Expert: Sandra - 12/6/2010

Question
I am moving to Brasilia in  a few months and was curious about cars. Do I need
to buy a car while I am there(2 years) or can I use public transportation and
walking?
Thanks  

Answer
It depends on where you intend to live in relation to where you work. But in general, public transportation is not the best (most convenient, frequent, esp. in comparison to other Brazilian cities) although it may "get you there". The city has had a bad reputation since even before it was completed as not being built for walkers, but each "neighborhood" superquadra has  a commercial street with some shops (and usually a supermarket) and restaurants within walking distance of the housing units. If you are able to buy a car, it would give you much more freedom of movement, including for weekend getaways. Roads in the city itself are quite good and traffic enforcement is very stringent (unlike many other parts of Brazil).
(And note that answers you may be getting on other forums may be from people who live elsewhere and may not know what real conditions are like living in Brasilia. Rio has a relatively good transportation system, for example, and yes, you can walk there too. I myself have not lived in Brasilia either, but have spent considerable time there visiting friends, whose car I prefer to borrow, and who take me to places in minutes that would otherwise take hours. Take the advice to buy a WTF.)
Are you the one planning to work at the Bahai school?