konsole

The idea of being car free has been something that I have been interested in doing for quite a few years. I havent really taken it too seriously over any length of time, but the thought has always been there to some degree. I'm a male age 34 and I've owned 5 cars up to this point. The first 3 had 75k+ miles on them when I got them so obviously they didnt last me too many years. The 4th car was bought brand new and I sold that after 5 years, mainly because I wanted something even more basic to drive. That led me to my currrent car with a Smart fortwo, which I have had for the last 3+ years. I have been content with the car so I'm not desperate to sell it, and there is no financial desperation to sell. I paid for it straight out when it was barely used and I've kept it well maintained for the past 25k miles or so.

So my current car isnt giving me problems and its certainly isnt the case that I absolutely despise this particular car. My thoughts on going car free are simply because I just don't like cars period, and I think my lifestyle leaves open the possibility of a car free life. I've never really cared for cars. I've always thought that if I was fabulously wealthy I would still probably own nothing more then a very basic reliable car. Cars to me are simply transportation. I don't care about the HP, handling, suspension, the overall looks, and the bling bling. As long as it gets decent gas mileage, its fairly reliable, and has decent build quality, I could care less about anything else.

In the past 10 years or so I've managed to put about 5-10k miles a year on my cars. So I have definately used my cars, but its well below the average. Most of that mileage is just driving back and forth to work, which is currently about 25 miles round trip. I've been at this job for 14 years and its been part time the entire time, but I've still been able to make enough to pay my expenses and put some savings away also. Yes this 14 years of only having to work part time has been mainly due to the fact that I still live with the parents. This doesnt bother me at all because I contribute enough to pay for my expenses, I'm not a mooch so I dont get baby'd by them, and being retirement age they certainly can use help around the house with more intense work like lawncare/painting/roofing, but they also have someone to watch the house as they have been and continue to travel alot. No I'm not married, I don't have a girlfriend and I honestly dont plan on having either any time soon. Personal choice to be single and not get into a relationship, but thats the way I prefer things to be for me. Being single always felt natural to me.

Currently we live near Boston, and have been here for the last 30 years. Most of the family and friends have since moved away, and myself and the parents are floating the idea of moving to South Carolina. The parents really like vacationing down there and like myself I think they have just gotten tired of living in the Boston area, especially with the depressing winters. I like the South Carolina area also and would definately appreciate the refreshing change in climate. The parents plan on making a trip back down there in a few months to better decide what they want to do, but my dad is ready to go, while mom is a little more on the fence. They say its possible that they could have our house up for sale early next year if things go well with South Carolina. I would definately like the change in climate and if I didnt move with them then I would like to atleast move somewhere that sees little or no snow. I use to ski alot and loved ice skating, but at 34, and having done those for many years, those times have since past.

In case its not clear yet, my financial needs are pretty low. With the parents I currently only need about $700 per month to cover all personal expenses, with nothing going to savings. If I was to move with them I don't see why that would change much. My flexible schedule combined with low financial needs would mean that job opportunities near our potentially new home should be pretty good. Maybe I could take some of my savings and learn a trade down there who knows. After high school I did go to a 2 year school for a trade, but that didn't result in anything. I really do like the idea of moving with them because of the cheaper living expenses and because of the area they plan to go.

Getting back to potentially going car free. I could probably manage to do it right now, but my job is a little too far to walk/bike especially during our winters. Plus we live too far from Boston that public transit is minimal at best, especially at the early time my job starts. If we stayed here, then I could try a few options for working within town so that biking or walking is doable. Getting the exercise with a few mile bike ride or walk doesnt bother me, I use to bike and go hiking alot when I was younger and enjoyed it alot. I have a bike in good shape, and I'm not in too bad of shape myself, could lose a few pounds but nothing unreasonable. I just don't like cars for many reasons, and I guess I yearn for a time when things weren't so spread out and having a car was more of a luxury then a necessity for most people. Maybe I don't like them because they pollute, they cause laziness and health problems, they cause overseas conflict for oil, they're expensive in many ways and you never know when an expensive repair could come up that a mechanic charges you $100 an hour and then you can't quite trust what they say about the necessary work. Maybe I dont like watching parts of my expensive car rust into the ground because cars are still made of too many iron parts. Maybe I don't like how most people drive around cars that can comfortably carry 4 people yet most cars are occupied by 1 person most of the time. Maybe I just don't like how much space and infrastructure is needed for cars for people to drive far away, when designing communities to be more localized makes so much more sense. Plenty of reasons I don't like cars and I'm sure I would agree with many people on this board. I would really like to live without a car, but getting some words of wisdom from those experienced in living car free is probably wise.

So was it something you chose to do, or was it not really something you had a choice about?
Do you find it doable to live car free in some place that doesnt have stellar public transit?
Did you find it tough at first and then it felt much easier and normal after a little while?
Did living (or moving to) a warmer climate play a big role in your decision to go car free?

