Living Car Free - car free subsection in commuting

i'm sorry if this has been brought up before but how about a car free living thread. maybe a subsection of the commuting board. while the commuting forum is really cool, individuals going car free have different things going on. it seems that a lot of discussion in the commuting forum is still with the car in mind and the arguments that arise are fun but get in the way of communication. anyway, just a suggestion.

I get the idea that the commuting is pretty much car free already. Personally, it seems a bit redundant to me. Anyone else?

Koffee

It seems to me that most people in the commuting section do have cars. There are frequently recommendations like carrying clothes to and fro in a car.

Not that I have a problem with it. Or that it necessarily deserves another forum, but I definitely think most posters in Commuting do own cars. I suppose a poll may be in order.

Actually, a car free section could have some useful hints on how to subsist in this car-centric society. Or it could just be in commuting. I leave it to the discretion of the mods.

I get the idea that the commuting is pretty much car free already. Personally, it seems a bit redundant to me. Anyone else?

Koffee
a lot of the discussion thats happens in commuting and in the advocacy section keeps the car in mind. for an individual who lives car free or semi car free(doesn't own a car but is a member of a car club) life is different. we have different angles and advice to give that is not always welcome by people who drive as well as bike. living without a car is way different than just commuting by bike. i think it would also cut down on the flaming that happend between carless posters and commuters who also drive. i dont see it as redundant at all.

also, check out the discussion in commuting "My Rant On Cars and This Society" wheres there been some talk about this

I'm for it. Let's have a Car-free section. Thom.

Actually, it could be valuable. I was just wondering how I was going to pick up my new bike. I guess I'll have to take a bus, but it's about an hour vs a 15 minute ride, and much more annoying. A perfect topic for the proposed car free (sub)forum.

Yes, a section for the car free would be great!

Hmmmm... drop Joe a PM. I can see where you're coming from. I'm carfree myself.

Koffee

i've never sent a pm on this board. how do i go about it? and is JOE his user name?

I'm new, but I'm for it. Nearly car free for 3 years and always looking for good tips and advice on getting more so.

A place to discuss utility trailers, bike moves, and more!

I get the idea that the commuting is pretty much car free already. Personally, it seems a bit redundant to me. Anyone else?

Just bike commuting and being completely car-free can be entirely different worlds. I hardly ever drive my car, but it's a completely different existance than the years when I was car-free. (Though we had an excellent bus system in that little town, so being car-free was easy as pie there.)

i've never sent a pm on this board. how do i go about it? and is JOE his user name?

His username is Joe Gardner.

Just go to your private messages and click on "send new message" and type in Joe's name under the recipient's name. Then after you type in your message, click the send button at the bottom of the text box.

Koffee

<-- thinking about it :)

<--- feelin' ya.

:)

Koffee

I'm for it too!

I think it would be a good idea, especially if we could keep some of the politics out of it. Seems to me that too many of the car-free threads are overwhelmed by pro-car flamers who just want to make trouble, so it's hard for those committed to car-free living to exchange ideas. A home of thier own might be very useful...

Exactly

I am thinking about going car-free once I am home from college. This forum would probably help me a lot.

Just no discussions about cars or how people who drive SUV's are soldiers of satan. There's enough talk of that.

Koffee

Just no discussions about cars or how people who drive SUV's are soldiers of satan. There's enough talk of that.

Koffee

Agreed. Pointless argument. What would be useful is practical discussion of the carfree lifestyle. I think most car-less individuals are sick of arguing about it anyway.

A car free forum to me implies also being free of arguments about them. The car debate already gets plenty of exposure here, but it's hard to have a practical discussion about car free issues without getting into some kind of philosophical ideology war.

I do NOT live Car Free, but I think there could be value to this forum. It's different than advocacy (Share the road, Bike Paths, etc) and different than commuting (to and from work). I would certainly be intrigued by the conversation even though I'm not car free!

Agreed. Pointless argument. What would be useful is practical discussion of the carfree lifestyle. I think most car-less individuals are sick of arguing about it anyway.

A car free forum to me implies also being free of arguments about them. The car debate already gets plenty of exposure here, but it's hard to have a practical discussion about car free issues without getting into some kind of philosophical ideology war.

exactly. any thread thats been started about this turns into an argument between those who drive and car free people. having a discussion about the issues of living without a car without having to justify anything would be great. although i think politics plays a big role in alot of peoples car free lifestyle. so political/current events discussions from a car free standpoint would be fun and appreciated.

exactly. any thread thats been started about this turns into an argument between those who drive and car free people. having a discussion about the issues of living without a car without having to justify anything would be great. although i think politics plays a big role in alot of peoples car free lifestyle. so political/current events discussions from a car free standpoint would be fun and appreciated.

Fun and appreciated observations would be nice, but I would hate to see it turn into a "de-pave the world", critical mass, battle cry" forum.

Well, we'll wait on Joe.

*humming Jeopardy theme*

Koffee

i would actually like an outlet for those kinds of opinions, though. the depave the world and critical massers have valid points and deserve an arena to voice them. someone who uses a bicycle from that point of view is definitely not a "commuter".

i would actually like an outlet for those kinds of opinions, though. the depave the world and critical massers have valid points and deserve an arena to voice them. someone who uses a bicycle from that point of view is definitely not a "commuter".

