not own a car

I replaced my car with an electric bicycle. Which means I could just coast everywhere and not pedal, but pedaling along has the benefit of … more speed and exercise I previously severely lacked. Anyways, it also has the option of arriving somewhere sweat-free(Woot. Woot.), even if it’s hot outside! Flying by at 25mph without effort has this tendency to cool/dry you off really quickly. Also, I’ve lost 25 pounds in 2 months and I’m not even fat(Ok, well, I was technically overweight by 1 BMI point. By international standards, mind you: I was skinny among Americans in general.)!

Anyways, living in the outskirt suburb of town really has its disadvantages with bicycling in general(Nearly all monumental buildings(Department stores, university libraries, etc.) are at least 5 miles away extending in every direction). Living nearer to the center of a city would make this option so much easier to make(Or just living near the places you frequent).

Melbourne’s population of 3.5 million creates 11 million tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, compared with London’s population 7.2 million which creates 8.5 million tonnes a year. Melbourne’s a geographically larger city, but half the population creating more emissions? It’s just sounds really unnecessary to me.

I currently work at Taco Bell due to the need to pay off certain expenses, such as the car I’m currently under loan for. The problem with the job is not necessarily because I hate it(I’m rather indifferent to it, aside from other factors that I think “should” be irrelevant.), but due to the aggravating repetitious nature of it and my seeming repetitive strain injury(A common synonym being “Carpal Tunnel Syndrome”) and the time needed to study for the 35 credits I’m attempting next quarter(15 in-class credits and 20 credits from the AP tests I’ll be taking in May 2008). I don’t think it would be wise to aggravate this RSI by taking on minimum-wage work at the expense of time in more productive, fulfilling and much higher paying work post-college. But, the major component of my expenses is my car: It currently makes up about 75% of my total monthly expenses. If I “financially disowned it”, I’d be able to get by without a job in the short term before coasting on private loans at the university(As would be necessitated.). To “Financially disown it”, I’d “disown it in spirit” by either paying for it completely and taking it off insurance and using other means of transportation(Like an electric bicycle), or just selling it. Unfortunately, the time frame for the former scenario would be another 2 months on the job and I only have 3 months for the AP tests. If I decided to “sell it”, I could quit RIGHT NOW, but I’m also waiting for an admissions decision from the University of Washington; I’d hate to land in Seattle without a car while finding out it would’ve been optimal to have one in the case I’m accepted. If I’m not accepted, than “disowning” a car is definite. Or… I could just continue the onslaught from insurance and just coast for the next 9 months while quitting within a month: ‘Tis possible. My financial stash would eventually dwindle to nothingness, but I s’pose it’s possible.

I did this the first two years my husband and I were married. It seems great and everything, and living in new york, you really can get by without one…exept on the weekends when the trains are all wacked out.
We don’t drive all over the place, just here and there to the grocery store (which is really depressing without a car), shopping, running errands and general family type stuff on the weekends.

Melbourne has good public transport and it’s cheaper that buying petrol and car maintenance. Plus I’m doing my bit for the environment. I’ll probably have to buy a car one day, but I’ll put it off for as long as possible.

without living in the city…yay public transportation!

i am probably saving hundreds of dollars not owning a car…nor am i participating in buying mass quantities of oil…this is good for me and the environment

The public transportation system in my city is great though. Now when I move again, I only consider cities with great public transportation too.

Often employers help with train/bus passes.

Cheers!

I’m 31 and I’ve never owned a car! Despite being from a rural area which had NO public transportation.

I really hope I will never have a car… if I did, I might get used to the convenience, and then it would be hard to give it up. I really do not want to be one of those “drive the car to the convenience store which is only 2 blocks away” people.

I also don’t watch TV. Hmm, maybe not being a car/TV person is one of the reasons I haven’t gained any weight since high school, he he…!

If every single person did this, Our government would have no EXUSE for thier stupid wars!
I sure am missing my late night drives up the coast. It’s been 2 years since I allowed my CDL to expire but I will survive.

it doesn’t work in detroit, although the city is really close.

i hope to try again after i’ve relocated to nyc.

-j