Living Car Free - NO car, No problem

Here's another good story on some people raising children or just living their lives car free. You really can't get enough of these stories. Read the comments below.

From the article:

>>>>
My friend Danilo Morales grew up in Ecuador with six brothers and sisters. A car was more than his family could afford. As a child, he felt normal taking the bus, as most other families couldn’t afford a car either. Even though he wanted one in high school so he could take his girlfriend to the beach, the idea of going into debt for five to seven years—with little money left over for food and rent—seemed absurd

http://www.yesmagazine.org/blogs/common-security-clubs/no-car-no-problem

Here's one part of the article that rang true for me:


As Kingman points out from her own car-free experience, “We ended up supporting a lot of local businesses (http://www.yesmagazine.org/new-economy/the-power-of-local), because big box stores and malls were much harder to get to. We bought our groceries every few days, which supported a healthier diet.

I buy the majority of my food from local farmers. I agree that it's healthier, but it also tastes better. The cost is only a little more than I would pay at a chain supermarket, but for me the value of local food is much greater. Being carfree was a big part of the reason that I decided to seek out local food sources.

Even in the city, we're stuck with the same supermarkets like A&P or Shoprite. As a result, it's basically the same food different store but this was not the case years ago. Many towns today have lost their identiy as the same retail stores have replaced all the indendants. People used to trave 30 miles away to shop in our town but that's not the case anymore. All the major stores in my downtown can be found at any mall. The result of this is during the afternoon, there is no one shopping.

Since I work for the biggest box of them all (save money, live better, my sphincter!), bringing home groceries is a simple matter of staying after work for 20-30 minutes, using the recycled shopping bags, and hauling them home. There are things I'd rather not have to buy there, but there are few really meaningful alternatives -- farmers markets and co-ops are in the next county, no time to travel there.

I get crap from my extended family (one member, actually) about 'growing up, doing what a man does, and get a car'. (ah, go sniff a cow pasture...) He's near 61, I'm 51. He's got heart problems, spinal issues, sciatica, liver problems, drinks too much, and is never happy unless he's watching boxing. I will be happily pedaling when i'm 90! (Oh -- and I'll likely finish raising his youngest child, my 7-y-o nephew....)

Here's one part of the article that rang true for me:



I buy the majority of my food from local farmers. I agree that it's healthier, but it also tastes better. The cost is only a little more than I would pay at a chain supermarket, but for me the value of local food is much greater. Being carfree was a big part of the reason that I decided to seek out local food sources.

Another advantage of buying at my local market and greengrocers is that I can bring my own reusable bags. A lot of the produce in the supermarkets and hypermarkets comes prepackaged, so there's no getting around all of that plastic. Also, I like to see my money go to small business people instead of those huge corporations.

Since I work for the biggest box of them all (save money, live better, my sphincter!), bringing home groceries is a simple matter of staying after work for 20-30 minutes, using the recycled shopping bags, and hauling them home. There are things I'd rather not have to buy there, but there are few really meaningful alternatives -- farmers markets and co-ops are in the next county, no time to travel there.

I get crap from my extended family (one member, actually) about 'growing up, doing what a man does, and get a car'. (ah, go sniff a cow pasture...) He's near 61, I'm 51. He's got heart problems, spinal issues, sciatica, liver problems, drinks too much, and is never happy unless he's watching boxing. I will be happily pedaling when i'm 90! (Oh -- and I'll likely finish raising his youngest child, my 7-y-o nephew....)

If you're talking about Walmart, supposedly they are already the largest source of locally grown food in the world. What is the truth behind those claims?

Let us be honest. Most people are not car free and are unlikely to be car free in our lifetime. Because of that places like Walmart and Super Target or Winco, Costco and others make it possible for one stop shopping. That has to be better that people driving all over town to get a better deal from several stores on shopping day. In most cases they provide employment for more people than a small store might and their goods are more consistent. If you find something you like in one store it will more than likely be just as good in the second store. But beyond that they save money for the people that can least afford the higher food prices of the small stores. Low income families can shop at these stores and stretch their food dollar so they can feed the whole family. They can buy cloths for the whole family and even get pharmacy goods for the whole family. If they didn’t meet a need they wouldn’t have succeeded as they have. Yes they have made an impact of the small family store. But even a second small family store that starts up in the same area can bring down a small family store. These big box stores not only survived the economic downturn one of them made a profit during Christmas the last two years.
I agree that unless you plan well big box stores aren’t as beneficial to the car free.

