Living Car Free - Finally, I'm sans auto :)

I sold my S-10 this past weekend and I feel so very, very free.

My transformation took awhile. I'm 28 and got my truck when I was 21. Merely a couple years ago, I was one of those ppl that drive a couple miles to go mtn bike riding:eek: I guess it was just habit but one day I was like wtf?, why I'am driving 2-3 miles to go mtn biking? Over the months, I started questioning why was I driving anytime I was in my vehicle. It got to the point where the act of driving effected my mental health. I would get this depressed feeling whilst driving knowing I could be on my bike instead of behind the wheel. It was weird for sure, anybody else experience this? Anyway, my day of liberation has come.

I live in Phoenix and my commute has nice wide bike lane the whole way. It's 10 miles roundtrip. Plenty of entertainment and parks nearby. I have showers at work. Grocery store on every corner. On the weekend I can head out 50 miles one-way and be out of the city and in beautiful country. So living car free is very doable for me.

Anyway, another driver on a bike.

Later,
Sean

ps- and my bank account never looked so good...this anti-consumption thing pays off ;)

Very cool. Now you take that money you should have paid for gas with and put it away and see what happens to that growing pile of money in a year. It should be interesting.

Koffee

ps- and my bank account never looked so good...this anti-consumption thing pays off ;)

Congradulations:

Start saving fast! Seriously. At 28, you can really stock some money away. I've lost so much time due to the motor car, I'm basically in a hole. Take the money would would have put in insurance, car payments, gas, tolls, tickets and repairs and start investing. I'm buying savings bonds at $500-1000 per month and that doesn't include my 401K plan at work. I can't tell you how many elderly I see working in my office who should be retired but can't live on social security alone and they have no savings. When I ask them if they drive, the answer is always affirmative. The difference in being able to retire or not for those low to moderate income workers depends on how much they save over their lifetime. These elderly folks working at my office basically drove their retirement income away.

Congrats!

I'm 28 too and I never had my own car. I drove my parents car back in high school, but that was it. I don't have a burning desire to have a car and I love the fact that I can save money and not waste it on gas and become like every other caged Americans.

It sounds like you have a great location to be carfree. Keep on the forums (Commuting has been pretty good lately, too) for ideas and to share the new insights and tricks you come up with.

It's gonna be easy and fun. :)

kinda funny but tonight I was cleaning up my commuter bike and it looks like I'll be walking the next couple days...I took off my rear tire and found out my axle bolt was broke, now anytime I tighten the quick-release there's excessive pressure on the bearings and it seizes. I think it's the auto-gods trying to test my resolve.

I googled and overnighted the parts.

I sold all my other bikes, and I'm repainting my chicago schwinn cruiser so I don't have a backup...but It's all good, my feet are for walking :)

AzToaster

Honestly, I'm saving to hit the road with a backpack and do some travels...working as I go.
My career goal now is to not work in a cube during my 30s.
No debt, no kids, no house...I've got some living to do.
Greatest luxury of all is not having anything to hold you down...dunno who said that but I agree

kinda funny but tonight I was cleaning up my commuter bike and it looks like I'll be walking the next couple days...I took off my rear tire and found out my axle bolt was broke, now anytime I tighten the quick-release there's excessive pressure on the bearings and it seizes. I think it's the auto-gods trying to test my resolve.

I googled and overnighted the parts.

I sold all my other bikes, and I'm repainting my chicago schwinn cruiser so I don't have a backup...but It's all good, my feet are for walking :)

AzToaster
Much as I LOVE to ride, it does the body good to walk sometimes.

I sold my S-10 this past weekend and I feel so very, very free.

My transformation took awhile. I'm 28 and got my truck when I was 21. Over the months, I started questioning why was I driving anytime I was in my vehicle. It got to the point where the act of driving effected my mental health. I would get this depressed feeling whilst driving knowing I could be on my bike instead of behind the wheel. It was weird for sure, anybody else experience this?


Doing anything except sitting on my bike gives me that feeling! =)

Let me offer you a heartfelt invitation to stop by and stay for a few days when you do your backpacking world tour. (Or bikepacking world tour, even better!)

There's a good chance that if and when you fly to Europe, you'll be coming in through Frankfurt. We're right in the middle on the continent here. And I live a 30-minute bike ride from the airport. See you soon!

Woo hoo! Congrats!

