Living Car Free - I may have to recant

I have been skeptical about getting anymore car light than I already am. I cut my driving down from 25,000 miles a year to 6000 or less in a period of 4 years. I had a small compact car we bought in 1992 and a SUV that we used as a tow vehicle and DYI run vehicle. The only time I drove anywhere was to take my wife somewhere or to go on vacation. Since then things have changed.

The other day my wife decided to buy herself an Adult trike. :eek: I had been looking at a three wheeled recumbent but she simply couldn’t see dropping 1 to 2k on a recumbent. She just wanted to be able to ride to the store and pick up a few things and maybe even go to the bank and post office. Trikes tend to come equipped with a large basket in the rear, fenders, IGH and even a drum brake on the front.
So we decided we didn’t need two vehicles. Believe it or not I decided to sell the compact and we are down to one vehicle. Why keep the SUV? Because I still need a tow vehicle and because you will always think twice about jumping in the Truck to go two or three miles when it was no big deal to pop in the compact and make a quick run to the post office.:o

The second thing that happened to help change my opinion of how things are going is twofold. I have just about given up on mass transit improving in California in the near future. But the other day we read about Long Beach putting in a bike lane with a rumble strip or small curb separating it from car traffic. If Long Beach can do it just maybe it is possible anywhere in Southern California. If my wife was willing to give up a car and ride a slow heavy trike who knows what can happen?

Guess I will have to retest my carbon footprint. :D

That's great Robert. What do you think caused your wife to change her mind about riding? Maybe the "bike bug" really is contagious?

It's cool to see people like you who are practically carfree even though you live in a bastion of car culture. If southern Michigan (where I live) is the Mecca of the car religion, then southern California (where you live) is its Jerusalem. If people can thrive almost without cars in these two regions, it should be possible in a lot of other places.

Woohoo! Let us know how it goes.

I don't know Roody. Maybe she just decided to take live a little slower or wanted some light exercise. Or the idea that I put a hard floor in my bike trailer to make it easier to haul food from the store and she wants to go with me rather than trust me to fill the shopping cart.

What surprises me the most is the softening of the attitude to cycling by our county governments over the last few months? It is almost like a wall has come down and people like my wife and many of her friends are suddenly asking about trikes and folders for their own use. Once my wife decided she wanted to ride I parked the Compact. I sold it two weeks after she bought her trike. We live in a relatively bike friendly community and the weather couldn’t be more conducive to cycling.
Maybe it is fuel prices because for the first time I am noticing more people out on the streets on bikes. I know they have to be new riders because they tend to ride on the sidewalks and wrong side of the street but at least they are out there. But whatever the reason I just may have moved into a lower carbon footprint by accident.

That's cool that your wife got a trike:thumb: I love my trikes! Yes they're heavy and slow, but they're very comfortable and practical for my car-light lifestyle.

I have a recumbent tadpole trike that I picked up on Craigslist last May for $400. Guy needed money to fix his truck so he could move to Florida. I had to drive over 100 miles away to get it, but it was so worth it! It was in great condition except for a bad link in the chain. The seller kept his clipless pedals so I bought some regular ones with toe clips and straps. I replaced the chain and did my usual additions and tweaks, plus built a headrest (http://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php/718199-My-redneck-homemade-headrest) for it. It is great on windy days due to the low profile.

I'm getting my girl friend an adult trike for our next anniversary. She has been asking for a bike to run errands with as all the bikes we own scream "take me, I'm expensive" and shes not one for the usual frilly girly stuff.

I have been skeptical about getting anymore car light than I already am. I cut my driving down from 25,000 miles a year to 6000 or less in a period of 4 years. I had a small compact car we bought in 1992 and a SUV that we used as a tow vehicle and DYI run vehicle. The only time I drove anywhere was to take my wife somewhere or to go on vacation. Since then things have changed.

The other day my wife decided to buy herself an Adult trike. :eek: I had been looking at a three wheeled recumbent but she simply couldn’t see dropping 1 to 2k on a recumbent. She just wanted to be able to ride to the store and pick up a few things and maybe even go to the bank and post office. Trikes tend to come equipped with a large basket in the rear, fenders, IGH and even a drum brake on the front.
So we decided we didn’t need two vehicles. Believe it or not I decided to sell the compact and we are down to one vehicle. Why keep the SUV? Because I still need a tow vehicle and because you will always think twice about jumping in the Truck to go two or three miles when it was no big deal to pop in the compact and make a quick run to the post office.:o

The second thing that happened to help change my opinion of how things are going is twofold. I have just about given up on mass transit improving in California in the near future. But the other day we read about Long Beach putting in a bike lane with a rumble strip or small curb separating it from car traffic. If Long Beach can do it just maybe it is possible anywhere in Southern California. If my wife was willing to give up a car and ride a slow heavy trike who knows what can happen?