I don't have direct access to that data, and anything told me by management is suspect, simply because W-M management teaches PhD courses in "SPIN". But my experience with them tells me that there is likely SOME local sourcing, but the bottom line is the bottom line with them, first, last, and forever. IF they can legitimately say that, it's only because of their massive market share.

@Robert Foster: The last I heard, you California taxpayers were subsidizing WM to the tune of some eighty-seven million dollars a year. That's the amount of money you laid out for emergency room care, social services and other programs to subsidize WM employees because so many of them earn so little and work too few hours to qualify for company healthcare and other benefits (this is by design). If you add to this the subsidies WM gets for building its giant stores, it's no wonder they are turning a profit.

@Robert Foster: The last I heard, you California taxpayers were subsidizing WM to the tune of some eighty-seven million dollars a year. That's the amount of money you laid out for emergency room care, social services and other programs to subsidize WM employees because so many of them earn so little and work too few hours to qualify for company healthcare and other benefits (this is by design). If you add to this the subsidies WM gets for building its giant stores, it's no wonder they are turning a profit.

We subsidise more than WM. I wonder how many of that 87 Mil are foreign citizens? We sibsidise the healthcare of most small business owners as well. The issue is an aside to the subject however because it is getting ugly. There has been talk of adopting a law like Arizona has just passed to deal with part of the problem. But we subsidise more than healthcare. We educate foreign citizens and their children at 5.5k a year a person.

Still for the average citizen Wally World offers value they can't get from small businesses. And like I said it keeps people from driving all over town trying to get the best deal at five or ten different stores. They don't offer the service I agree. I am lucky I have several local stores within a mile or two and two LBS withing 2 to 3 miles. But I buy my food in two week supplies and small stores can't offer prices in comparison for that kind of shopping. At least most of the time they can't.

5 Myths About Immigration: http://www.innvista.com/society/education/students/fivemyth.htm

5 Myths About Immigration: http://www.innvista.com/society/education/students/fivemyth.htm

It looks like a solid C paper submitted by a Community College student. While I know this subject is debated all over our state and many other states those of us living in the border states may have a different perspective. Here is some questions I have on the issue.

If the first act someone does when entering a country is an illegal act how can they be entitled to all the social services provided by the country they have come to illegally? Could a Citizen from the US receive medical services provided to Canadian citizens and be forgiven the cost if they are doing it illegally? Just because I can say Eh to the hospital I doubt that that would be sufficient to grant me Canadian Medical care. If I could then people without healthcare would be flowing over the borders to Canada and swamping their system.
Such essays are written to demonstrate that in some cases crime does pay. They make claims as if the fair share of taxes is being paid by people that pay no payroll taxes, no income taxes, no property taxes, no Medicare deductions and yet somehow are paying their fair share. Philosophically it sounds good. Mathematically it is hard to believe the government can fund health care from sales tax alone. (Understand I am not saying the industries using these people and paying under the table are not responsible as well.) But it does make it hard for a union contractor to bid against someone that isn't paying minimum wage or Workman's comp. And who can complain? It isn't like the illegal worker can go to the authorities. They shouldn't be there in the first place.
I will not get into the benefits we receive from such labor that is provided or the social aspects that draw people to break the law and come here in the first place. I have empathy for the suffering of people that cause them to sneak into the US. But to claim they have a right to do so ignores national borders and laws and we do not get to question such laws simply because we disagree with them. Only the voting citizen of the country involved has that right.
Legal immigrants are not in question and never have been. But I wonder if I were to fly to Spain next month I wonder if I would be able to claim all the social benefits upon landing at the airport?

