Living Car Free - Car Free Hardcore

I'm a noob in car-free (...yet to do a Michigan winter though...) How many of you are completely free of the petroleum infection? I've got family about a 100 miles away which is the biggest/only thing really keeping me from ditching my car altogether. How hardcore car-free are you?

I'm a noob in car-free (...yet to do a Michigan winter though...) How many of you are completely free of the petroleum infection? I've got family about a 100 miles away which is the biggest/only thing really keeping me from ditching my car altogether. How hardcore car-free are you?

How often do you visit your family? Car ownership is really expensive. May be more cost effective to ditch the car and then rent one when you go visit family.

No car ball and chain for me. I have a no-fee gold card specifically for the insurance when renting a car, but find its been a few years since I've needed to do that. Usually go visit out of town people by either bus, train, carpooling with others who are going (chip in for gas), or (especially in summer) enjoying some long distance bike rides.

ive been car free for about 6 years.

interestingly enough, a silver lining from getting a DUI.

i thought it'd be hell, but fell in love, instead.

I was totally car free from '81 to '01. 'Rode a Schwinn, a Mongoose, 2 Diamondbacks, and a Trek 760. Does that count? This was all in the Puget Sound area.

How many of you are completely free of the petroleum infection?

Nobody with internet access...

I’ve been car free most of my life; I can walk to work in the winter and ride my bikes almost everywhere the rest of the year. I have a small organic garden, I compost, and recycle, and buy almost everything used and I buy locally. My kayak and cycle-touring holidays this year will start and finish at my home. Also my family owns the mineral rights to property that produces oil. So I guess I am in the minority in that my family produces more oil than it consumes. :)

Nobody with internet access...

:lol: Zactly....not a one of us is petrol free. Unless you are living off the land with 0 (zero) inputs from the world outside your property line.....

i rent a car once or twice a year for trips, plus fly a few times a year as well. that's the bulk of the oil i use. the rest of it is tied in with whatever consumer goods i buy that are trucked or flown here.

i would say i use much less than an average person, but still plenty.

Car-free for 4 years; sister's family, who lives with me, is not. She was just saying today that bikes were the way to go to duck gas prices -- but she couldn't haul the groceries for 9 people on a bike. I told her that the new trailer I'm looking at will haul a fair amount, but forgot to remind her of the period in '04 when she & her hubby were 100 miles away, taking care of his invalid mother for 6 weeks. I had my daughter & 3 school-age kids with me, and hauled groceries easily...in November in Indiana, no less.

I've been behind the wheel of a vehicle 3 times this year; once for take-out for the family, twice for work purposes.

This talk of abandoning cars makes me almost giddy.

Completely carfree for three years, in fact my license expired two years ago haven’t even bothered to renew it yet. As far as your distance to your parents go you can easily work yourself up to 100 miles via bike. I do quite a few self supported centuries a year it really isn’t that hard I would just plan a spending a day or two there. I keep some extra clothes and shoes at their house 40 miles away or their RV 75 miles away. It’s funny my sister that lives in town is always offering me a ride to my parents but she just doesn’t get it that I like to ride up there. My next goal is to go to Houston to Dallas to visit my sister 270 miles away, but that probably won’t happen this year I pretty much burned off my vacation this year. Plus I need to get some touring equipment and refresh my camping skills.

We do not own a car. Most of our long distance travel is via mass transit of some type (usually bus/rail/bus or bus/plane/bus or just plain bus). We'll probably add a pair of folding bikes over the next couple years so we can have *our* wheels with us on vacations.

Gas use isn't an "infection" to us tho. We just don't much like city driving, and are too cheap to let a car sit when we will forget to run it often enough to keep it functioning. So we will car pool when called for (not bloody often, as most of our friends are within biking distance).

I'm a nob in car-free (...yet to do a Michigan winter though...) How many of you are completely free of the petroleum infection? I've got family about a 100 miles away which is the biggest/only thing really keeping me from ditching my car altogether. How hardcore car-free are you?

I've been car free for 6 years and it took me over a year of pondering the idea before I took the plunge. I guess the biggest obstacle was family as well. Not just on how would I visit them but the very idea of their reaction to selling the wheels which are pretty well a staple for all of us.

But I reasoned thus: At the time of my decision making, I'd heard that the average cost of owning and operating a car was $7000/year (that was before big gas price increases). So, I could sell my car and budget say 1/2 of the 7 grand to alternate transportation and still be way ahead.