Guess I will have to retest my carbon footprint. :D

Yes, mass transit is vastly improving, but it still does not run on off times-i.e. late night or weekends around here. I still cannot trust mass transit to be my number one or even number 2 option to go somewhere very important. Add possible transit strikes (the last one in 2003 lasted 5 weeks), and I am still loathe to take it too seriously and to keep mass transit down to number three in my list. So anyone that can drive and already has a car/truck in the Southern California region, I recommend that they keep at least one private motor vehicle of their choice-and maintain a small fleet of bicycles/tricycles per household. That is the best of all worlds in slimming down anyone's carbon footprint.


I don't know Roody. Maybe she just decided to take live a little slower or wanted some light exercise. Or the idea that I put a hard floor in my bike trailer to make it easier to haul food from the store and she wants to go with me rather than trust me to fill the shopping cart.

What surprises me the most is the softening of the attitude to cycling by our county governments over the last few months? It is almost like a wall has come down and people like my wife and many of her friends are suddenly asking about trikes and folders for their own use. Once my wife decided she wanted to ride I parked the Compact. I sold it two weeks after she bought her trike. We live in a relatively bike friendly community and the weather couldn’t be more conducive to cycling.
Maybe it is fuel prices because for the first time I am noticing more people out on the streets on bikes. I know they have to be new riders because they tend to ride on the sidewalks and wrong side of the street but at least they are out there. But whatever the reason I just may have moved into a lower carbon footprint by accident.

I am so glad that your wife is now cycling with a bike (or trike) of her choice (with solid support from yourself). So often women cycle in order to please or placate their significant others, not because of an sincere wish to do so themselves. Before I add another car to the family, I too am now in the market for an adult tricycle from Worksman Cycles-www.worksman.com. (http://www.worksman.com) It is an 3 speed Worksman Port-O-Trike that folds up in a 30 inch cube-perfect for the cramped, but secure storage spot I picked out for it. Another bonus is it can be transported somewhat easier than othr trikes in a station wagon or the like. It will be used to haul things my other bikes cannot do so well-Groceries, Hardware Store Supplies for the home, Pets To The Vet, Unexpected chunky odd shaped products, and of course, my elderly mother and stiff jointed rheumatoid arthritis sister can also participate in cycling too.



I'm getting my girl friend an adult trike for our next anniversary. She has been asking for a bike to run errands with as all the bikes we own scream "take me, I'm expensive" and shes not one for the usual frilly girly stuff.

Good another solid pragmatic user. And do remember that you can decorate plus dress up a trike up or down as any other bicycle.

I think the OP's wife went through a mid-life crisis. I know it happened to me because the whole decision to cut back on my lifestyle ment getting rid of the car. You know you're getting old when you just get tired of buying "stuff" and just want to live on less.

I think the OP's wife went through a mid-life crisis. I know it happened to me because the whole decision to cut back on my lifestyle ment getting rid of the car. You know you're getting old when you just get tired of buying "stuff" and just want to live on less.

Maybe it's another manifestation of the "second childhood" or the midlife crisis. I know at a certain point -- after a long stint of keeping up with technology -- I started to grow tired of the constant product churn. I never was much of a dresser, but now I'm constantly remarking at how long clothes last and how little I need to buy.

As for Robert and his missus... well.. we could also surmise that the cycling life is infectious. :)

Maybe it's another manifestation of the "second childhood" or the midlife crisis. I know at a certain point -- after a long stint of keeping up with technology -- I started to grow tired of the constant product churn. I never was much of a dresser, but now I'm constantly remarking at how long clothes last and how little I need to buy.

As for Robert and his missus... well.. we could also surmise that the cycling life is infectious. :)

Part of it might be because it was her purchase. I was pushing for a recumbent trike because "I thought it would be better." Not because it was what she wanted. I got her a Hybrid because "I thought she would like it." Not because she asked for it. I simply didn't understand why she wanted a folding Trike and only a 3 speed at that. The realization simply didn’t hit me that she wasn’t interested a multi speed recumbent so she could do the occasional tour or beach ride with a group. She wanted something that wouldn’t fall over at a stop sign or light that would fold up to take on Vacation. She can put two or three bags of groceries in the rear basket and she bought a front basket that detaches to carry into the store.
It turns out it was what she wanted not what the “expert” living in the house thought she needed. At least for my situation the solution was backing off and letting her make the decision based on her needs and wants. I am not afraid of traffic or falling down so I find it hard to identify with someone who is I guess.

The trike would have never crossed my radar screen. But she has already extended he riding distance over what she used to be willing to do on the Hybrid. Yes it is slower but she feels safer and that makes her want to give it a try.

