Many things are too far away for me too, or would just take too long to reach by bike. I'll be commuting to work by bike every chance I get this spring/summer/fall, and probably many local stores as well (as long as I don't have something big to bring home). I'll be keeping my car for the days when I'd rather be dry than get my exercise, and for the longer trips that I often have to make.

I may be able to convince my insurance company to reduce my rate if I tell them I'm driving less...

Is there no public transport?
Buses, local trains?

Oh, there are buses, but no trains. The thing is, the bus system is such that many 15 minute car rides would take 1 hour, 15 minutes on the bus. That is simply not acceptable, as I do not have an hour to waste (in each direction, so total 2 hours) sitting on the bus. With a bus system like this, I'm not surprised that most people in my area have a car.

Oh, there are buses, but no trains. The thing is, the bus system is such that many 15 minute car rides would take 1 hour, 15 minutes on the bus. That is simply not acceptable, as I do not have an hour to waste (in each direction, so total 2 hours) sitting on the bus. With a bus system like this, I'm not surprised that most people in my area have a car.

Ah yes, the "can't get there from here" syndrome. While we have an excellent transit system, there are still areas where access relies on local bus routes, and what should be a short trip takes an hour or more. If your buses don't have bike racks, raise a fuss to get some. Travelling longer distances by a combination of bike and bus can really add to your range.

This is an interesting thread. 13 years ago, I moved out on my own and lived in a small city without a car quite successfully. The only hard thing was heavy groceries as was previously mentioned and laundry. Well, I did that for about 6 or 7 years when I finally was somewhat forced to get a car when I moved to a neighboring town that was too far to bike (or so I thought at the time). I have now owned a car for another 6 or 7 years and have decided to give it up this summer and move back to the city that I originally lived in. Public transportation has gotten better since I previously lived there, I have become more of a vehicular cyclist, and I have much better gear than I used to have, and yet I am nervous to sell the car. I understand the jitters that you have in giving up your car, and wish you the best!

Thanks Kat.

I'll find out this weekend if Dad's gonna take the car. I have my fingers crossed.

Oh, and I have my Raleigh ready :)

i've never had a car. my mom's been pushing it heavily, she doesn't like me biking around everywhere..... some of the expenses lists here make me even more wishing not to get one! lol. insurance, since i've never been insured, will be skyhigh no matter what

i wanna pay off school loans and get a dSLR and...

though, my mom would think finding this site is bad for me. I've been enjoying my 4 mile commute to school/work, and i'd love to make it more. I've ridden to their house a couple times(~30miles), freaks my mom out alot, even though most of the way is a nice multipurpose path. but she doesn't want to keep driving down here on weekends when i go visit.

the hardest thing is cat liter, water, and wood for frames for canvases

So far, it seems as if the pros of giving up one car are outnumbering the cons. It jus may happen.

There are a few problems that would prevent me from being car free:
- Watermelons. Unless I used a trailer for grocery shopping I can forget about watermelons, or gallon bottles of apple juice or anything big. Seems the grocery stores these days want to be like the big-box stores and have huge everything. Really, who can store 24 rolls of TP?
- Hiking. I go hiking almost every weekend. If I had to ride my bike to the trailhead I'd be too tired for the hike.
- Insurance. I've heard if you stop having car insurance it gets real expensive if you have to get it again. Of course a couple decades of no car insurance would cover the expense.

I keep a pickup truck, but hardly ever use it. It's very handy to have. I consider myself car-lite, which is good enough for me.

I applaud your decision. You'll feel so free. I feel imprisoned sometimes even by the small quantity of posessions I have.

Diane, in SoCal it's not really feasible to be completely without a car. SB is very bike friendly, but don't you find it rather inconvenient when you need to leave that happy little world and go South?

Ah yes, the "can't get there from here" syndrome. While we have an excellent transit system, there are still areas where access relies on local bus routes, and what should be a short trip takes an hour or more. If your buses don't have bike racks, raise a fuss to get some. Travelling longer distances by a combination of bike and bus can really add to your range.

Yup, all the buses have bike racks on them. The biggest problem is not that the buses drive slowly, or that they take snaking routes. It's that they do not make the rounds frequently enough. When you have to make two transfers, and wait 15 minutes between transfers, the time really adds up. That's not something I'd want to do, to get to work by 7 in the morning. Especially in the winter!!

No, I'll hold on to my car and ride my bike when I can.

Why is it that cat litter seems such a deal breaker? The solution seems simple enough to me. Get rid of the car AND the cat. My previous experience on BF restrains me from making comment about the usefulness of either.

