Living Car Free - Does motorized transport feel like "cheating"?

I'm just wondering if anyone else on the forum has encountered the following feeling. After spending long periods of time getting around under personal power (cycling, walking, even kayaking), using motorized transportation feels completely unnatural. It just doesn't feel right to travel over a long distance at high speed with so little effort. Don't get me wrong, motorized transportation (bus, train, aircraft, even cars occasionally) can sometimes be useful. I also realize that these other transport methods do require energy expenditure too, but I guess the expenditure just isn't as obvious to most people. Anyone else ever felt this way?

Speaking of energy expenditure, I borrowed a car last week because I had to transport some large items to work that wouldn't fit on my bike. Due to traffic congestion and construction, total travel time was 37 minutes. If I commute somewhat leisurely on my bike, it takes 40-45 minutes. In other words, driving saves the average person travelling that route a whole 3 MINUTES. I'm not sure whether I should laugh or feel sad about that...

I took my car on a round trip 12 mile
trip today to get 1 package of Stevia
sugar substitute and felt like I had
broken some golden rule by not riding
over for it on my bike.

I am getting more conscious of
the benefits of going car free all
the time.

I could save a COOL $150 a month
and still get a FIRST CLASS monthly
Bus Pass out of the deal if I just sold
my car, not to mention the extra cash
from the car.

I am ruminating on all this and am
sure it will soon come to fruition.

I'm just wondering if anyone else on the forum has encountered the following feeling. After spending long periods of time getting around under personal power (cycling, walking, even kayaking), using motorized transportation feels completely unnatural. It just doesn't feel right to travel over a long distance at high speed with so little effort. Don't get me wrong, motorized transportation (bus, train, aircraft, even cars occasionally) can sometimes be useful. I also realize that these other transport methods do require energy expenditure too, but I guess the expenditure just isn't as obvious to most people. Anyone else ever felt this way?

Yes!

Yes, I feel this way, but I have to be careful that I don't judge my wife the same way. Quite often, I'll suggest bicycling places, and she will do it. But I never give her a hard time if she was out in the car shopping, while I commuted to and from work.

I haven't experienced "guilt" over driving the wife's auto, but my transportational bicycling has improved my driving habits. I've become more aware of just how fast 30 MPH is on my bicycle, and just how the risks rise dramatically as one travels any faster. Therefore, I've notice I've slowed down in my driving, and never exceed limits.

no..while biking is great..when you need to use a car use it! Seriously..cars are not evil, its just they are expensive..lead to selfishineess in many ways..give false power or power to those who should not have the power! and pollute, cause debt..etc..etc. :)
Actually when you need to use tranpsort use it...knowing it that its not your master anymore!

No.

I use Flexcar about once every two months or so. I don't feel like it's cheating, although I am so unaccustomed to driving that it does feel a little odd. I recognize that every once in a while I will need to move something that's too big to carry on a bike or lug along on the bus.

Being in any car makes me feel "icky". Trains feel natural. Airplanes make me want to cry. :cry:

Being in any car makes me feel "icky".
Less so if I drive it but I too feel that way. Its the same feeling as being in a dirty public restroom- I'd rather go outside.

Great point, likeakidagain. I drive only once a week for 10 miles instead of over a 100 miles a week 3 years ago. I spend $30 dollars on gas every 3 months now, instead of every week. The current paradigm that our society is stuck in is that driving a car is an entitlement. Cars should be seen as a luxury, as long as an alternative presents itself. I experience the same feeling, Smith, but I know that the 100 miles/week that I now put on my bike entitles me to drive a car 10 miles to run an errand. Look at it that way....

----
Reza Fakhrai

Absolutly not. I find cars along with other forms of transit like buses or trains to be useful in a flexible sense. Each option is not good in all situations. In Europe people use all sorts of transit options including private autos for different activities. It does not lessen the overall sense of independence from depending on cars (or other types of vehicles) too much. Different options for different activities.

I think the only time I do not feel like I am wasting my life away in a car is when I am with a friend and we are driving to go hiking. Were I not a student and had more time I'd try to bike to these remote places more often. (I don't get to backpack as much as I'd like anyway so it's not a huge issue).

no..while biking is great..when you need to use a car use it! Seriously..cars are not evil, its just they are expensive..lead to selfishineess in many ways..give false power or power to those who should not have the power! and pollute, cause debt..etc..etc. :)
Actually when you need to use tranpsort use it...knowing it that its not your master anymore!
So in what sense is this "not evil?"

Cars are evil. For all the reasons you yourself mentioned, and many more.