Ya, I live here in Long Beach, and the bicycle infrastructure here gets better by the minute. Those bike lanes you brought up were put in on Broadway and on Third (one east, one west) and have finally made cycling to downtown not feel like Death Race 2000. They are separated not only by rumble strips but by curbs and, believe it or not, parked cars. Parking spots were put in on the road to the right of the bike lanes. It's getting easier and easier here in Socal to go car free or at least car light. I finally gave up driving and motorcycling last October after realizing I was only driving 2-3000 miles a year anyways.

By the way, the Mayor of Long Beach is Bob Foster...coincedence?

Part of it might be because it was her purchase. I was pushing for a recumbent trike because "I thought it would be better." Not because it was what she wanted. I got her a Hybrid because "I thought she would like it." Not because she asked for it. I simply didn't understand why she wanted a folding Trike and only a 3 speed at that. The realization simply didn’t hit me that she wasn’t interested a multi speed recumbent so she could do the occasional tour or beach ride with a group. She wanted something that wouldn’t fall over at a stop sign or light that would fold up to take on Vacation. She can put two or three bags of groceries in the rear basket and she bought a front basket that detaches to carry into the store.
It turns out it was what she wanted not what the “expert” living in the house thought she needed. At least for my situation the solution was backing off and letting her make the decision based on her needs and wants. I am not afraid of traffic or falling down so I find it hard to identify with someone who is I guess.

The trike would have never crossed my radar screen. But she has already extended he riding distance over what she used to be willing to do on the Hybrid. Yes it is slower but she feels safer and that makes her want to give it a try.


I'm going to keep this lesson in mind when I respond to BF threads from new members who want advice on what bike to buy. I have often encouraged these noobs to get a MTB or road bike, when what they really want is a good hybrid or cruiser (or whatever).

I'm also going to let my grandson pick out his own new bike, even though I think he'll want a BMX rather than the MTB I think would be more practical for him.

Ya, I live here in Long Beach, and the bicycle infrastructure here gets better by the minute. Those bike lanes you brought up were put in on Broadway and on Third (one east, one west) and have finally made cycling to downtown not feel like Death Race 2000. They are separated not only by rumble strips but by curbs and, believe it or not, parked cars. Parking spots were put in on the road to the right of the bike lanes. It's getting easier and easier here in Socal to go car free or at least car light. I finally gave up driving and motorcycling last October after realizing I was only driving 2-3000 miles a year anyways.

By the way, the Mayor of Long Beach is Bob Foster...coincedence?


My nephew lives in Long Beach and we have joked about the mayor's name as well.
One of the reasons I decided to share my post on this subject was the combination of my wife deciding to do some shopping on her own bike and my nephew and his wife asking me about getting into cycling. My nephew’s wife loves the idea but my nephew has the objection of not being able to store a bike in their apartment. He is an avid urbanite and loves the city but realizes that locking the bikes up outside of the apartment is not an option. I have suggested folders for both of them and they seemed very interested. Living not far from Bixby Park the bike lanes would work well for them.

Part of it might be because it was her purchase. I was pushing for a recumbent trike because "I thought it would be better." Not because it was what she wanted. I got her a Hybrid because "I thought she would like it." Not because she asked for it. I simply didn't understand why she wanted a folding Trike and only a 3 speed at that. The realization simply didn’t hit me that she wasn’t interested a multi speed recumbent so she could do the occasional tour or beach ride with a group. She wanted something that wouldn’t fall over at a stop sign or light that would fold up to take on Vacation. She can put two or three bags of groceries in the rear basket and she bought a front basket that detaches to carry into the store.
It turns out it was what she wanted not what the “expert” living in the house thought she needed. At least for my situation the solution was backing off and letting her make the decision based on her needs and wants. I am not afraid of traffic or falling down so I find it hard to identify with someone who is I guess.

The trike would have never crossed my radar screen. But she has already extended he riding distance over what she used to be willing to do on the Hybrid. Yes it is slower but she feels safer and that makes her want to give it a try.

I made the same mistake several years ago with a Specialized Rockhopper. I thought my wife would enjoy that, but she's only ridden it about once a year at best. Lately I've been asking her about a different bike since our daughter now fits it and likes it. She came out and told me that she wanted a "Mama Chari" one of the ubiquitous Japanese utility bikes. We had a good chuckle about bringing one over, but ended up finding a nearby source by pure accident today. Strange, Huh?

Good luck with your wife's bike.

I made the same mistake several years ago with a Specialized Rockhopper. I thought my wife would enjoy that, but she's only ridden it about once a year at best. Lately I've been asking her about a different bike since our daughter now fits it and likes it. She came out and told me that she wanted a "Mama Chari" one of the ubiquitous Japanese utility bikes. We had a good chuckle about bringing one over, but ended up finding a nearby source by pure accident today. Strange, Huh?

Good luck with your wife's bike.

