varina is not very big, so it's not hard to get around." However, most outsiders expressed that lack of a transportation system is a major challenge for the community. One person stated, "Transportation is one of the toughest things that this community deals with." Many outsiders acknowledged that lack of transportation affects access to public services.

Lack of public transportation was identified as a problem common to most rural communities and not unique to Fuquay-Varina. Among many outsiders, there is general confusion about the current transportation options available in Fuquay-Varina. Various health and public services hire private companies to provide transportation for people who are receiving Medicaid or other forms of public assistance. However, implementing a regular public transportation system is logistically difficult in a small town with few people. In the past, there was a van service supported by the town and state but this failed because of low numbers of users.

In specific reference to Latinos, most outsiders stated that lack of transportation is a particularly large obstacle for this population. A few outsiders claimed that they often see Latinos walking along the road instead of driving. One person expressed, "Latinos like to walk, like to be healthy…" and then told a story about offering a ride to a few Latinos who refused, saying, "No, it's just a mile. We can walk."

According to outsiders, lack of transportation impacts many aspects of Latinos' lives, making it difficult for them to secure jobs, pick up their children from after-school activities, attend school meetings, and receive health care. One outsider said that getting to health clinics or the hospital (Wake Med) becomes an all-day project if one does not have easy access to transportation. Some outsiders expressed that lack of transportation has the greatest effect on Latina women who remain at home while their partners use a car (if they have one) for work.

Insiders' Views

All Latinos interviewed stated that lack of transportation is a major problem, if not one of the most serious challenges they face. Lack of transportation affects all aspects of their lives and, as one Latino claimed, "transportation is indispensable." Some Latinos do not own a car because they cannot afford the associated costs or have difficulty obtaining a driver's license.

One of the most common concerns associated with lack of transportation was expressed by one community member: "Without transportation, you can't get a job." Another Latino said, "there aren't any opportunities without a license, without a car." Insiders reported that they are always asked by employers if they own a car when they are trying to negotiate employment, and that they will not get the job if they say no. Latinos believe that employers are trying to determine if they have reliable transportation to and from work each day, not wanting them to depend on friends for transportation, in case they have to miss work if their friend cannot drive them for some reason. On another note, many insiders acknowledged the existence of a limited taxi service in Fuquay-Varina but did not see it as a viable option for getting to work everyday.

Many insiders discussed the difficulty of obtaining a driver's license and the additional regulations that have been implemented since the terrorist attacks of September 11th. While some people may have been able to get a license without a Social Security Number (SSN) before, now all persons must either present a valid SSN or an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) in order to obtain or renew a driver's license (State of NC, DMV Memo, Dec 31, 2001). (An ITIN is used only for persons in the U.S. from foreign nations who cannot obtain a valid SSN). Proof of North Carolina (NC) residency (such as a rental contract or utility bill) is also required. This proof may be difficult for some undocumented Latinos to produce since it is common for those without a SSN to move in with others who do have a SSN, because they can rent housing with less difficulty. Thus, undocumented persons often do not have papers proving residency such as rental contracts in their own names. These new regulations keep some Latinos from applying for a NC driver's license. Some insiders claimed that the DMV is attempting to provide services in Spanish but that the interactions between Latinos and DMV staff are tense. There is perceived rudeness and racism from DMV staff, making DMV services less accessible. In addition to the difficulty in obtaining a license, high costs of maintaining a car, such as license fees and auto insurance, were also mentioned as barriers to owning a car.

Lack of transportation seems to place an especially heavy burden on women who do not work and thus have to wait at home for their partners to return in order to run errands or access health services. Women expressed having to wait a long time to find transportation to take their children or themselves to the doctor or the hospital. While it is uncommon in certain areas of Mexico for women to drive, many newly arrived Latina women living in Fuquay-Varina are now realizing that their lives would be easier if they learned to drive; thus, many women are going to the DMV to get their licenses, but some face difficulties interacting with DMV staff due to the language barrier and perceived rudeness.

Lack of transportation also impacts the ability of youth to participate in recreational activities after school and on weekends. Latino parents expressed frustration with not being able to pick their children up from activities because they come home too late from work.

For the most part, when Latinos do not have access to their own car, they rely on friends and non-Latino members of their churches to give them rides. However, rides are sometimes difficult to obtain, and as one Latino reported, some people refuse to give rides because of the inconvenience and recurring necessity. Some Latinos walk to various destinations when they cannot get a ride, and one woman expressed embarrassment about walking alongside the road as cars drove by. Although insiders acknowledged how hard it would be to run a public transportation system in a relatively rural area, they would still like to see a system developed that could take them to surrounding areas like Apex, Holly Springs, Cary and Raleigh in order to access employment, services, and recreational opportunities.

Comparison

Most insiders and outsiders believe that transportation is one of the biggest challenges facing Latinos in Fuquay-Varina. The stated ways in which lack of transportation impacts Latinos' lives are basically the same from each group, with more emphasis given to access to jobs and health care by insiders. As most recently arrived Latinos have moved to the area for employment reasons, lack of transportation to jobs becomes an especially important issue. While both groups expressed a need for public transportation, insiders emphasized the need for making the process of obtaining a driver's license easier. Both insiders and outsiders acknowledged that lack of transportation is especially hard on Latina women.

Public Services

Housing