I sold my S-10 this past weekend and I feel so very, very free.
I would get this depressed feeling whilst driving knowing I could be on my bike instead of behind the wheel. It was weird for sure, anybody else experience this? Anyway, my day of liberation has come.


I definitely know what you mean, I still feel guilty when I ride along in someone else's car (plus I get nervous in cars now that I ride in them much less often). Anyway, congratulations and good luck!

I would get this depressed feeling whilst driving knowing I could be on my bike instead of behind the wheel. It was weird for sure, anybody else experience this?

Yes, I got this feeling today: I'm doing a week-long training course in a school that's on top of a very steep hill. The road that goes there is a 4 lane road without any side, that snakes for 1.5 miles to the top without much visibility, and on which motorists have a nasty tendency to speed and pass each other like race drivers on crack.

Yesterday was a fine sunny day, so I decided to bike there, despite not feeling too confortable riding on that road, but since I had never done it, I wanted to give it a try. Needless to say, the ride brought me much fear and anxiety. Today, the sun came up, the day looked nice and warm again, and for a good 10 minutes in the garage, I stood there looking at the bike, wondering whether I should try it again because, really, the weather looked delicious. Finally, I gave up and went by bus, with a feeling of frustration in the stomach as I was being compacted by a mass of grumpy commuters in the crowded bus, stuck in the early morning traffic, looking at the lovely weather through the window and thinking that, if it wasn't for this stupid 1.5 mile stretch of motorized madness, I could enjoy the sun for the rest of the 10 mile commute. I must say, that pissed me off and ruined my mood for the whole day.

Anyway, congrats on your decision to ditch the truck. Well done!

Thats fantastic. Metro-Phx is not an easy place to be car free. I cycle to work, errands, entertainment, but I do own a car. Sometimes I don't start it for over a month (6wks is longest)

Buying larger supplies for home improvement, getting to dr. appt and getting to wilderness areas for hiking/backpacking are the primary time I use my vehicle.

Al

yeah the money is great. i sold my car and signif. other and i share - although i rarely use the car unless going out on rainy night or out real late (even then i could use bus or cabs)

i stopped using my paid for car before i sold it, made insurance liability only, and eventually no insurance. i still drove on a really bad day but sold it to a co-worker before i got in trouble.

the few thousand from selling helped pay off some debt, and two incomes sharing expenses of one car makes a ton of money in the bank for trips, savings, a nice restaurant now and then.. etc. etc

my bank account is the most noticable personal thing about being car free. my coworker jokes about all my disposable income, and i joke back i still have a mortgage and bills like everyone else, but secretly it is a very large noticable $$$.

kinda funny but tonight I was cleaning up my commuter bike and it looks like I'll be walking the next couple days...I took off my rear tire and found out my axle bolt was broke, now anytime I tighten the quick-release there's excessive pressure on the bearings and it seizes. I think it's the auto-gods trying to test my resolve.

I googled and overnighted the parts.

I sold all my other bikes, and I'm repainting my chicago schwinn cruiser so I don't have a backup...but It's all good, my feet are for walking :)

AzToaster

yeah, i've been riding my racing bike lately because my grocery getter has a bent back rim, the schwinn beater has a flat tire, and i don't have the money for parts yet for my soon ( i hope) to be fixed gear. always have backups. hm. i should fix that flat and get a new rim, stat.

Pholks!

Your advice is needed!

I've only been car-free for a few months while I'm still making the last few payments on the Heep (will be paid off in December).

Sure my mentality has changed since purchasing the vehicle 5 years ago, but what deep-down strength does it take to sell one's vehicle after finally being paid off? Help! How do I let go?

This is a tough decision...kudos to anyone who is truly car-free and loving life!

Heyduke Lives!

Heyduke-- what is a heep?

Many 5-year-old autos are at an age where they need to go to the shop for a $300 repair every third month. Not to mention they require insurance. If you can get to work and the grocery store without it, you can dump the vehicle and save a bunch of money. It's up to you, but if you're able, I say ride your bike and sell your car.

I live in Tucson. I think its cool you are car-free now. I know what you mean. I also get that feeling when I rarely drive now, that I should be biking.

I guess its just my enviro-self-conscienceness kicking into gear.

I have a car, because its my fathers...who let me have it. He still pays the insurance. I asked him if he wanted it back and he said I can just keep it. But he likes the fact that its not getting any miles on it.