I could really use a a straw when riding in a car. And the subway, forget about it… Although I usually opt for a water bottle with sports cap.
In general, short of drinking from a cup (and not gulping it all down at once, but breaking it up in a few draws as required by Halacha) sipping with a straw is definitely the more “eidel” way to drink.
But proper manners in the USA went out the window a long time ago.