Living Car Free - On the verge... (schmaltz warning...)

I'm uncharacteristically emotional right now. I hope you'll bear with me as I need to write this down to help work it out. :\ Feel free to skip the part in italics. It's mostly nostalgia.

*** *** ***

My car, a 1993 Tercel, just failed emissions - we have ridiculously tight pollution control here.

I bought the car when I needed it for work, a 1.5 hour (one-way) daily commute.

She's letting me down.

First, I had the engine rebuilt just to keep it running. Then, the cat' went and I had that replaced two years ago to pass emissions.

I've since ditched the job(s) that required a car. I'm working out of a home office with some contracts downtown - which is a 30-minute express bus commute.

*** *** ***

I drive the car about twice a month for personal trips - nothing that couldn't be done on the bus, albeit taking twice as long.

Facing up to $450 in repairs to meet emissions and $1,000/year just to sit in a garage (registration, insurance) I've had a knot in my gut trying to decide what to do.

I think she's gonna go.

:\

I hate feeling like I'm moving backwards. I live in the suburbs of a pop.1-million city. The bus will get you to the heart of downtown in about 35 minutes which would still take 20 minutes by car. What's a pain is getting to some outlaying areas and have to take 3 different busses. It could take an hour and a half if you get really unlucky - where a car could do it in 25 minutes.

If the world had teleporters, I'd still ride my bike but I wouldn't hesitate to give up the car.
I'm downright scared this is going to come back to bite me in the chamois.

Bye ol' girl.

You taught two girlfriends to drive.
You drove me to my friend's funeral.
You carried my bike to the start of alley-cats.
You've taken me all over Ontario, to New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachussetts, New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
You kept me warm when I would have frozen.

I hope you find a good home.

May 1st of this year:
http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/LJ/bike_bus/May1st.JPG

At a client's farm...
http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/LJ/bike_bus/cars.jpg

What the heck am I in for?

I think we are starting to see more people give up their cars simply because the cost has gone out of reach for them. This is an important new development in American culture.

I'm not saying it's good or bad, but it certainly means something has changed. In the old days car ownership was within the means of all but the most impoverished.

I think we are starting to see more people give up their cars simply because the cost has gone out of reach for them. This is an important new development in American culture.

I'm not saying it's good or bad, but it certainly means something has changed. In the old days car ownership was within the means of all but the most impoverished.


You're bang on about all that Platy.

Things I came to think of as "normal" - and were for my parents when I was growing up - have now become luxuries. My dad had a distinguished 40+ year military career and is living comfortably now but isn't rich by any standard. They have a minivan which gets driven once or twice a week but they try to bike everywhere - groceries, appointments etc. I admire them a lot and hope I do as well at 65!

I don't know what to attribute the erosion of prosperity to. Corporate McCarthyism perhaps? Companies have gotten good at hiring 10 part-timers without benefits instead of 1 full-timer. Lower unemployment rate but those part-timers can't afford cars.

Maybe it's a function of the Cold-War ending? It was largely responsible for my dad's employment for many years and I watched it's end bring down the economies small West German cities when NATO pulled out.

I'd like to say that we're all drowning in luxuries at the expense of the basics - and that may apply to many people - but I don't think it applies to most of the good folks here on BikeForums.net who seem to be much more balanced.

No easy answers. Makes me wish for a degree in economics sometimes...

The world does have teleporters. We call them bicycles.

Seriously, dude, in your whole post you didn't mention using your bike, the by-far best mode of transportation ever invented. Yet you go on and on about cars and busses, which are ugly nasty things, and very inefficient transport modes. What gives?

BTW, I have owned many cars, including a couple Tercels. They actually were pretty cool cars (for cars, that is). My fondest memories involve driving them in serious snowy and icy weather when few other cars could get through. But now I do that with my bike!

...I'd like to say that we're all drowning in luxuries at the expense of the basics...

That's a good characterization of a vague cultural uneasiness I haven't been quite able to put my finger on. I don't know how many other people feel that way, though.

Roody: I take my bike on the bus to help cut down on trip times and I agree they ARE the most efficient transportation devised. I love having a bike and with a rack and bags it's one reason I'm even able to think of a world without a car.

When it's -42 degrees out, however, and the roads are sheet ice, it's impractical to cycle around here except on a wind-trainer. In the summer, there are probably hundreds to thousands of bike commuters. In winter, I'd wager I can count them all on my hands.

Cars and busses nasty things? To borrow a phrase, "what gives?" Car bashing is specifically NOT the mandate of this forum.

*** *** ***

Platy: I've met a few people now who share that view. I think there've been books written about it (I vaguely recall "Amuzing Ourselves to Death") though I haven't read them. I wish I could say my choice to get rid of the car had to do with living-large... :)


http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/LJ/bike_bus/bus_montage.jpg

Roody: I take my bike on the bus to help cut down on trip times and I agree they ARE the most efficient transportation devised. I love having a bike and with a rack and bags it's one reason I'm even able to think of a world without a car.

