Living Car Free - Quasi Car Free for the first time ever

Hello all - first post in this forum, and a little apprehensive. Not 'cause of you folks, but because of the gravity of the commitment I am about to make.

My daughter turns 16 this hear, and I want her to have a safe, reliable car for her first. I know, I know, I can already hear the clamor - "Get her a bike!" Well, she's in high school, and when I was in high school, like most of us, I wanted my own car.

Anyhoo, my car for the past five years rolled off the lot brand new and has been maintained impeccably. It is safe, reliable and most of all, looks really HOT. A sweet midnight blue 2003 Pontiac Bonneville.

So.

My daughter will be the lucky recipient of my car, and I will be relegated to two wheels for the final eight months of 2009. I am not a snow rider, so I will be considering picking up another car, but my wife has a car. I am focused on April through the chilly pre-snow months of late November.

The decision feels good. She gets a safe car to drive, I get to ride my bike, and I'm loving that, and all the money I save I can spend on booze and hookers for Christmas!

Comic relief.

Can anyone relate? It's a big step, but I've never not had a car to back me up.

Well, congratulations. You won't regret it.

You won't have a car to back you up? Or you won't have a car to weigh you down?

In general, the worst bicycle problems can be solved quickly by hoisting your bike on your shoulder and walking on. Or call your wife on a cell phone. Get a good solid bike and resist the temptation for needless upgrades and you will be surprised at how fun saving money can be.

If you're in Colorado, I'd reccommend studded tires. they're a must for riding on ice. Do you have any local bus service you could use as an alternative? Good luck!

The decision feels good. She gets a safe car to drive, I get to ride my bike, and I'm loving that, and all the money I save I can spend on booze and hookers for Christmas!

.

I can relate but I got in better shape and lost weight and got a better attitude so I didn't need the extra money for booze and hookers.

If you're in Colorado, I'd recommend studded tires. they're a must for riding on ice. Do you have any local bus service you could use as an alternative? Good luck!

I have been commuting March-November since 2004, and love it, but this is the first year I will not have a car to back me up. I have two solid bikes, one road, one roadie-fried rigid MTB. If I don't get to work, I don't get paid, and may not have a job. A car is necessary for me as I do not ride in snow or on ice. Wind, rain, heat, anything but ice and snow. I will not have the wife's car to fall back on as she will be driving to work (she's not a cyclist). Baby steps :-)

How far is your commute? If not too long, you should really think about getting some studded tires and riding in the snow and ice. I know you said you don't do it, but you should really try it.

When I went car free in the spring, I thought I would just do it for the summer and then in Oct/Nov I would buy something like a '99 Rav4 or CR-V or some such. I couldn't see myself riding in the cold, icy Iowa winters. Well, as fall approached I decided I didn't want to be burdened with the purchase and upkeep of a car yet, so I got the studded snow tires. I was pretty apprehensive about it, but after my first few rides I have to say - I love it.

It's really not hard at all, and I get around FAR better than I did last year with my car. The bike doesn't slip around like the cars do on ice, and even IF I did wipe out, unlike the car that ends up in the ditch, I can pick my bike up, put it back on the road, and keep on truck'n. Tonight, I had my coldest ride to date: -18F with a windchill in excess of -40, and icy roads from last nights snow fall. It was no more difficult than riding at +20F tbh. If things somehow deteriorate to the point that I can't ride, my back up is a quick call to a local cab company; the ride ain't cheap but it's far more economical than owning a car!

Anyway, I just wanted to say: give winter riding a shot. With proper tires and attire, it's really very manageable. And if it doesn't work out, you can likely put the tires on Craigslist and find some who will put 'em to good use.

I have been commuting March-November since 2004, and love it, but this is the first year I will not have a car to back me up. I have two solid bikes, one road, one roadie-fried rigid MTB. If I don't get to work, I don't get paid, and may not have a job. A car is necessary for me as I do not ride in snow or on ice. Wind, rain, heat, anything but ice and snow. I will not have the wife's car to fall back on as she will be driving to work (she's not a cyclist). Baby steps :-)

Seems to me you've made a decision.

However, you might want to just get some appropriate winter gear (good gloves, spare set of wheels & studs, and lights) as well as a slightly more positive attitude - then just go for it! Leave the car in the driveway for a few rides, you'll see it's no different than riding to work in the summer - though I find you might want to give 10 more mins as I personally seem to be a bit slower in the winter. Try riding on the ice & snow on the weekends to get some practice. You'll find it's not so bad or hard. The first step is usually the hardest, once you get over it, you'll wonder why you didn't do it sooner!

Next fall, just keep saying "one more day, then I'll drive." By the time you make it to mid-December on your bike, you'll have learned that you really can handle winter riding. It's not as hard as people think.

I drove in snow and ice yesterday. I kept wishing that I was on my bike. Handling a bike on snow is like handling a car on snow. It requires a little extra skill, proper equipment, and good maintenence of the vehicle.