Living Car Free - My name's Alex, I'm 21 and now car free!!

After my jeep breaking down for the 3rd time this past month I called it quits. But wow this area on this site has inspired me so much. I've officially been car free 3 weeks now and love everything about it. I'm in better shape now ( I hate gyms full of stuck up ppl down here), stopped drinking, and just am happier with life in general now. I live 2 miles from work and 2 miles from the beach and a mile from school so having a car is pretty much a joke. I don't have a $1k fixie but just a $85 beach cruiser i got from K mart and sutis me just fine. Just want to say thanks to everyone on here for inspiring me to do what the best I can to save myself and our diminishing environment. :D

Here are some pics i snapped riding around the past week..

Being situated that close to everything must be great, enjoy it while it lasts. Now get the Jeep running and put a for sale sign on it .

Hi Alex!
Welcome to Cars Anonymous. :)

Looks like you live in a beautiful location. Judging by the vegetation, it looks like a warm place too. Where is it? Too bad about the stuck up people.

Thx i live insouth florida, some pretty bad and crazy drivers at times but i love iit here

Good news, Alex. Sounds like a great location.

Sounds like you're having a blast! Way to go!

Hi Alex: I live in South Florida too! It is soo dangerous here. Really bad. I bought a gun recently because too many times I was being followed by drivers angry about bicyclists on the road. It is pretty scary here:(

Ya it can be pretty bad, I had to jump out of the way because some old lady backed up and didn't even look back in a parking lot at cvs. Although I don't believe in guns I understand how you feel. I have no choice to drive my car actually now, only do when I have too. I'm going back to school and am playing d1 college golf, I hate driving so much ESP. After getting pulled over twice on the 4th for no reason and no tickets given. I only drive to practice and tournaments when I have too, I'm gonna try and start a car pool or sumthin and cut down driving for others too!!

After my jeep breaking down for the 3rd time this past month I called it quits. But wow this area on this site has inspired me so much.

Here's what to do next.

Start paying yourself as though the Jeep was still around. Use the money wasted on the Jeep to start a savings fund for retirement. In 40 years, you'll be way better off then 95% of the population.

Hi

I too find it inspiring to see other folks have a bike-less life a goal. I thought the car had taken over, in the USA.
Here in the UK, the credit crunch seems to have made more people turn to cycling.

Grumps

Alex! You're an inspiration..... I wish I'd have had that much smarts at 21.

If the "twenty-first century man" is someone like you, then the future will look more bright than I'd have thought.

Wow thanks very generous of you to say.

Congrats & Keep it up! You will have problems you will encounter through out the months & years , but it will be well worth it! I'm 22 and have been car-lite for over two years now. I have only driven to work about 3 or 4 times in those years. The only time i really use a car is to go back to my hometown and see family. Even if you HAVE to get a car one day you can still remain car-lite now that you understand the benefits of bicycle transportation. Being Car free I would suggest upgrading to a "bike Shop" bicycle when ever your able to. They seem to be more reliable and easier to work on. It's also good to have a relationship with your local bike shop. They can help you with repairs and give you valuable information about the local bicycle community.