My bike is now my major method of transportation, supplemented with public transit, carpooling and use of occasional taxi's. I don't think that I spend anywhere near the $3.5 grand/year I budged for. So I'm not afraid to splurge on getting a nice bike if I want one. Also have a bike shop do the repairs on my bikes. It's a bit expensive but I'm still saving money and don't mind supporting the businesses that cater to aiding me staying car free.

I've always been lover of bikes though, so this wasn't just about saving money:love:. A person not inclined with the same enjoyment of getting around by bike though, should maybe split car and bike use until such time that they could properly evaluate how content they think that they could be without their car:eek:

I was car free until 27. It's easy living on a smallish island in Puget Sound. Since XC / Randonee skiing is the new love my fossil burner is a must for all the random 45 min jaunts to the slopes.

We're 42 going on 30. In 1993 we were $60K in debt with no assets and liberal arts degrees. Now we own our house comfortably and our own successful business. We have a 5 year old son, dog and cats. We have worked in 5 American cities on both coasts and held 6-figure jobs more than 10 miles from home for years. We have never owned a motor vehicle, nor do we take transit more than a few times a year. We bike. The cumulative savings of not driving bought our house and over a dozen of the best bikes imaginable. Working on another child. No plans to drive. That would be counterproductive.

We're 42 going on 30. In 1993 we were $60K in debt with no assets and liberal arts degrees. Now we own our house comfortably and our own successful business. We have a 5 year old son, dog and cats. We have worked in 5 American cities on both coasts and held 6-figure jobs more than 10 miles from home for years. We have never owned a motor vehicle, nor do we take transit more than a few times a year. We bike. The cumulative savings of not driving bought our house and over a dozen of the best bikes imaginable. Working on another child. No plans to drive. That would be counterproductive.

This is a very good story.

Your story should be a sticky for those who think the carfree lifestyle is impossible. I'm not even transit free and depend on it almost every day of the year. To be car and transit free is all good! When I think about it, there are plenty of six figure jobs in New York City that don't require a car yet people all over the country are driving vehicles to their minimum wage jobs. It's sad.

I like the fact that you've actually paid off a house since 1993 with the savings from being carfree. I hope to be the same way within a year but I'm holding off until the winter because home prices are falling! This is really a good time for those who are carfree to own a home with all our savings.

You're living proof that you don't need a car to have a high paying job.

We're 42 going on 30. In 1993 we were $60K in debt with no assets and liberal arts degrees. Now we own our house comfortably and our own successful business. We have a 5 year old son, dog and cats. We have worked in 5 American cities on both coasts and held 6-figure jobs more than 10 miles from home for years. We have never owned a motor vehicle, nor do we take transit more than a few times a year. We bike. The cumulative savings of not driving bought our house and over a dozen of the best bikes imaginable. Working on another child. No plans to drive. That would be counterproductive.
With the exception of the personal financial details, I can personally vouch for this story. :)

The cumulative savings of not driving bought our house and over a dozen of the best bikes imaginable.

rare is the bike shop owner who does not have a few awesome bikes.

I'd be a happy camper if I had a stokemonkey'd cargo bike, too.

rare is the bike shop owner who does not have a few awesome bikes.
But he had most of the awesome bikes before the shop came about. ;)

I love the "no plans to drive. That would be counterproductive". I'm about to take a job as a teacher and music director in a new city and I need to see what my responsibilities are before I go totally car free. Hauling a bunch of kids/choir members/piano students in a trailer with my bike doesn't sound awesome. even if it would be cheaper. :)

I just had to make a car payment today, and seeing the "Total Balance Due: 8759.00" just made me think how stupid it was to pay 10000 bucks for something if you don't need it to survive.

And I think the point has been made that 10000 dollars can buy some really, really awesome bikes.

I'm sure that people have to adjust to you not having a car...is it ever frustrating for them?

I love the "no plans to drive. That would be counterproductive". I'm about to take a job as a teacher and music director in a new city and I need to see what my responsibilities are before I go totally car free. Hauling a bunch of kids/choir members/piano students in a trailer with my bike doesn't sound awesome. even if it would be cheaper. :)

I just had to make a car payment today, and seeing the "Total Balance Due: 8759.00" just made me think how stupid it was to pay 10000 bucks for something if you don't need it to survive.

And I think the point has been made that 10000 dollars can buy some really, really awesome bikes.

I'm sure that people have to adjust to you not having a car...is it ever frustrating for them?

I'm currently a science teacher. Once in a while, I have to haul a lot stuff related to my job, but I find that those occasions are so rare that car ownership is still totally unjustified. I sometimes use a bike trailer (I once moved an outboard motor that way), or if that's not practical, I borrow or rent a truck. Even if you rent once in a while, it's still way more sensible financially than actually owning your own car. I've been car-free for the last four years, and I've rented cars/trucks a grand total of four times since then, for a total cost of maybe $500, which is just a bit more than I was paying to own a car per month, and that was before $4.30 gas.

BTW, most school districts have a policy prohibiting teachers from transporting students in their private vehicles, so that's probably a non-issue anyway.

I'm a noob in car-free (...yet to do a Michigan winter though...) How many of you are completely free of the petroleum infection? I've got family about a 100 miles away which is the biggest/only thing really keeping me from ditching my car altogether. How hardcore car-free are you?

I'm carfree for the last 6 years now (and many other years at different periods of my life). That includes 6 Michigan winters, in which I rode every day but two--and I walked on those two days. (I would probably ride them now, but I was less experienced then.)

I travel 200 miles every four weeks (Lansing to Traverse City) to visit my family of origin. I take the Greyhound/Indian Trails buses both ways. The cost is about $40 each way, and the trip takes about 5 hours, versus the 3-4 hours it takes to drive. The bus gets about 11 miles per gallon, and carries an average of 15 to 40 passengers. I read and enjoy the scenery along the way. I do drive my dad to appointments--about 10 miles of driving every month, and not much enjoyed.

I don't think I'm hardcore. Besides driving my dad, once in a while I let my kids drive me to the store. Mostly I do that to spend some time with them, but I'll admit it's sometimes nice (not necessary) to take a big jug of detergent from Sam's Club in the car.

I love the "no plans to drive. That would be counterproductive". I'm about to take a job as a teacher and music director in a new city and I need to see what my responsibilities are before I go totally car free. Hauling a bunch of kids/choir members/piano students in a trailer with my bike doesn't sound awesome. even if it would be cheaper. :)

I just had to make a car payment today, and seeing the "Total Balance Due: 8759.00" just made me think how stupid it was to pay 10000 bucks for something if you don't need it to survive.

And I think the point has been made that 10000 dollars can buy some really, really awesome bikes.

I'm sure that people have to adjust to you not having a car...is it ever frustrating for them?

My boyfriend and I are 'car-lite' - just 1 car between us. And we're consciously trying to stay as car-lite as possible. (And while it's no prize, it IS paid off!). The biggest thing keeping me from being carFREE is that I'm a musician*. My main instrument is tuba. And getting to/from rehearsals + gigs involves not only instrument(s), but stands, music, equipment, etc. Often gigs are 15-20 miles away. A car is the most practical form of transportation for these events. Although I DO carpool whenever possible.

I commute to work by bike, boyfriend takes public transport. I run most errands by bike. Trying to do most of my social life sans car, too.

Anyways- I'd be interested in hearing from any other musicians who manage to be completely car-free.


*I do also have a day job. But the music helps keep me sane. :)

.....getting to/from rehearsals + gigs involves not only instrument(s), but stands, music, equipment, etc. A car is the most practical form of transportation for these events.

I feel your pain, sister. I'm a drummer, six piece, 5 cymbals, mics. At least 400 lbs of stuff. I tried to get it in my backpack, but the kick drum was too big.:D

I feel your pain, sister. I'm a drummer, six piece, 5 cymbals, mics. At least 400 lbs of stuff. I tried to get it in my backpack, but the kick drum was too big.:D

You realize how cool this could be--a mobile drum kit:

http://www.bikefriday.com/sites/default/files/images/Bass_Drum_Transport.preview.jpg
This first photo, from bikefriday.com (http://www.bikefriday.com/stories), is from Traverse City, MI--where I am right now. The guy should
probably have one of those skirt guards on his bike.

+++++++++++++++++

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2031/2595482551_3ed00db078.jpg?v=0

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bb/KosmicDebris06Costumer14BikeDrum.jpg/800px-KosmicDebris06Costumer14BikeDrum.jpg

i haven't had a car, or even a driver's license, in about 7 years now. living in seattle is pretty easy though with buses, bike lanes. it's not perfect here but i get by fine.

but i have to admit it helps to have friends w/ cars for things like big-box items, etc..

I lived car free from 1981 to 2001 in Seattle without any problems at all. No big deal.

I went without a car for 2 years in Japan. Bought a car for 10 months after moving back, sold it, now getting a bike.



:lol: Zactly....not a one of us is petrol free. Unless you are living off the land with 0 (zero) inputs from the world outside your property line.....

Not very much electricity comes from petrol, a majority of it comes from coal iirc, but that depends where you live. some places offer electricity from wind power as an option on your electric bill also, which would mean they are almost entirely fossil fuel free.

I feel your pain, sister. I'm a drummer, six piece, 5 cymbals, mics. At least 400 lbs of stuff. I tried to get it in my backpack, but the kick drum was too big.:D
My friend Mark is a drummer and has a specially built cargo trike:
http://www.drumbent.com/trike.html

Car-free for about 5.5 years now. I think it gets easier every day. What you're going through is the hardest part.

I thought that "car-free hardcore" might mean something on the nature of not riding even as a passenger in a car. Anyone like that here?

I've been at it for nearly 2 years now and have done two Anchorage winters. It gets easier as you adapt. Now this upcoming weekend I'm actually going to have a car but for the life of me I can't see any need for it. I can haul what I need on my hoss and trailer, and I'm already well stocked.

I'm sure that people have to adjust to you not having a car...is it ever frustrating for them?

It can be. We try hard to stay independent, so where ever possible, we're managing our transportation. So I don't get to ask for a ride in situations where I can bike or take transit. If a friend is going to the same place, usually they'll sit on me and make me take a ride.

The biggest problem with making car free official was it worried my parents. They're Minnesota natives, so they *know* what an upper Midwest winter is like, and they were very afraid something would go dreadfully wrong. Now that I survived and did relatively well through the Worst Winter On Record, they're much calmer. (really tho, I could have done without last winter being *that* bad. really and truly)

I do maintain a driver's license, so that if it is necessary and prudent, I can rent a car or small truck. While many businesses do deliver, not all of them do. And some loads are just too heavy for an Extracycle or small cargo trailer. If you're trying to haul a ton of bricks, a truck really is the right tool for the job.

It can be. We try hard to stay independent, so where ever possible, we're managing our transportation. So I don't get to ask for a ride in situations where I can bike or take transit. If a friend is going to the same place, usually they'll sit on me and make me take a ride.

Here in Charleston, WV, there are parts of the city that are difficult, if not impossible, to get to by bike.


The biggest problem with making car free official was it worried my parents. They're Minnesota natives, so they *know* what an upper Midwest winter is like, and they were very afraid something would go dreadfully wrong. Now that I survived and did relatively well through the Worst Winter On Record, they're much calmer. (really tho, I could have done without last winter being *that* bad. really and truly)

My late father was so scared of me riding in traffic. I told him that life is the leading cause of death, but that for a careful vehicular cyclist like myself cycling is reasonably safe.


I do maintain a driver's license, so that if it is necessary and prudent, I can rent a car or small truck. While many businesses do deliver, not all of them do. And some loads are just too heavy for an Extracycle or small cargo trailer. If you're trying to haul a ton of bricks, a truck really is the right tool for the job.

Exactly. And if it is delivered by truck, you are using gas just as much as if you drove it yourself, aren't you?

This may be a thread hijack, but as long as we're talking about it...are there little things that make the transition easier? (fenders/trailer/mtbvsroadvswhatever)

Here are some things I found helpful:

-Finding a friendly and helpful bike shop to help with repairs and upgrades.
-Moving closer to work
-Getting hauling capabilities with an xtracycle or cart. I use a bob trailer when needed.
-Multiple bikes for different uses. One utility, one road, one mountain would be nice. I'm not there yet myself.
-A quality tool mirror as a rear view. Seriously this one little invention has saved my skin and allows me to ride on major streets safely.

This may be a thread hijack, but as long as we're talking about it...are there little things that make the transition easier? (fenders/trailer/mtbvsroadvswhatever)

I only have one bike at a time. When I get a new bike, I get rid of the old bike, because I get used to bikes and the way they ride, and don't like to switch up, and I live in a small condo, so I try to find a bike that works in most situations. Right now, I use a touring bike, which has turned out to be remarkably versatile. Before that, I used an old hybrid for years with good results. Here are some other things that help:

1. Fenders are a must, unless you have a serious road bike, in which case they would be a travesty. (Actually, if you have a serious road bike that you're attached to, you're going to need a second bike for practical uses, because fast road bikes are really good for going fast, but not much good for anything else.)

2. Get a good rack and a set of baskets or panniers. A backpack/messenger bag is okay, but, personally, I don't like sweaty backs, and you can carry more on the bike than you can on your back.

3. A trailer isn't a bad idea. I'm not sure if Burley still makes the Flatbed trailer, but if they do, you might want to check that one out; it can carry about 100 lbs, which is about as much as I'd ever want to haul on a bike.

4. Invest in good rain gear.

5. Come up with alternative transportation plans for when the weather makes bicycling impossible. Last year, I knew which buses could take to to work at the right times, and I had emergency change for the purpose. (On many days, I just left early and walked the three miles to work.)

Hope that helps.

Get them to visit you?