When it's -42 degrees out, however, and the roads are sheet ice, it's impractical to cycle around here except on a wind-trainer. In the summer, there are probably hundreds to thousands of bike commuters. In winter, I'd wager I can count them all on my hands.

Cars and busses nasty things? To borrow a phrase, "what gives?" Car bashing is specifically NOT the mandate of this forum
In my own defense, I did say something nice about Tercels, so at least I was "fair and balanced." :)

Now for the weather. You are in Ottawa, correct? Well people in much more severe climates ride all winter. I am not sure that my climate in mid-Michigan is a lot milder than yours in Southern Ontario, although I might be wrong.

I ride every damn day of the winter and I love it. I am not a particularly brave or sturdy person, but I thrive.

Check it out, dude. Winter riding is a lot more doable, pleasant even, than you seem to think. Lots of info is available here and at icebike.com.

In my own defense, I did say something nice about Tercels, so at least I was "fair and balanced." :)

Now for the weather. You are in Ottawa, correct? Well people in much more severe climates ride all winter. I am not sure that my climate in mid-Michigan is a lot milder than yours in Southern Ontario, although I might be wrong.

I ride every damn day of the winter and I love it. I am not a particularly brave or sturdy person, but I thrive.

Check it out, dude. Winter riding is a lot more doable, pleasant even, than you seem to think. Lots of info is available here and at icebike.com.

PIZZA CUTTER WHEELS! YEAH! :) The Tercel does handle very well in winter. I've always been amazed at what I could drive through - over, around, on.

You got it - Ottawa!

Much colder here in Eastern-Ontario/Western-Quebec than South-Western Ontario, unfortunately. :\

I have relatives in London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Peterborough. Certainly they get lake-effect and a lot of precipitation but the lakes have a moderating effect on temperature.

Well, this winter should be interesting, if nothing else. Maybe I'll take up work as a bike courier...

In for a penny, in for a pound!

PIZZA CUTTER WHEELS! YEAH! :) The Tercel does handle very well in winter. I've always been amazed at what I could drive through - over, around, on.

You got it - Ottawa!

Much colder here in Eastern-Ontario/Western-Quebec than South-Western Ontario, unfortunately. :\

I have relatives in London, Kitchener-Waterloo and Peterborough. Certainly they get lake-effect and a lot of precipitation but the lakes have a moderating effect on temperature.

Well, this winter should be interesting, if nothing else. Maybe I'll take up work as a bike courier...

In for a penny, in for a pound!Well, at least try one or two fun rides on milder days and see how you like it. Do you do any other outdoor sports or activities in the winter? So many people in N. America just hibernate all winter.

I used to ski and snowboard and may take it up again this winter. I'm starting out in Capoeira but need to work on general health (functional exercise & cycling) before getting heavily into a martial art or getting serious about boarding again.

I really can't say enough good things about biking in general. Until now, it's been a health and sport thing. The leap that's been tough is making it a means of business transportation.

Maybe part of my concern is that I've seen so many things that were "fun" turn into a burden when they became "work."

I'm beginning to think I'll be OK this winter though. :)

Awesome thread! I'm just getting ready to buy a '87 Tercel wagon as soon as my co-worker puts in the clutch and gets it back together. I only drive once or twice a week myself.

Speaking of emissions checks, our state (Ohio) is doing away with it as of Jan. '06. Stupid system never worked, anyway. Even if your vehicle doesn't pass emissions the second time (you must spend at least $50 in repairs to to get it pass if it doesn't pass the first time) you can get an exemption if you are low income or whatever, not sure about all that. Only fourteen counties out of 88 in Ohio have to do emission checks. Of course Hummers, one-ton duellies and the like don't have to do it. The whole thing was an expensive joke and didn't do anything for the enviroment.

Can't wait for the snow and ice, though. I got my studded-tire fixie all ready.

You could keep the Tercel for a while, file a non-operational registration and cancel your insurance, and use the savings to save up to drop a new (rebuilt) engine in it. Meanwhile, have fun learning biking everywhere and working out the bus routes etc. Your body will thank you, you'll get in incredibly better shape and stand the cold etc better.

...we're all drowning in luxuries at the expense of the basics...

What an awsome way of putting it. May I use this as my tag line?

By the way, you have given an insightful lament. Many people get very attached to their vehicles. Personally I do keep a car around for emergencies.

... So many people in N. America just hibernate all winter.

Agreed. Have you noticed that kids are not playing outside like they did when I grew up ( 60's - early 70's). I had a blast ever day out in the snow, most every day.

