Car Free - Lifestyle Choice, Economics and Political Preference

[nedgoudy]

At the risk of sounding political (which I will steer away from)
I think if you have a CAR FREE lifestyle or live the goal of that,
that your politics will follow suit in the long run.

As for myself, I have the time to ride a bike places others
would rush to in a car, and I prefer riding a bike.

I live in Southern California where the lifestyle is built
around cars, but I would prefer to see car culture downsized
(as I think it will inevitably with the coming end of cheap oil)
and a return to mass transit and bike friendly roads everywhere.

Frankly, I am hoping in my lifetime to see at least one lane
of every major freeway in Los Angeles County open to Bicycles.

A dreamer, maybe... But if you don't voice your concerns loud
and clear the profit mongers will continue business as usual until
they run their companies into the ground and bail with golden parachutes
into multi-million dollar retirement packages.

I am just starting the CAR FREE journey, but am excited
and happy that I have taken the step. I look forward
to continuing to participate in this forum.

Ned Goudy
Glendora, CA USA

[Ashen]

You know, I don't have a car because I like riding bikes and saving money. Politics or social change doesn't have **** to do with it.

[ViciousCycle]

I am just starting the CAR FREE journey, but am excited
and happy that I have taken the step.

Think of yourself as an early adapter. People often use the concept of "early adapters" to only apply to those using the latest, glitziest technology. But the concept of early adapters can also be used to apply to those who can adapt to circumstances where one has to make use with less energy-intensive technology.

Oil is one of the most energy-dense forms of fuel we have and replacements for oil will likely not be as energy-dense. Nuclear power relies on our limited supplies of uranium. Hydrogen fuel-cells are a means of storing, not producing energy. So don't worry about calling yourself a dreamer. It's going to require dreaming and it's going to require imagination when cheap, energy-dense fuel is not at the core of our civilization.

[Rodney Crater]

Think of yourself as an early adapter. ...

How very interesting. I think you are right on track here ( no pun intended ).

[Roody]

You know, I don't have a car because I like riding bikes and saving money. Politics or social change doesn't have **** to do with it.I disagree. You would rather have fun and ride a bike than work madly to support a global system that is based on cars and oil. That sounds like a political statement, whether you want it to be or not.

Politics can be fun, but maybe not as fun as riding a bike. :)

[Pampusik]

Politics can be fun, but maybe not as fun as riding a bike. :)

Most things we have to deal with are political... and fun.

[folder fanatic]

I'll do without the public transit part as much as I can (nothing but trouble in the Los Angeles area.) I prefer to use bicycles as much as possible, or if not appropriate, tiny European or Asian vehicles.

[lilHinault]

Hm, I'm right-wing as hell but also a massive tree-hugger, there is no counterpart to this in American politics, to find that you have to go to Europe and look at the movements, especially the roots of those movements, called "eco-fascist". I'm poor, in that I make less than $100k a year and in the bay area that's poor.

Folder I agree, interestingly although I'm car free I take the train fairly often here, but have still not stepped onto a bus. Nothing against buses, and I should learn the routes because it could be very handy, I just haven't yet. I've heard about the buses in Los Angeles and No Thanks.

[Slow Train]

Think of yourself as an early adapter. People often use the concept of "early adapters" to only apply to those using the latest, glitziest technology. But the concept of early adapters can also be used to apply to those who can adapt to circumstances where one has to make use with less energy-intensive technology.


Maybe the term you meant was early adopter? But adapter is more appropriate in this context as we, facing increasing transportation costs and choked commuting avenues, are choosing to change which, hopefully, puts us ahead of the pack (in the Darwinian sense). ;)

[lilHinault]

A lot of things, going car-free, going TV-free, homeschooling, are low-tech but are being adopted by early adopters. Early adopters are often a precursor of how the majority of society will go, later.