Having given up car ownership in the mid-1990s, I read Jane Alison's Opinion Exchange commentary with great interest ("Why I Gave Up on Transit," May 26). My no-car plan worked great in Austin, Minn., and it is working even better here in Minneapolis. As she implies, Alison's mistake was moving to Miami after living in New York. Success with not owning a car depends on several factors. Most of one's transportation needs must be easily fulfilled with biking, busing or walking. You must also be willing to rent a car at the drop of a hat. Sure, there are times not owning a car is a bad idea: a poor public transit system, a fear of strangers, physical disabilities, a self-image dependent on car ownership, or being too frugal to rent. But if a person is healthy, lives near a great transit system like the one in the Twin Cities, works close to home, does not get off on owning a car and does not hesitate to rent one, I highly recommend it. Most trips will take longer, but more reading will get done on the transit. And a great deal of money will be saved for other, more environmentally friendly pursuits. KNOWLES DOUGHERTY, MINNEAPOLIS