What an awsome way of putting it. May I use this as my tag line?

All yours! Definitely notice the change in what kids do. As a kid, I used to be outside constantly.
These days...I see kids playing video games, paintball hanging out in malls spending $$$. It's a sign the marketing machine has gotten very good at what it does and we haven't, as a society, gotten good at seeing it for what it is.

BTW lilHinault: engine IS rebuilt and generally purrs nicely. :) (40mpg) It's the "drip" that I'm sick of. Turns out it's $75/mo insurance ($900/yr). Repair limit cost for emissions in Ontario is $450. I look at that and think "that's 6months of deluxe bus passes. Forget the car!!!" I'm starting to actually feel good about this... :) A couple of friends want a car too so this might be a good one for them, considering it's a known commodity. (these cars tend to be sold with clapped out engines - people would rather dump than fix - gee...that sounds familiar!)

... It's a sign the marketing machine has gotten very good at what it does and we haven't, as a society, gotten good at seeing it for what it is...

Agreed, it almost seems impossible to get people to wake up to that fact. Most scoff whenever I try to say, "see there...see what they are doing, you are being manipulated".

I'm not sure the standard of liveing is falling so much as in correction from years of debt financed excess.
Back when horses were used not every city dweller had one.
I see a real need in this country to provide good housing near the jobs so that walking, cycling, mass transit and shortrange electric vehicles would get most people to work every day. Also if all ;those people are out walking and cycling instead of closed up in there own little automotive world the streets should be safer for the kids to walk their overweight selves to school instead of momma driveing them there.
Think about it, do you really want to work a full year to buy a car that will have to be replaced before you know it?
Rant over....

I'd say keep it and file a non-op, so don't insure it for a year, then the $ you save will pay for the repairs. Just keep it 'on ice' for a bit ha ha.

I'm not sure the standard of liveing is falling so much as in correction from years of debt financed excess.
Back when horses were used not every city dweller had one.
I see a real need in this country to provide good housing near the jobs so that walking, cycling, mass transit and shortrange electric vehicles would get most people to work every day. Also if all ;those people are out walking and cycling instead of closed up in there own little automotive world the streets should be safer for the kids to walk their overweight selves to school instead of momma driveing them there.
Think about it, do you really want to work a full year to buy a car that will have to be replaced before you know it?
Rant over....

That's no rant - that's an extremely lucid view of reality.
I just found out my city has "car sharing" plans! Here's one: http://www.vrtucar.com/

I'm fortunate to live in a city with EXCELLENT public transportation. I admit though, my choice in jobs/contracts will be limited by location and pay. A crappy paying job in some outlaying area is a no-no because I'll be spending too much getting there but a crappy paying contract downtown is doable because a bus drops me off right at the door.

In the old days car ownership was within the means of all but the most impoverished.

I don't know what to attribute the erosion of prosperity to.

As a kid, I used to be outside constantly. These days...I see kids playing video games, paintball hanging out in malls spending $$$.

Facing up to $450 in repairs to meet emissions and $1,000/year just to sit in a garage (registration, insurance) I've had a knot in my gut trying to decide what to do.

I think there's a common thread to all of this. Parents today are not so keen on having their kids play outside a lot, particularly with no supervision. Why? It's not deemed safe. We spend piles of money insuring vehicles (and everything else under the sun, it seems) and putting emissions controls on them because to do otherwise would be seen as unsafe.*

To some extent it feels to me that people have become so wrapped up in being safe that they've compromised their safety! There's nothing safe about keeping people inside where they can breathe bad indoor air, get asthma, become depressed, and suffer a larger risk of heart disease from inactivity.

*i'm not arguing against emissions controls, however

I'm uncharacteristically emotional right now. I hope you'll bear with me as I need to write this down to help work it out. :\ Feel free to skip the part in italics. It's mostly nostalgia.

*** *** ***

My car, a 1993 Tercel, just failed emissions - we have ridiculously tight pollution control here.

I bought the car when I needed it for work, a 1.5 hour (one-way) daily commute.

She's letting me down.

First, I had the engine rebuilt just to keep it running. Then, the cat' went and I had that replaced two years ago to pass emissions.

I've since ditched the job(s) that required a car. I'm working out of a home office with some contracts downtown - which is a 30-minute express bus commute.

*** *** ***

I drive the car about twice a month for personal trips - nothing that couldn't be done on the bus, albeit taking twice as long.

Facing up to $450 in repairs to meet emissions and $1,000/year just to sit in a garage (registration, insurance) I've had a knot in my gut trying to decide what to do.

I think she's gonna go.

:\

I hate feeling like I'm moving backwards. I live in the suburbs of a pop.1-million city. The bus will get you to the heart of downtown in about 35 minutes which would still take 20 minutes by car. What's a pain is getting to some outlaying areas and have to take 3 different busses. It could take an hour and a half if you get really unlucky - where a car could do it in 25 minutes.