I would argue that is more of an advocacy issue. I would like to keep the car free section as ideology free is possible. Some people are car free for practical reasons, and don't want to get involved in the war. I could use some practical advice and discussion though.

the thing is, for a lot of people who go totally car free ideology or politics is as much a part of it as anything else. theres tons of practical stuff to discuss but for many the reasons behind being carfree will influence how they discuss the nuts and bolts. not to mention much of literature about being car free is political in nature

maybe, rather than having a subsection in commuting, have an entire section to discuss all aspects of car free living. kind of like the alt bike culture board. by all apsects i mean the nuts and bolts practicalities of going and living car free, the reasons for doing it, and other info supporting or detracting.

I like the idea, anyone want to come up with a 25 - 30 word description of the "car free" forum?

MAn you guys are good! to get joe master joe convinced takes alot of work, especially making a new thread!

who nelly! i'll give it a try-
This forum is to discuss all apsects of living life to the fullest...car free. Learn the nuts and bolts of life without a car, from biycyle dates to grocery shopping.

i dont know about that one. thats a lot of pressure. you all coudl do better. i need a drink.

Did you give up your car for good? Is your bike and public transportation the only way you travel from point A to point B? If your only mode of transportation is your bike, this forum is the place to discuss your car-free lifestyle.

Koffee

i like koffee's. thats way cool

Another vote for a car-free section.

I suspect there's a lot of people lurking--like me--on this board who only use their car a few times a month, and are contemplating car-free living...or a least getting rid of 1 car in a 2 car family. Maybe with enough tips and moral support, you guys might convince us to make the switch.

but it's hard to have a practical discussion about car free issues

Besides going shopping (bags) and on a romantic date (tandem) what more can there be to discuss? Realistically, everybody is, was, or will be care free. Its not that rare or challenging....unless you are a kid an never had to get to work in the morning. What am I missing here?

Besides going shopping (bags) and on a romantic date (tandem) what more can there be to discuss? Realistically, everybody is, was, or will be care free. Its not that rare or challenging....unless you are a kid an never had to get to work in the morning. What am I missing here?

Everyone is, was, or will ride a bike at some point. What could be the use of a bike forum? Discussing dorky shorts? You just move your feet around until you stop. That's all there is to it.

But seriously, it's precisely because it's not rare that it would be worth a separate section. You touched on some potential issues that would come up. There are plenty of others. Dealing with jobs that require you to own a car for no good reason. Trailers. Moving furniture. Insurance. (as I recently learned) Pros/cons of having a drivers license. I'm sure there are countless other and better subjects that would be appropriate too.

i like koffee's. thats way cool

I think if we combine both, we get a good description. It's a little more than the 25 words, but well described:


Did you give up your car for good? Is your bike and public transportation the only way you travel from point A to point B? If your only mode of transportation is your bike, discuss your car-free lifestyle here. Learn the nuts and bolts of life without a car, from biycyle dates and grocery shopping, to commuting.

How does that sound, SecretSatellite?

Koffee

Besides going shopping (bags) and on a romantic date (tandem) what more can there be to discuss? Realistically, everybody is, was, or will be care free. Its not that rare or challenging....unless you are a kid an never had to get to work in the morning. What am I missing here?
i'll never take a tandem on a date. dont like em. theres so many different ways to to move stuff on a bike theres loads to discuss. home made bike carts and stuff. and the reasons behind it all. a space to discuss car free living without the attendant arguments about car free living that erupt.

I think this all sounds great. Lets get a car-free section!

Besides going shopping (bags) and on a romantic date (tandem) what more can there be to discuss? Realistically, everybody is, was, or will be care free. Its not that rare or challenging....unless you are a kid an never had to get to work in the morning. What am I missing here?


Well, find out when the forum gets off the ground!

Koffee

Right on I am in and will give it a go ,, I sold the car in Sept 2004 and have biked to work for about 20 odd years all year round in Toronto I also bought a bike trailer to get shopping and Xmass presents , here is a pic of the trailer with my cargo bike

I'm also car free, this would be a nice addtion for this fourm.

Good Luck,
GEEK

theres a thread in commuting called "anyone not own a car". this is an example of someone wanting to discuss living without a car and the discussion turning into an argument. bicyclists who drive post to that thread validating their car use and calling into question carlessness. why cant they leave well enough alone. every thread about car free issues gets turned into this.

theres a thread in commuting called "anyone not own a car". this is an example of someone wanting to discuss living without a car and the discussion turning into an argument. bicyclists who drive post to that thread validating their car use and calling into question carlessness. why cant they leave well enough alone. every thread about car free issues gets turned into this.
we have some bike clubs and groups here in Toronto and they do all these big rides and go on about how great the bike is and how it is the way to go but alot drive to the locations with thier bikes then do the rides , I see them in the parking lots taking off or putting bikes on racks instead of riding the bike there ,,and I agree with your comments so how about we just get their posts deleted and keep it car free if we keep on top of it this could work out ??

Once this forum does get up and going, the mods will be checking in to ensure it doesn't turn into some car-hatin', 2 wheels good, four wheels bad kind of forum. ;)

Koffee

i just dont like when someone says something about being car free or against cars for wahtever reason, people who drive descend on the thread and it turns into the same argument again and again. by the way, i liked koffee's 2nd synopsis. ist rad.(german)

Well, if you meant "it's rad", then it's english. ;)

Koffee

no, i meant "ist". like the pavement t-shirt "pavement ist rad" maybe its not german but its way cool

i forgot the umlaut