be car free

I live in a good size city with public transit. I also live where there is a mild winter, with only a few snowfalls per year.

I do still miss the freedom of getting away for the weekend by myself. I make compromises in my activities, and I sometimes am jealous of people who can take a day trip to the ocean or mountains, and who do not need to check a bus schedule every time they want to go somewhere.

I use a bicycle to get around to local places where the bus lines don’t run. This summer, I make an effort to be more involved in the bicycling community, and this helped me feel better. There are still some social groups that I participate in where I feel I am considered “weird” for being car-free. But seeking a supportive community helped greatly!

Also, I belong to a bicycle co-op, and do my own repairs with the guidance of a mechanic. This gives me a great sense of self-sufficiency.

We live without debt so we bought a used vehicle and planned to fix it. The repair place screwed up so badly that they destroyed the engine. They gave us our money back and we signed the vehicle over to them, and suddenly we had three kids and no car!

We’d been considering making the switch to car-free for a while, and it actually was a gradual process which helped. Our friends live with us and they have a tiny car that my husband can sometimes borrow for errands.

On a day-to-day basis my husband carpools to work, we purposely picked a home close to work and shopping so everything is a 10-20 minute walk, or a 10 minute bike ride. We have bikes and trailers for the kids, and we also have slings and strollers. We take the bus or train when we travel further away. It can be done (and it’s cheap too)!

I use my car all of the time. Maybe later, but at this point, it’s a challenge. Later, when I’m done with school, and feel more financially confident, I’ll have a goal to buy a hybrid.

It was hard, but it’s done. I no longer own a car; this money drain has been plugged.

These days I walk, and take public transportation. I still drive (the family car), but rarely.

Best of luck folks!

I’ve finished graduate school, and moved out of my old neighborhood. Compared to the old one, this neighborhood is a bit snobby for my tastes. I’ll miss being able to pick up furniture, computers and e-bayable items from alleys and sidewalks, its just not the same here. This neighborhood seems too focused on keeping up appearances to charge high rent.

On the positive side, it’s close to public transit, shopping, a library, and parks. Plus, there is a bike trail nearby that can take me all over the city. This means there is STILL no need for me to have a car, and I can save up for an investment property with all the cash I’m saving.

As I plan to live here for at least 5 years, I’m declaring this goal accomplished. I’ve also learned enough to continue with a car-free lifestyle for the foreseeable future.

In December I will have had my US license for 3 years and will thus be eligible to join City Wheels (http://www.citywheelscleveland.com/), which conveniently parks one of their cars about 30 seconds walk from my house. I’ve driven my car under 1000 miles a year in the last 2 years…

I’m at the point where I decide to finally chuck this 2-ton life-sucking but convenient piece of machinery out of my life and out of my wallet; or keep it. Arrrggghh! :) BTW, I wonder why aren’t there so many people with this goal. There’s only 15 people on 43 things who want to get rid of their car?

i don’t get why this would be a goal but yeah… i don’t have a car =o\

Switched to public transport 2 months ago and really like it. No more traffic jams, time to listen to podcasts, spend less money on fuel, arrived at work more relaxed… Since we have a large dog, becoming 100% car free is unfortunately not an option yet.

This is my goal for economic as well as health and social reasons. Keeping a car out of my live allows me to keep more money that would have been spent on the car itself, along with gasoline, maintenance, insurance and parking fees. indirectly, it prevents me from impulsively buying things that I now have to carry in a backpack or on public transportation. With no car around, other spending outlets are also limited.

Every time I go somewhere, I’m getting exercise. riding to the grocery isn’t usually the kind of high-energy cardiovascular workout recommended several times per week, but it outweighs the advantage of driving. with the money I’ve saved from not using a car, its possible to own a commuter bike and road bike for more strenuous workouts.

Bikes are clean. Really clean. Aside from manufacturing footprints of components and lubricants, all the emissions come from me. (Yes, I see where this could get funny :) ) no smog, no engine oil leaking all over the concrete in front of the stop lights. Only huffing and puffing.

OK, that was my rant. Just wanted to send out some praise for bike commuters.