If the world had teleporters, I'd still ride my bike but I wouldn't hesitate to give up the car.
I'm downright scared this is going to come back to bite me in the chamois.

Bye ol' girl.

You taught two girlfriends to drive.
You drove me to my friend's funeral.
You carried my bike to the start of alley-cats.
You've taken me all over Ontario, to New Jersey, Rhode Island, Massachussetts, New York, Vermont and Pennsylvania.
You kept me warm when I would have frozen.

I hope you find a good home.

May 1st of this year:
http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/LJ/bike_bus/May1st.JPG

At a client's farm...
http://www.ncf.ca/~af895/LJ/bike_bus/cars.jpg

What the heck am I in for?

I'm sure the girlfriends miss the car also. Let me get this straight, your writing poetry to mass produced steel? Your concerns are extended travel times and social stigma ("backwards") regarding automobiles, specifically an extra hour travel and your self imposed status of legitimacy: a car.
Save the sweet nothings for living breathing humans and file "machines that move you" under transportation. Most people don't care how you get someplace and you shouldn't either. Don't transfer the love affair to a bike, just use it. Get some pictures of people you love and places you travel on the bike.
http://www.cogsci.ed.ac.uk/~ira/illich/facts/social_effects.html
The model American male devotes more than 1,600 hours a year to his car.

carless: I'm not one of the people that stat of "1,600hrs/yr" applies to.
Further, I can identify with the sentiment. "Love people, use things. Don't use people and love things."

Change is tough - change of any kind. I'm over feeling bad about losing the car and the folks here were part of that.

I'm sure you've had things in your life you've felt wistful about leaving, perhaps a house or job. It passes. :)

BTW: love the Gandhi quote. Very true.

"It is desirable that a man be clad so simply...and that he live in all respects so compactly and preparedly that, if an enemy take the town, he can, like the old philosopher, walk out the gate empty-handed without anxiety." - from Thoreau's "Walden"

hey nice house -- looks like a perfect size, not enormous, not too small.

like the one car garage and nice windows too.

anyway can you rent a car once a month. i use bike/bus for most transport - and share a car with my sig. other (we have one).

if we have a conflict there's a budget and enterprise small office near me, can rent for 24 hours for about $27. since I've been car free since May, i've done only done this 4 times. $120 dollars for the occasionally car use is very reasonable, and i can take out different kinds of cars, i've rented PT cooper, a small SUV for mountain trip, and hte best thing is i can get rid of it a few days later!

hey nice house -- looks like a perfect size, not enormous, not too small.

like the one car garage and nice windows too.

anyway can you rent a car once a month. i use bike/bus for most transport - and share a car with my sig. other (we have one).

if we have a conflict there's a budget and enterprise small office near me, can rent for 24 hours for about $27. since I've been car free since May, i've done only done this 4 times. $120 dollars for the occasionally car use is very reasonable, and i can take out different kinds of cars, i've rented PT cooper, a small SUV for mountain trip, and hte best thing is i can get rid of it a few days later!


Heheheh. Thanks! We had energy efficient windows installed a dozen years ago and they're great - blocks noise, no drafts. Need a summer pic with the fleet of bikes out front. ;)

I most certainly can rent when needed! Also a plus, I have friends and family who've offered their cars in emergencies or when practicality dictates (50mile trip to Ikea for a sofa?)

I know what you mean about the "getting rid of it a few days later" thing. If I needed the car daily, I could justify it but I find myself wanting to get rid of it now - with thanks to BikeForums folks for the encouragment. :)

I hate feeling like I'm moving backwards. I live in the suburbs of a pop.1-million city. The bus will get you to the heart of downtown in about 35 minutes which would still take 20 minutes by car. What's a pain is getting to some outlaying areas and have to take 3 different busses. It could take an hour and a half if you get really unlucky - where a car could do it in 25 minutes.


I have to disagree with that. Fact is, you're a pioneer for going car-free. You're moving forward!

af895 -- There's one thing that you can do to hedge your bets.

My wife and I will be putting our only car on the market soon. We plan to put the proceeds into an account that will be considered "the car fund account." If someday, we need to buy a car again, we will use this account to buy the car. In the meantime, we don't have to pay insurance costs, maintenance costs, etc. Perhaps we might even take the money that we would have spent on these costs and add them to the account.

Some people, when they are on the verge of going car-free, back out of the decision because they make it sound like it's a final decision. But I know that it's not. It's possible that a few years down the road, I might end temporarily taking a job in the suburbs. If that happens, I'll take the money from the car fund and get a car. But in the meantime, I might be able to enjoy several years of being car-free.