Why is it that cat litter seems such a deal breaker? The solution seems simple enough to me. Get rid of the car AND the cat. My previous experience on BF restrains me from making comment about the usefulness of either.
:eek:

Diane, in SoCal it's not really feasible to be completely without a car. SB is very bike friendly, but don't you find it rather inconvenient when you need to leave that happy little world and go South?
It PAINS me to go south, car or not. It is almost as if the world ends at the Ventura County line. Unless I'm headed to Ventura for a ride with the recumbent riders there. Then the world expands just a little bit.

There are a few problems that would prevent me from being car free:
- Watermelons. Unless I used a trailer for grocery shopping I can forget about watermelons, or gallon bottles of apple juice or anything big. Seems the grocery stores these days want to be like the big-box stores and have huge everything.

Do your grocery stores deliver? For $6CAD we get our groceries delivered once or twice a month. Great for the heavy stuff like cat litter and all the milk we go through (12L a week!). The rest of the time we just pick up perishables and whatever we ran out of between "big groceries".


Really, who can store 24 rolls of TP?

I'm a pack-rat. I can store anything. :p

Yup, all the buses have bike racks on them. The biggest problem is not that the buses drive slowly, or that they take snaking routes. It's that they do not make the rounds frequently enough. When you have to make two transfers, and wait 15 minutes between transfers, the time really adds up. That's not something I'd want to do, to get to work by 7 in the morning. Especially in the winter!!


I hear you. Our transit system is great if you live near a transit or light-rail station. It sucks if you depend on local service for part of you trip. "Great, I can get 75% of the way home in 10 minutes... then wait for a bus that runs ever 30 minutes!" To me a bike-bus combined trip is an advantage here: take cross-regional buses for the long haul, and bike to make up for the less-than stellar local service.

I actually found winter to be the ideal time to use transit (I didn't bike through the whole winter), but of course that varied by destination. I just found that I got places in less time, or the same as people who drove AND had to clear the driveway AND had to drive around plows AND find a clear parking spot AND...

It PAINS me to go south, car or not. It is almost as if the world ends at the Ventura County line. Unless I'm headed to Ventura for a ride with the recumbent riders there. Then the world expands just a little bit.

I lived part time in Ventura (full time in Westlake) and we never went south for anything. If we were bored, we headed for SB and beyond, so I understand totally.

My motto is "think outside the cage." If you use your imagination and intelligence you can devise alternative methods for doing anything. Here is a little parable that helps to explain my thinking:

Thoreau wrote that he and a friend both wanted to visit Boston, which was about 20 miles away. Thoreau walked there and arrived in a few hours. His friend had to work for a whole day to earn enough money for a ticket for the 30 minute train ride, then arrived in Boston a day later than Thoreau.

We're not entirely carless. Still have one car for two people. (hey, our second love is sea kayaking).
I knew we rarely used the car when someone asked me the price of gasoline on the west coast and
I honestly did not know. One of the major reason why I moved into the city. (Seattle). We either, bike, walk, or take public transportation.

After many student and underemployed years being car-free and loving it I suddenly found myself tied to a new car with lease, gas, insurance payments etc that put me in a headlock to say nothing of the guilt i carried knowing that there is a better way (i'd lived it for a long time). When the lease ran out three years later my wife and i decided to go car-free again and what a feeling that was. I remember dropping that lemon off and walking down the street to "Our Community Bikes" a great bike co-op here in Vancouver and picking up a couple of "One Less Car" stickers for our bikes. The joys and freedom and sense of being the change i wish to see on a planetary scale far, far outweigh the inconveniences we have encountered - which with some creativity are less and less. Very occassionally we rented a car with Budget which handed out free admission coupons to museums etc. Over time we had enough coupons to entertain our kids and friends who visited from out of town. The rentals paid for themselves. After two years of our new found freedom we were approached by a friend who was going to the UK to grad school. He needed a place to park his car and wondered if he could use our space since we didn't have a car. In return we'd go half on the insurance and use it whenever we wanted to. After much thought we decided to help him out but soon found ourselves using it way too much. Our freedom ended when the car broke down on Christmas Eve and our Visa bill took an $800.00 hit! Man, I really regret that decision. Since then we have drastically cut back our usuage and have set a maximum trip allowance of twice a week. Any trips over that incur a self-imposed penalty of $25.00 to our favourite environmental association. So far our discipline has worked but i can't wait to hand the keys back to our friend when he returns from the UK where, by the way, he's enjoying life - you guessed it - carfree!

I'm glad some people can do with out cars, but I've noticed for a lot of folks they seem to be some huge financial burden. Just and observation.

Never really got a car (on a whim the wife and I got bikes instead) and outside the rare out of town trip we've been doing great.

