Living Car Free - Need help converting to car free

I need help and inspiration to become car & motorcycle free , I have done a lot of riding throughout the years (I'm 31) I was riding and didn't own a car for about 5 months a few years ago until I had an accident ,nothing bad just dislocated shoulder , bruised ribs , bruised wrist , etc etc that's when I had to take some time off the bike then I just couldn't be bothered to get back on and ended up selling the bike ( I know silly move ).
Anyway ....This is my situation now I had a motorcycle accident about 12 months ago and almost lost my right leg from the knee down ( not my fault it was one of those I drive blind drivers )so I have had a lot of time to think about the future ,I also suffer from an anxiety disorder so I am on a pension as I can no longer work ( I panic for no reason at the stupidest things it sucks really )so I have nowhere inparticular to be ...I know I'm going on here's the thing I have no reason to own a car or motorcycle because everything I need is within 15mins riding we have brilliant bikeways where I live ,my wife has a car ( we need one as we have 4 kids and 1 on the way )
But the problem is I am the youngest in my family of 10 children ( I know DAMN ) and I grew up around fast cars and bikes , now I am trying to change for myself and for my childrens future , I'm recycling more and more , I try to get my wife to only use the car when totally necessary I have been reading as much as possible about car free living but I just can't shake the I have to have a car or motorcycle monkey .

I hate paying for fuel
I am sick of tooling with cars ( I love tooling with old bikes there so easy to work on after I played with cars for so long )
I hate paying for registration and insurance
I hate traffic
I hate almost everything I used to like about cars
but I still can't get rid of the feeling .

PLEASE GIVE ME INSPIRATION.......

and sorry for going on and on and on and on and on and on :( :(

Anyway ....here's the thing I have no reason to own a car or motorcycle because everything I need is within 15mins riding we have brilliant bikeways where I live.

And you want sympathy???

Just kidding. How does your wife feel about cars and/or being carfree?

I have no reason to own a car or motorcycle because everything I need is within 15mins riding we have brilliant bikeways where I live ,my wife has a car.(

And you want us to feel bad for you? Just kidding.

How does your wife feel about cars / being carfree?

when you say "fast cars and bikes" do you mean motorcycles? cuz there are plenty of fast bikes. that's where i get half my fun when i go places on a bike. and...oooh...are there any velodromes around you?

Autokat, dude!

First, don't struggle too much with this - you can only do what you can do. I'm 31 too and trying to go car-free. I have a 6-month son and all the responsibility that goes with that. I commute to work and use the bike for most of my errands. But, if my son needs to get to the doctor's office, I've got to start up the old Jeep. I'd rather not, but that's just what I have to do.

I'm with you, I think about the future and don't want to ever get in car again. The whole car-free movement is great - it has inspired me more than anything else related to environmentalism. I'm just one person and I realize that so the only reason I'm even trying to go car-free is because it makes me feel good...about myself...and that's going to transfer to everyone in your life.

And, as becnal says, having support from your family will help tremendously.

It's just a mindset that you have to develop for yourself...once you do (by NOT using your car every chance you get), inspiration will perpetuate itself...

Good luck and keep us posted!

Earth First!

Go for it! I think you'll find that you'll enjoy getting around via bikeways soo much more than being crankily stuck in traffic. Just being out on a bike at your own pace is relaxing, and having the freedom to travel around a town where everything is 15 minutes away will help you gradually expose yourself to situations and places without needing to feel anxious. Even if you keep a car for emergencies or for your wife's exclusive use, staying carfree during the course of a regular day is surprisingly easy :p

I know I'm going on

Frankly, your post is plenty concise. It's good to have background info in order for people here to answer questions.

You seem to have a lot of enthusiasm, and for being car-free that's more important than almost anything else.

I don't know if you're interested in the story of a bike messenger who has a bike set up specifically for a guy who's missing part of his right leg, but here are a couple articles on him:
http://www.messmedia.org/messville/dexter.html
http://www.jrn.columbia.edu/studentwork/cns/2002-04-17/500.asp

the guy's pretty inspiring to me- talk about tough!

If you like to travel by bike, you'll be able to do it. if you don't have a trailer, consider getting one. Good luck!

...now I am trying to change for myself and for my childrens future , I'm recycling more and more , I try to get my wife to only use the car when totally necessary I have been reading as much as possible about car free living but I just can't shake the I have to have a car or motorcycle monkey .

I hate paying for fuel
I am sick of tooling with cars ( I love tooling with old bikes there so easy to work on after I played with cars for so long )
I hate paying for registration and insurance
I hate traffic
I hate almost everything I used to like about cars
but I still can't get rid of the feeling .

