Living Car Free - Things to look for in a new house...

I currently live in Maine, and commute to work by bicycle (15 miles each way) most of the time. We live in a relatively rural area, which means that almost everything is a long bike ride away, making a car free existence difficult.
Next summer, we are contemplating moving, probably to a more gentle climate, and going at least car-light. I was wondering from those of you who are car-free or car-light, when looking at homes, what things should I be considering if I want to get rid of my car?

Look for a good urban area near your job. Not urban sprawl, but the traditional grid type of urban design. Then also make sure grocery stores and such and within a resonably close distance. If you wanna carry lots of stuff around by bike, go to the utility biking section of this forum.

I like older suburban neighborhood with a grid like street layout, adjoining lots of retail and close to a public transit center. As close to a grocery store as possible. Scout the bikeability of the neighborhood, making sure there are good ways to get out of the area in as many directions as possible.

I like small to medium sized towns with solid infrastructure, located near Amtrak, Greyhound and interstates. One that I was in recently was Lafayette, IN. I have also found if there is a college nearby it quite often helps the carfree/carlight crowd.

Aaron:)

I currently live in Maine, and commute to work by bicycle (15 miles each way) most of the time. We live in a relatively rural area, which means that almost everything is a long bike ride away, making a car free existence difficult.
Next summer, we are contemplating moving, probably to a more gentle climate, and going at least car-light. I was wondering from those of you who are car-free or car-light, when looking at homes, what things should I be considering if I want to get rid of my car?

Do you have children, plan on having children, or hope to ever sell your house to someone else with children.

If the answer is yes to any of the above, look at the local school system first. Consider that any answer you receive on this list will probably come from people who can answer no to the above questions.

Look at the security of the area first - there's no sense in going car light if it's going to make mugging you easier. Yes, that means staying out of 'bad' neighborhoods, unless enough other individuals with your background/style are also moving in. Like the previous poster, if you've got children, look at the school system.

These are the main worries - beyond that, everything else is negotiable. Don't get absolutely hung up on distance. Often, adding 1/2 to 1 mile to your commute puts you in a better neighborhood.

Like Aaron, I've found that just about any size town is bike-able if it has a University. The trade-off, of course, is that you have to deal with students.

Do you have children, plan on having children, or hope to ever sell your house to someone else with children.

If the answer is yes to any of the above, look at the local school system first. Consider that any answer you receive on this list will probably come from people who can answer no to the above questions.

Thanks for this input - I hadn't thought of that. The truth is that I do have children, but the youngest of them is in University. Our current house is very big, and in an excellent school district. The idea is for the next house to be significantly smaller, and closer to an urban center. School districts therefore are not a factor.

I currently live in Maine, and commute to work by bicycle (15 miles each way) most of the time. We live in a relatively rural area, which means that almost everything is a long bike ride away, making a car free existence difficult.
Next summer, we are contemplating moving, probably to a more gentle climate, and going at least car-light. I was wondering from those of you who are car-free or car-light, when looking at homes, what things should I be considering if I want to get rid of my car?

Like everything else in Real Estate.......LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION. :D

What's that website that rates the 'walkability' of a neighbourhood?

I think that's probably a good start for deciding on a location. They list all sorts of things on there, like grocery stores, libraries, schools, etc. and from there you could further investigate those surrounding facilities and how they rate compared to other locations.

What's that website that rates the 'walkability' of a neighbourhood?

http://www.walkscore.com/

+1 on location

Take a look at your basic needs and find something that puts you in reasonable close distance.

I chose my apartment for how close it was to groceries-I have, easily, 6-7 grocery option within 2-3 miles.

I also chose it for proximity to the busline, about 400-500 feet. Roads are also pretty good. Decent grid pattern, close to a bike path/MUP if I was so inclined. Work is only about 2-3 miles away. Same with class.

I married into my current home:lol: Location isn't greatest for cycling, but neither is my job. But it works for the time being. We are looking into either a small apartment or condo in town.

Aaron:)

Thanks for this input - I hadn't thought of that. The truth is that I do have children, but the youngest of them is in University. Our current house is very big, and in an excellent school district. The idea is for the next house to be significantly smaller, and closer to an urban center. School districts therefore are not a factor.
I'm intimately familiar with both "good" and "bad" school districts and car free and a parent. It depends on your parenting style, but you need to work in both the good and bad districts. In the good districts if you aren't in tight with what I call the "power parents" your kid will get segregated into the classes with poorer teachers and with the other kids whose parents don't play well with the privileged class. To prove this assertion all you have to do is visit the school during back to school night and see how some classrooms are filled with visiting parents dressed well and friendly with each other and some classrooms have no parents or the few parents in the classroom have work clothes or don't speak English well. In DC whose school system has a very bad reputation, there are so many resources and options that kids can get a good education. In DC the parents have to play a different game but it might be easier for a child of car free parents to get a good education since here car-free people don't suffer from whatever ostracism they might suffer by not driving a gas-hog and living in a McMansion. In the teenage years, if your kid has any interest, in DC the kid can get in touch with world experts in that interest and believe it or not people here are willing to share their expertise with kids who show an interest and/or talent. I know car-free parents of kids who are getting a very good education in DC. DC kids get full scholarships to good schools. Another good thing is if you and your kid screw it up for whatever reason the kid can get in-state tuition at state colleges. If your kid isn't college material there are tons of interesting career choices reachable without a car.

In any case, if you don't take an active role your kid can get shortchanged and car-free isn't the issue. If your kid can bike to school you can bike to a PTA meeting. If the location is such that it isn't safe for your kid to bike to school why would you want to live in such a demeaning environment?

I currently live in Maine, and commute to work by bicycle (15 miles each way) most of the time. We live in a relatively rural area, which means that almost everything is a long bike ride away, making a car free existence difficult.
Next summer, we are contemplating moving, probably to a more gentle climate, and going at least car-light. I was wondering from those of you who are car-free or car-light, when looking at homes, what things should I be considering if I want to get rid of my car?
I went car-free before I went to the bicycle as my main mode of transport (doing more walking and public transit then), so it was essential when I was looking for a house to find something close to public transit. Also I didn't put a priority on a garage (in fact if I had a car I would need to use on-street permit parking) which I regret, because now where do I store all the bicycles? And cargo trailer? Etc.

I would consider proximity (and friendliness of route) to work first, and then probably proximity to places to buy food. A neighbourhood that feels pleasant to walk in. (if it looks like everybody in the neighbourhood takes their car to get everywhere, yeah you can go against the grain, but its not going to feel good). If you have kids, can they walk to school? Availability of local recreation facilities and whatever amenities you go to often.

Do you have children, plan on having children, or hope to ever sell your house to someone else with children.

If the answer is yes to any of the above, look at the local school system first. Consider that any answer you receive on this list will probably come from people who can answer no to the above questions.

Your post hints at an important fact we often neglect here. The choice of a place to live should be based on many factors -- proximity to work and services. But, more important might be proximity to family and friends. The children -- if any -- must also influence the decision.

For my part, if I move anywhere I move for a variety of reasons. The ability to stop using a car might play an important part, but wouldn't be the only one and probably wouldn't even get into the top five factors.

Although I certainly wouldn't be planning a move to suburban Atlanta no matter how much family I had living there :)

Developers in many cities are putting a lot of new condos into old warehouses and above stores in the downtown shopping/office district. They're marketing these so-called "lofts" to young professionals who don't have kids yet, and to "empty nesters" like the OP.

Most of them are very nice, and around here are selling for around 150k for about 1200 sq. ft. You can lease some units for about $1000/month. (of course prices would be much higher in many areas.)

One drawback is that they might be far from grocery stores, and you'd have to make sure they have good accomodations for your bikes.

funny you live in Cumberland, Maine. I'm in North Yarmouth and work in Portland. That commute will be fun by bike when the snow flies. I moved to No. Yarmouth this year to be closer to my office, and then the owner of the company decides (after I move) to move the office further away that where we were before. :notamused:

The most obvious: Bike storage. If you're considering a condo in a building make sure you have a secure place to store it. And if you have an HOA make sure no one has any problems with you bringing your bike inside. Or if its slushy and rainy outside you won't be getting any common areas dirty.

I used to live in a highrise, and while no one cared that I had my bike in the elevator a lot its still inconvenient. I'm lucky that living in a townhome now I can wheel my bike right in the front door and don't have to deal with locking it when inside.

Another thought: I have no idea if you're considering a condo in a more urban area - but if you are don't forgo a garage just because you don't have a car. You can rent it out and make a little extra monthly cash.

funny you live in Cumberland, Maine. I'm in North Yarmouth and work in Portland. That commute will be fun by bike when the snow flies. I moved to No. Yarmouth this year to be closer to my office, and then the owner of the company decides (after I move) to move the office further away that where we were before. :notamused:

That has happened to me several times, but usually it was because the job went away or the company filed bankruptcy. I went from a 6 mile commute to a 45 mile commute one year because the company downsized.:mad: Job market ain't what it used to be!:notamused:

Aaron:)

I'm sure not everyone in LCF subscribes to the RoadBikeRider email newsletter. The humor column of this week's issue deals (http://www.roadbikerider.com/currentissue.htm#SPIN) with the matter, although admittedly, from a roadie's perspective. Copy-and-pasted for your enjoyment.


SCOTT'S SPIN

Riding Home

A handful of real estate agents in U.S. cities such as Portland,
Oregon, and Boulder, Colorado, have begun showing houses by bike and
touting their listings' bike-friendly qualities, according to the
Associated Press.

"It's becoming more common to see families committing to driving
less," one realtor said. "I think it's a part of the market that will
continue to grow as gas gets more expensive."

Homes near urban centers and subway, train and bus stops are selling
faster than houses in far-off suburbs. Other draws include
neighborhoods with bike lanes and bike shops.

All good stuff, but realtors trying to tap the cycling market should
realize that there are housing requirements no cyclist can do without,
such as:

---Low purchase price. Working at a job to pay the mortgage cuts into
valuable riding time.

---Landscaping. As in, none. No lawn, unless artificial. No plants
that require watering more than once a summer. No fencing that needs
staining or replacing. No other outdoor features that demand any time
or effort during cycling season, which runs from January to December.

---One story. Stair climbing interferes with recovery from hard
workouts. It's also painful.

---Garage. Must be roomy enough to store all good bikes, plus boxes
full of used 7-, 8- and 9-speed drivetrain components, saddles that
looked comfy but weren't, greasy rags, and old tubes that may get
patched someday. Oh, and possibly a car.

---Extra bedroom(s). Must be roomy enough to store all really good
bikes. Must also accommodate indoor trainer, big-screen TV,
industrial-strength fan and sweat-proof flooring. Plus desktop
computer for downloading power files and e-mailing coach about how you
missed a workout because the stupid house did come with a lawn.

---Extra bathroom(s). High-fiber diet + group ride that leaves
promptly at 8 a.m. + teenager hogging only bathroom = disaster.