Well, I got rid of the car a year ago. I couldn't really justify paying all that money for a car that was used only to drive to work and back 5 times a week, with a monthly run to the supermarket. I started biking a year before that, to see if I could and while it took me several months to work it out it has worked beutifully. Not only do I save money, I don't pollute, I take up less space than before and it helps me stay fit.
I do admit that until I got the trailer (a BOB yak) I had to ask relatives for a ride to the supermarket every month for the bulky, heavy stuff, but now I don't need a car for anything. I do admit that I can transport any really heavy stuff during work hours, since I drive a delivery truck for a living, but I haven't had to use that option often. If you consider the matter, you will most likely find out that there isn't all that much stuff you need to cart around that won't fit in a trailer.
The only problem is that biking is now becoming perhaps too much of a passion and I really have to get a grip on the gadget-need that tends to affect us males.

It is also a relevelation to see my coworkers faces when I bike to work during the winter, through blizzards and other meteorological phenomena... ;)

I thought the gulf stream kept it pretty mild up there...

Congratulations..You have entered a proud world which I have not...Should one live in an area with good public transit and the option to rent a car..and place yourself the right distance from work, what is the problem...I would like to tell insurance companies to take a hike..I do wonder about no car in areas with a lousy climate, but again public transit..
Later in life I aspire to your present achievement...again congratulations. you are helping out the environment and lessening the US trade deficit, big time.
and just think, the money you save could take you on a great vacation..Think a bike tour?

It is neither a sacrifice nor an accomplishment to go without a car. It's just a better, easier way to live your life. I feel sorry for those who use their intelligence to think of excuses (weather, lack of transit, too urban, too rural, etc.) rather than solutions.

I guess later in life,when jobs are more compatable- my plan to go carless is sort of false..But , certainly a step in that direction..I shall work normal hours, have a close commute..Mostly depend on bikes for work commuting...
But, I will keep my present car as a second car to use as needed..But rarely work commuting..So I will keep my present VW in it's golden years..But it will be used infrequently...
My wife will have the good car for trips and whatever..
But this plan should cause my use of bikes almost daily...That is my promise to myself. bikes first, my car used only when necessary.

Bringing this topic back up...too important to get lost in thread purgatory!

I got one of those Wald folding wire pannier baskets for my English 3-spd bike which is made to hold a normal-sized grocery bag. I use that all the time, best $20 I ever spent. I don't have to use the car for everything. I ride my bike 14mi round trip to work, even in the dead of winter.

My wife was raised in NYC and never learned to drive. She might be working 30mi away(at a place where they really need people bad) but will be getting a ride from a co-worker there and back so I'll just have to see how that works out. Of course there's no bus service.

Unfortunately she doesn't share my carfree passion so I'll just have to live as car-lite as possible. Bummer, I'd love to break the bondage of car ownership!

I've spent the last 2 years breaking the car habit. It's finally up on the block for sale. I'm trying to get it sold before the registration, insurance, and e-check all come due on my birthday in less than a month. It takes a little more planning to live without a car, but it's worth it. Mostly, it's just an addiction and a habit - we walk out the door and jump in our cars, and only ride if we have the "right outfit" on.

Here's a great book to read, called "Divorce Your Car", if you think might want to try going caf-free or car-lite:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0865714088/104-3633166-7816712

Also, I helped get Cleveland's car-free group going, and having a networking group like this is great for support:

http://carfree.meetup.com/4/

I'm also working on a funeral for my car. My car is subsidised quite a bit by my parents (who feel I "need" a car) but seem to only use the car for big things (the huge litter & cat food containers) & going down the shore (where there is no public transit). I figure within 10 years or when the car finally goes I'll be car free, till then, I've been car-light for the past few years. I've also given up junk food & fast food...

One possibly harmful side effect is that I spend more at the LBS than I probably should. I used to think of a bike as transportation, and now think of it as a car replacement. Which leads to cost comparison and removal of spending inhibition.

But when MTB shoes are $20 a pair I just have to have them. Even if I know it means falling, getting road burn, and getting laughed at. Problem is that everytime I try some new landmark that I think should make me a "cyclist" I end up thinking that's not it, and it leads to more things.

One possibly harmful side effect is that I spend more at the LBS than I probably should. I used to think of a bike as transportation, and now think of it as a car replacement. Which leads to cost comparison and removal of spending inhibition.

But when MTB shoes are $20 a pair I just have to have them. Even if I know it means falling, getting road burn, and getting laughed at. Problem is that everytime I try some new landmark that I think should make me a "cyclist" I end up thinking that's not it, and it leads to more things.

Any money spent on cycling gear is money well spent. Except for padded seat covers.

I friend of my wife's rides with us some...She hates padded shorts..Has a funky seat cover..Can't understand how we can ride for such great distances..Says padded shorts makes her feel like diapers..I say , that is somewhat , what we expect of them...Some people..Just give up trying to reason with...