PLEASE GIVE ME INSPIRATION.......



I don't know if this will help, but you have inspired me.

Seriously, you've been through a lot, you've allowed your experience to teach you important lessons, and you are clearly ready in your heart to start doing what you know is right.

Try going car-free for a period of time, 3 months, 6 months, a year. Cancel your insurance and registration and see what happens. Do what you know is right.

Keep us posted. Bless you. :)

Thanks this is helping

Autokat--in your OP you give good reasons for wanting to give up the car. I'm less clear on the reasons why you do want to keep the car. If you could list your reasons for keeping it, we might be better able to advise on solutions for those reasons.

Try riding with your kids.... and even your wife if possible. Take it slow and convert your family to a cycling lifestyle over time. I think kids often take to a car free lifestyle quicker than adults do. Bicycling should be family fun! as well as good way to get around.

Think about changes you'd like to make over the next two years, starting with bikes, moving on to your health, finances, career, relationships....riding your bike will make you stronger and maybe all the other problems you face won't look as big.


I see cycling as a beginning to a new life.

here's another thing: have you ever taken a long, long ride to clear your mind? imagine that every day. hell, i still find myself taking long rides (i took a 20 mile jaunt into the foothills outside boise the other day) to clear my mind. it's sort of addicting once you realize how cycling can affect your mind, or your spirit if you prefer.

5 years ago I was faced with having to take BP meds at age 35, result of driving for a living for 17 years. I had 23 cars/trucks and drove about 1.1 million miles in that time. Cars/trucks are gone, now I ride for a living, lost the weight, no threat of heart disease anymore. I moved downtown, everything I need is within about 5 miles mostly, and couldnt be happier. There are lots of benefits to regular exercise, being car free and using a bike to get around provides plenty, humans werent meant to be sedentary. Ultimately for me, it was a health choice, the rest is just gravy.

Hi Autokat.

Cars are great utilitarian machines. If people only thought of them that way, things would be a lot better and I'd be a little less annoyed. I'm 100% car-free for the rest of my life, but I don't think of it as an absolute that I have to will upon everyone else like I'm king busybody of the world.

In other words, use the car when you need to, but not more. Grocery shopping, for instance, can easily be done by bike. You'll find that with this line of thought, you'll be riding more often than driving. Dilemma over, and you're a-ok ethically, as far as I'm concerned (there are others who don't act so lenient). Otherwise, get into bicycles as naturally as you can - not because you need to change the world - but because they are the most naturally fun things ever invented by man.

Another angle is that exercise is specifically good therapy for anxiety disorders and depression. Some studies have shown exercise to be as effective as medications for treatment.


Here is a link with more information (http://www.mayoclinic/health/depression-and-exercise/MH00043depression) if you are interested. A google search might show up more articles.

yeah, roody...that's part of what i meant about taking long rides to clear my mind. most of the time, it has that effect, and then when something really hits me, well...i ride. it feels like since i started riding more, i've been more laid back and at ease mentally. for the most part. and when i'm riding, i'm just riding, not worrying about things. just your mentions of anxiety disorders and depression.

Thanks again everyone for the support I have made up my mind ....no cars or motorcycles .....and thats it ....

Roody , I honestly couldn't tell you why I want a car ..or motorcycle it was just the way I grew up .. it's just difficult because all of my friends are car & bike junkies so I get no help from them .

[I]THANKS AGAIN GUYS

What does your wife think about it?

She's fine with the idea we're keeping her car because of the kids and emergencies but I will do without a car .

BTW she's the best , we've been through a lot together ( I met her when I was 20 ) so she put's up with everything I do without fuss but this she thinks is for the best also .

If your wife is cool with it, then just go for it.

The reason is freedom, everything looks better from a bike, plus I always smile as I weave in and out of bumper to bumper traffic.

Good luck.

Thanks again everyone for the support I have made up my mind ....no cars or motorcycles .....and thats it ....

THANKS AGAIN GUYS

Beyond "trying," it can now be officially said that you're "doing!"

Rock On, Autokat! :beer:

Carless in Ft. Lauderdale = suicide. Plus I'd be soaked by the time I got to work in August.

lose your car keys. My first bike commute was done because I couldn't find my keys for a week.

- they were in my other pants.

I also suffer from an anxiety disorder :( :(

the best anxiety elixir I know of is a HARD ride

Carless in Ft. Lauderdale = suicide. Plus I'd be soaked by the time I got to work in August.

I managed being carless just fine in West Palm Beach for a summer... it was a piece o' cake compared to Vermont in January :eek: