First Day Car Free (Car Lite, actually)

[mjwarner]

So, my brilliant plan of A.) Selling the car B.) Running to work while saving money C.) Using said money to buy a bike to replace my car, is under way!

A little bit out of order though.

Step A.) got bypassed - I didn't sell the car, it broke down and is in the shop. Rather than hitch a ride with my wife or take the bus I decided today was day 1 of going car free/lite (I will have no personal car, but my wife and I will share the car she drives to work).

So I ran to work today, interesting experience, I had to cross a very busy 4 lane road a few times. This town is very un-friendly to pedestrians!!! Additionally, it was raining.

Lesson learned: buy a bike ASAP!!! And, who needs a car?

[jeff-o]

Check out freecycle.org. You may be able to score a 'temporary' bike for free.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

(I will have no personal car, but my wife and I will share the car she drives to work)...And, who needs a car?
Not you? It's easy to ask/answer such a question when you can use a car that you own whenever you need it.

[mustang1]

I need a car. In fact I need several. One for normal use, one for weekend use.

[cooperwx]

Not you? It's easy to ask/answer such a question when you can use a car that you own whenever you need it.

The OP is not car-free, he's car-lite as he corrected himself in the topic title. One car is lighter than two. Congrats on committing to freeing up the garage space. Just a shame your car hit the shop before you could get it in the classifieds.

Maybe we need a car-lite forum so as not to offend the purists.

[Platy]

Good for you, mjwarner. Even car lite living is sufficiently challenging for most people.

There aren't many pedestrian or bike friendly places anywhere. Rain happens. When your car broke down, all the challenges we discuss on this sub forum changed from hypothetical to practical. Carfree living gets easier as you go along. It's not something that's accomplished by a single heroic resolution. It takes time to develop the required skills.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

The OP is not car-free, he's car-lite as he corrected himself in the topic title. One car is lighter than two...Maybe we need a car-lite forum so as not to offend the purists.
Perhaps you missed the offending question offered by Mr. Car-Lite: "Who needs a car?" Apparantly pious car-lite purists do.

[cooperwx]

True, ILTB. A better statement would have been "Who needs a second car."

Still, once again congrats to the OP on the commitment. I sold my pick-up last week and thus am car-lite. My wife has total control of the mini-van, mostly for hauling the kids around.

There is a huge difference between car-free and car-light. The grocery thing is the biggest to me, and I truly admire those car-free folks with multiple kids.

[I-Like-To-Bike]

True, ILTB. A better statement would have been "Who needs a second car."

Still, once again congrats to the OP on the commitment. I sold my pick-up last week and thus am car-lite. My wife has total control of the mini-van, mostly for hauling the kids around.

There is a huge difference between car-free and car-light. The grocery thing is the biggest to me, and I truly admire those car-free folks with multiple kids.
Agree about the suggested better wording of a non-hypocritical question. Also agree about the huge difference between car-free and car-light, and the implied huge difference between being responsible for just oneself and for other's welfare. I might also be an admirer when I read of successful car-free folks raising well rounded children from birth through adulthood in modern US communities; especially if home owners and not urban cliff dwellers.

[yes]

Ahh - busted by the ILTB cop, you are. You seem to have offended with your casual use of the car free moniker.

Real cyclists wear spandex!!11

Real cats play percussion!

[Roody]

Not to get back on topic or anything, but what kind of bike are you looking for? You could probably buy a nice one with the money you're spending on the car repairs! You could donate the car as is to NPR, Volunteers of America or some other charity, and write off the value on your taxes.

[mjwarner]

Right, what kind of bike am I going to get. I'm thinking a Scott Sub 30 or 20 most likely - or something very similiar.

I can't donate my car because I can't afford to give $13,000 away. I need to sell it to pay off the remainder of the loan. Good idea though - but if I was giong to donate it would go to these people: Elim Christian Center, Poland (http://www.elimcenter.neostrada.pl/).