Living Car Free - A nice compliment

The other day, I was talking with someone about my car-light efforts. I felt honoured when he told me, "If everyone lived like you, we wouldn't have global warming."

Several people have mentioned this to me as they see me struggle over ice and snow to the grocery store on my Bianchi.

I usually then proceed to tell them about my air trip to Italy or that my furnace is cranked up pretty good.

That usually takes the glow off my halo. :)

Yeah, we'd probably still have global warming if everybody was carfree. But it would be a big step in the right direction.

Being car free is not for everyone. For example, the handicapped. However there are a lot of people who have no justifiable reason not to commute by bike other than being to lazy or trying to sustain an image. Once gas hits $5.00US a gallon some will rethink their choices and you will probably see more on bike and at bus stops.

Being car free is not for everyone. For example, the handicapped. However there are a lot of people who have no justifiable reason not to commute by bike other than being to lazy or trying to sustain an image. Once gas hits $5.00US a gallon some will rethink their choices and you will probably see more on bike and at bus stops.

I fully agree. Car-free is not for everyone and although I've cut back on car use, I won't be able to go completely car-free for a long time. Cutting back by planning trips or switching to a more efficient vehicle is better than doing nothing. The financial savings alone should make careful driving appeal to anyone.

As the initial post suggested, being car free (or at least trying to be reduce car usage...) would be a great way to reduce some of the effects of climate change.

To my mind, it would probably not be sufficient to make a huge dent in the situation. But one thing it might achieve -- at least, if it were to catch on in the so-called "First World" -- would be to convince many developing countries that a heavy energy footprint is not the only way to success/happiness.

If, in addition to being car free, folks could take up the torch of sustainable living, we might be able to somewhat adjust the mindset of consumers in countries like China, who now apparently see a lifestyle complete with automobile and larger accommodations as a life goal. The problem with this way of thinking is that it only works when a small number of people jump on the bandwagon. If more than a billion people in China realize they need a Buick and a gas grill on the deck, the planet is doomed.

If, on the other hand, we can convince the Chinese that a bicycle and a small alcohol stove would make you just as happy... well, maybe there is some hope for future generations.

If more than a billion people in China realize they need a Buick and a gas grill on the deck, the planet is doomed.

If, on the other hand, we can convince the Chinese that a bicycle and a small alcohol stove would make you just as happy... well, maybe there is some hope for future generations.
The problem is the Chinese and the rest of the world have watched us in the First World countries as we've worshipped our cars and encouraged conspicuous consumption. They'll rightly ask why it was okay for us to live that way, even if we've since abandoned that lifestyle, but it's not okay for them. And none of us will be able to give an answer.

And none of us will be able to give an answer.

I'll give it a try: Greed.