Forgive me for going so far off topic but having worked in California healthcare and social services for as much as 10 years I have seen the impact and know the restrictions hospitals have to collecting for services that are mandated to provide. I have say with doctors and administrators trying to justify $10.00 for a Bic disposable razor because they need to charge more to those that have insurance to pay for those who don’t. Before you believe an article written by a community college student you should talk to people in the field and see if theory matches reality.

If it sounds liek a rant, once again forgive me but that is what I have seen.

5 Myths About Immigration: http://www.innvista.com/society/education/students/fivemyth.htm

Because you were thoughtful enough to post a link for me to read I will do the same for you. Maybe we can compare the cost of Walmart to our other subject?


From one of our SD county news outlets
http://www.nctimes.com/news/local/article_5cedf831-9d5d-5335-af7e-2af6730a577c.html

Some of the people that question the report are quoted as well.

If you prefer a more liberal slant MSNBS is as close as you can get.

http://redtape.msnbc.com/2006/03/hidden_cost_of_.html

A more conservitive leaning?
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersf134

So the issue is a lot more complicated than supporting Working people and wally world.

Well, not to get back on topic or anything....

:p

Walmart's business plan is to drive competitors--especially smaller local stores--out of business. As a carfree cyclist, I find these smaller stores actually provide me with better value than the Walmarts. The savings at Walmart are exaggerated and overstated. The quality of their goods is often lower than the same goods (even the same brand names) bought at a smaller store.

Combine that with the unappealing location of most Walmart stores--far from town and on a busy arterial street. Add in the greater time expenditure of Walmart, and most of them don't even have bike racks, even though they're the largest seller of bikes in the world. Although I do shop occasionally at Walmart and other big box stores, in general I'm happier with my local alternatives.

Well, not to get back on topic or anything....

:p

Walmart's business plan is to drive competitors--especially smaller local stores--out of business. As a carfree cyclist, I find these smaller stores actually provide me with better value than the Walmarts. The savings at Walmart are exaggerated and overstated. The quality of their goods is often lower than the same goods (even the same brand names) bought at a smaller store.

Combine that with the unappealing location of most Walmart stores--far from town and on a busy arterial street. Add in the greater time expenditure of Walmart, and most of them don't even have bike racks, even though they're the largest seller of bikes in the world. Although I do shop occasionally at Walmart and other big box stores, in general I'm happier with my local alternatives.


Once again I am sorry for dragging things off topic.
I realize the market tactic Wally uses. And I posted the Caveat that it wasn’t the best choice for many car free people. Even if our Wally World has the longest bike rack I have ever seen. But the model works and it works well. If you go to the average small mom and pop store there are times when there is simply no one buying anything for maybe an hour. These big box stores have people shopping in them all day long. For me it is a 3 mile round trip ride with my trailer and I can bring home a week’s worth of food or if I am careful maybe 2 week’s worth. And I get a bigger selection.
If I compare it to a small market I will save between 15 to 25 percent on my food bill. No I don’t get to know the store keeper personally as you do but I do get to spend my money more frugally and living within our budget is one of the things most people in these forums normally look to do.
So I believe someone can be car free and coexist with Wally, Costco, and the others quite well. And save more to spend on bike upgrades.

One thing about big markets, the package sizes there are huge for a 2 person family such as ours. I'll rather pay a higher price per unit for the amount I need than buy 2x what we can consume at a cheap unit price.

Around here the small shops are making a comeback, particularly in ecological or biodynamically produced foods and are extending their selection. For example, a couple of local stores have started to sell liquid soaps / detergents by the volume: you bring your own container, fill it up, and they charge you for the volume of the container. You can buy as much as you need, and not have to buy (and later dispose of) the extra plastic package that you didn't need in the first place.

--J

Heck, I hate Walmart, myself, for their impersonality, but they are subsidizing bike paths in and through the busy sections for our cities of Lafayette and West Lafayette. Coincidentally, there are trailheads for the bike paths at 2 of the 3 Super Walmarts, and literally the biggest set of bike racks I've ever seen outside of the Netherlands. :p They are ponying up funding for the 3rd trailhead and new bike path to the 3rd one, too.