I already have been out on the bike with her more than I was all last year. :eek:

I learned a long time ago...let the women decide what they want..."If momma ain't happy, ain't NOBODY happy" ;)

We bought my bride a 21 speed hybrid around 2000 she rode is some, usually on weekends when I rode. We "won" a 1971 Raleigh Colt 3 speed at an event in 2006, it became her favorite bike. That one has been ridden more than any other bike, she rides to the video store (well used to it is gone now) the coffee shop, church, and the grocery store for odds and ends. I picked up another Raleigh Colt that matches my Raleigh Superbe so now we have matching bikes...FWIW I did move the wicker basket over from her blue bike to the new one ;)

Aaron :)

http://inlinethumb37.webshots.com/47268/2511306710066886751S600x600Q85.jpg

My nephew lives in Long Beach and we have joked about the mayor's name as well.
One of the reasons I decided to share my post on this subject was the combination of my wife deciding to do some shopping on her own bike and my nephew and his wife asking me about getting into cycling. My nephew’s wife loves the idea but my nephew has the objection of not being able to store a bike in their apartment. He is an avid urbanite and loves the city but realizes that locking the bikes up outside of the apartment is not an option. I have suggested folders for both of them and they seemed very interested. Living not far from Bixby Park the bike lanes would work well for them.

They'd also have easy access to the beach bike path which gives them easy access to the l.a. river bike path. I have a one speed folder I take on the Blue Line and like it so much I'm considering a 7-speed Dahon. I think they'd be happy with the folders and don't forget to remind them how much fun parking is in their neighborhood...that may convince them alone! lol

They'd also have easy access to the beach bike path which gives them easy access to the l.a. river bike path. I have a one speed folder I take on the Blue Line and like it so much I'm considering a 7-speed Dahon. I think they'd be happy with the folders and don't forget to remind them how much fun parking is in their neighborhood...that may convince them alone! lol


Yes, parking can be a pain. That part of Long Beach is old and not many apartments there have a parking structure. So yes they have to park on the street and sometimes a block or two from the apartment. We came down for a visit and went to Lucille's. No parking within three blocks maybe four. But there were some bikes locked up around the corner from the resturant.

Yes, parking can be a pain. That part of Long Beach is old and not many apartments there have a parking structure. So yes they have to park on the street and sometimes a block or two from the apartment. We came down for a visit and went to Lucille's. No parking within three blocks maybe four. But there were some bikes locked up around the corner from the resturant.

If one of them was a Raleigh Sojourn, it could have been the same night I was there...

Yes, parking can be a pain. That part of Long Beach is old and not many apartments there have a parking structure. So yes they have to park on the street and sometimes a block or two from the apartment. We came down for a visit and went to Lucille's. No parking within three blocks maybe four. But there were some bikes locked up around the corner from the resturant.

Seems like they could put their folder in the trunk and ride from the parking spot to their apartment.

Seems like they could put their folder in the trunk and ride from the parking spot to their apartment.

I think they could and I saw a good deal on a folder on Craig's list. I thought about getting them the first one and seeing if they get the second on their own. But having learned my lesson on my wife's bike I will just point them in the direction. Besides I had to replace the shifters on the Trek today. They more than likely will continue to drive to work but their night life and most weekends could be accomplished by bike. we will get a chance to talk more when they get back from their vacation. Belgium is supposed to be pretty bike friendly so they might get the bug.:lol:

I think they could and I saw a good deal on a folder on Craig's list. I thought about getting them the first one and seeing if they get the second on their own. But having learned my lesson on my wife's bike I will just point them in the direction. Besides I had to replace the shifters on the Trek today. They more than likely will continue to drive to work but their night life and most weekends could be accomplished by bike. we will get a chance to talk more when they get back from their vacation. Belgium is supposed to be pretty bike friendly so they might get the bug.:lol:

I don't know if the Belgians are into everyday riding like their Dutch neighbors, but I've heard they love bike racing like Americans love NASCAR.

I had another bit of a surprise yesterday. I hooked up the trailer and took off to the supermarket to pick up some soda and things for dinner. For the first time ever tho leavee bike rack was full. I got the last spot and as I got ready to leave someone pulled up and had to lock up on the side of the rack. I also realize I need to get a spare tube for the tire because one of the wheels has a slow leak. But still a full bike rack hardly ever happens at that store.

I had another bit of a surprise yesterday. I hooked up the trailer and took off to the supermarket to pick up some soda and things for dinner. For the first time ever tho leavee bike rack was full. I got the last spot and as I got ready to leave someone pulled up and had to lock up on the side of the rack. I also realize I need to get a spare tube for the tire because one of the wheels has a slow leak. But still a full bike rack hardly ever happens at that store.

The rack at my grocery store usually has a couple of bikes... even in winter. A couple of times I had to lock up somewhere else because there were no spots. 5 years ago, there were typically none... even on sunny, summer days.