Not that there's anything wrong with sitting on a couple of breast implants...

I'm 25 and I've never owned a car either.
Don't have a driver's licence.

I am 40 and never had a driver's licence but I have friends and family who use to keep on asking why don't get a licence.

But after travelling 4 hours a day to work and back when I lived in Sydney I don't feel the need for a car and after using a friend bike for 20 minutes to pick up something I felt something being on a bike much better then being even a passenger in a car.

I looked at http://carfree.meetup.com/4/ and I thought it was wrong that Google has links to ads for selling cars.

Is there no public transport?
Buses, local trains?


I read C Newman the so called Mayor of Brisbane letter in the paper where he said he is improving public but I don't think spending billions of dollars on tunnels/bridges would improve public transports in fact there would be reduced or no public transport for Brisbane because of this spending.

My motto is "think outside the cage." If you use your imagination and intelligence you can devise alternative methods for doing anything. Here is a little parable that helps to explain my thinking:

Thoreau wrote that he and a friend both wanted to visit Boston, which was about 20 miles away. Thoreau walked there and arrived in a few hours. His friend had to work for a whole day to earn enough money for a ticket for the 30 minute train ride, then arrived in Boston a day later than Thoreau.

And I am still thinking how the above is possible even if it is a parable?

Good for you, Vince, but, after having done my time in NYC, I have a question: Why would ANYONE have a car in NYC? You're saving yourself a whole lot of headaches, in my opinion.

Don't look at me. I haven't owned a car since 1997

I don't think he was looking at you.

Okay, I have a plan. When my daughter leaves home, maybe I'll give her my car. It's a nice 2001 Echo. If she's local, I'll borrow it back when I need to! Here, I can and do bike, but you're right: I find myself driving to save a few minutes rather than ride my bike. Shame on me!

I can fit 2 1/2 gallon milk jugs in one of my bike baskets.

I would have trouble with the 50# bags of rabbit and chicken feed. And 40# bags of dog food...

I would have trouble with the 50# bags of rabbit and chicken feed. And 40# bags of dog food...

I buy dog food online and the UPS guy brings it to my door. It costs no more than buying it locally, even with shipping.

www.peapod.com for grocery delivery. Hmmm...$10 per month for grocery delivery or $500 per month to own a car so that I can go spend 2 hours grocery shopping....hmmmm

DCCommuter: Can you post the site?

Good for you, Vince, but, after having done my time in NYC, I have a question: Why would ANYONE have a car in NYC? You're saving yourself a whole lot of headaches, in my opinion.

In fairness, I live in the Bronx, and have my car parked in a spot in my building, so it's not really that bad.

Here's the update:

Dad can't swing the car yet. He's going to refinance the house and then buy the car. If he can't do it then, he's gonna give me whatever the difference between what Car Cash will give me and what the car has left as a balance so I can pay off the loan and be done with it once and for all.

One way or the other, I will be without a car this summer, and I cannot wait.

Thoreau wrote that he and a friend both wanted to visit Boston, which was about 20 miles away. Thoreau walked there and arrived in a few hours. His friend had to work for a whole day to earn enough money for a ticket for the 30 minute train ride, then arrived in Boston a day later than Thoreau.And I am still thinking how the above is possible even if it is a parable?
I'm guessing it's because Thoreau started walking the same day his friend started his day of work to earn the ticket money, thus delaying his friend's travel until the next day?

DCCommuter: Can you post the site?
I shop from www.petfooddirect.com. My normal order is one 15lb bag and one 30lb bag which costs 11.99 to ship. Their prices are a few bucks cheaper than my lps (local pet store) and I get a 10% discount for being a regular customer so it washes out.

However, I am very close to their warehouse. Shipping to the west coast is about three times as much, which is probably not practical. You probably can find someone local though.

In fairness, I live in the Bronx, and have my car parked in a spot in my building, so it's not really that bad.

Here's the update:

Dad can't swing the car yet. He's going to refinance the house and then buy the car. If he can't do it then, he's gonna give me whatever the difference between what Car Cash will give me and what the car has left as a balance so I can pay off the loan and be done with it once and for all.

One way or the other, I will be without a car this summer, and I cannot wait.

Hehe GIVE your dad the car, it'll be a present for bringing you up. :)

Hehe GIVE your dad the car, it'll be a present for bringing you up. :)

I am! He's only going to take over the payments on it.

What, you think I'd actually charge my dad for the privilege of taking this thing off my hands? ;)

With a trailer you can easily, fit 50 lbs. groceries into it's bed. We like shopping the European way anyway...Get it fresh daily...gives an excuse to get in another bike trip.