Once again I am sorry for dragging things off topic.
I realize the market tactic Wally uses. And I posted the Caveat that it wasn’t the best choice for many car free people. Even if our Wally World has the longest bike rack I have ever seen. But the model works and it works well. If you go to the average small mom and pop store there are times when there is simply no one buying anything for maybe an hour. These big box stores have people shopping in them all day long. For me it is a 3 mile round trip ride with my trailer and I can bring home a week’s worth of food or if I am careful maybe 2 week’s worth. And I get a bigger selection.
If I compare it to a small market I will save between 15 to 25 percent on my food bill. No I don’t get to know the store keeper personally as you do but I do get to spend my money more frugally and living within our budget is one of the things most people in these forums normally look to do.
So I believe someone can be car free and coexist with Wally, Costco, and the others quite well. And save more to spend on bike upgrades.

Tom, I'm impressed by that! A local Wally kicking in for cycling? I'm a bit ENE from you (Ft W), and such crazy talk just isn't heard! Bike Safety Week? Yeah, right. Ride to Work Day? NO ONE has participated who didn't ALREADY ride (read that: ME).

I will give them props for letting me bring my bike in the building with me for the last decade. It gets hung up in an unobtrusive corner, so there's no issues.

Well, I have very mixed feelings about Walmart. They do some very good things and some very bad things. But for my values and lifestyle, they are not a good fit.

Well, I have very mixed feelings about Walmart. They do some very good things and some very bad things. But for my values and lifestyle, they are not a good fit.

I rarely shop at Walmart. I get such an icky feeling looking at the employees and realizing they probably don't have health insurance. Compare that to the same type of store across the street -- prices are a little higher, but the employees are in much better shape. For myself, a good option is to buy slightly more expensive food, but just a little less of it.... probably works out to be about the same cost-wise. (And to be completely honest here... sometimes Walmart prices for certain types of food aren't as low as the store across the street.... although I'm constantly told by others that I'm imagining this.)

I rarely shop at Walmart. I get such an icky feeling looking at the employees and realizing they probably don't have health insurance. Compare that to the same type of store across the street -- prices are a little higher, but the employees are in much better shape. For myself, a good option is to buy slightly more expensive food, but just a little less of it.... probably works out to be about the same cost-wise. (And to be completely honest here... sometimes Walmart prices for certain types of food aren't as low as the store across the street.... although I'm constantly told by others that I'm imagining this.)

Just to ask a question, are you saying the small markets pay health insurance? Or do they pay more on employ more people?

I live in Europe, but I when I've been in the States visiting I've shopped at Costco with my father. Their employees earn 42% more than their counterparts at Sam's Club and they have an excellent health plan. According to Jim Sinegal, Costco's chief executive officer, "good wages and benefits are why Costco has extremely low rates of turnover and theft by employees".

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html

Just to ask a question, are you saying the small markets pay health insurance? Or do they pay more on employ more people?

Each small market is different--some offer benefits and some don't. But the Kroger stores around here are union, and the workers make more than Walmart employees, and have health insurance. Yet Kroger's prices aren't much higher than Walmart's, if any.

I live in Europe, but I when I've been in the States visiting I've shopped at Costco with my father. Their employees earn 42% more than their counterparts at Sam's Club and they have an excellent health plan. According to Jim Sinegal, Costco's chief executive officer, "good wages and benefits are why Costco has extremely low rates of turnover and theft by employees".

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/07/17/business/yourmoney/17costco.html


We used to shop Costo but the closest one is 15 miles away. We have two wallyworlds close to me. One about 6 miles away and one about 3. They seem to have enough business even being so close together.

Just to ask a question, are you saying the small markets pay health insurance? Or do they pay more on employ more people?

Grocery store across the street is Hyvee (http://www.hy-vee.com/company/about-hy-vee/proud-smiles.aspx). Iowa-based. Not that small. Prices a little higher. Nicer atmosphere.