I could probably go on and on with the questions, but its probably best to initiate the conversation with just a few and then you guys contribute what you want. Either give your opinion of my situation and what you would do, or skip everything I wrote above and just talk a bit about your life being car free and perhaps some of the pros and cons.

350htrr

I am not car free, not planning on being car free... But I am trying to cut back on car usage... Thus I got an E-Assist bike... Maybe something like that can work for you. As an interim step...

Artkansas 

Start out the easy way. Get a bike, use it to do errands as often as you can, use it to commute as often as you can, ride it for pleasure as often as you can. Then you will have a more informed opinion on whether you can go car-free.

1) I chose it, I had neglected to buy a car before I moved out of my father's house.
2) I ignored public transit completely for about a decade. Then I had a 20 mile (one way) night time commute and did not have my bike up to spec, so I took the bus until I could move closer. Buses getting bike racks decades later made them more attractive. In several locations, public transit has not been an option at all. The buses did not have the hours I needed.
3) When I started, being able to pay my bills was my biggest concern. Thanks to my bike, it was doable.
4) I grew up in Florida and went car-free in Southern California. so no. I've continued my ways in Arkansas where I adapted to occasional bouts of snow. Check the Winter Cycling forum for information. There are car-free Canadians there, who put my winter skills to shame.

wipekitty

Yes.

1. It was my choice.
2. Yes: I've been on the bus once in the past 1 1/2 years without a car. But...
- Decent public transportation is helpful if you need to frequently travel long distances. What counts as a long distance will vary among individuals.
- My approach to living without a car involves replacing all non-walkable (and some walkable) trips with bicycling. So if bicycling is extremely difficult for whatever reason, a lack of public transit could be a problem for car-freedom.
3. The last time I was a heavy vehicle user was high school (I'm also 34 now). So, no, it was pretty easy.
4. Not at all. I live in Wisconsin, and I've also been car-free in Michigan. I actually used a car more in the Deep South because the summer heat destroyed me in a way that cold and snow never do. With the right gear and equipment, winter cycling is a blast.

tandempower

+1

Also, I think you will find that the more comfortable you get with the shorter bike errands, the more confidence you build for longer errands and trips. Also, the more you do without driving, the better you get at 'thinking car free,' by which I mean that you start to see more opportunities for routes and ways of doing things that work better with a bike or walking or transit that just weren't apparent to you before you started gaining experience 'beyond driving.'

CliffordK

Each person will find a different solution. I'm non-driving (car has been parked for over a year), and out of town. No viable public transportation near my house. I don't ride every day, but frequently.

The Willamette valley typically has a wet, but mild winter, but certainly not HOT.

As others have mentioned, if you commute to work, and you haven't done it by bike, then get a bike, and start trying out the commute. 10 to 15 miles each way isn't bad.

You will be somewhat unique if you're not officially driving while living in a household with one or more vehicles. I'm not sure what insurance companies would say if you occasionally drive for your parents, they may insist you be named on their policy.

One of my decisions was that I would not mooch off of friends and family. So, no calling for a ride if I'm too lazy to do it by bike. The only exception would be if I"m participating in an activity with/for the other person.

Do you have a safe, dry place to park your Smart Car? An option would be to park it and drop the insurance (which also prevents you from cheating). Then see how it goes. The car may come in handy for your move, then you may choose to sell it if you find you're not using it next year after the move.

How much help do your parents need? What is the future of that?

enigmaT120

If you do move, that will give you an opportunity to pick (depending on how much input you have on the decision) a home/job location that makes car-free commuting easier.

CliffordK

Good point.

Some people have excess money to spend at retirement.

Others enjoy downsizing and simplifying.

konsole

Thanks for the responses so far. I'll have a longer response soon.

blackieoneshot 

My car died a week after moving closer to my job. Moving closer to work was a conscious decision but I never considered ditching my car. Riding my bike was an easy temporary solution until I found another crappy used car. Well weeks went by, then months, and now it's been eight years and living without a car is normal now.

Roody

As for all around advice for being a carfree cyclist, I suggest these conditions--it's not necessary to meet them all, but they will make your carfree lifestyle much more convenient and comfortable:

Location:

1. Locate near enough work so that your commute on most days can be by bike.
2. Even more importantly, locate within a short walk/ride from a grocery store where you can do most of your shopping.
3. Try to locate on a decent transit route.

Life skills:

1. Always have a Plan B. A Plan C is not a bad idea too.
2. Flexibility and innovation are part of LCF. For example, even if you don't regularly use transit, familiarize yourself and use it as a backup plan. Learn how to read schedules and transit maps.
3. As much as possible, maintain your body in good shape for both walking and bicycling. For most people, you should be prepared to walk a minimum of 5 miles a day and ride for 25 miles.
4. Learn how to work on your own bike for maintenance and basic repairs.
5. Look to fellow CF people for knowledge, assistance, and guidance. Pay it back as you develop your own CF skills.

Gear and equipment:

1. Make friends with a nearby co-op or LBS for repairs that are beyond your skills.
2. Buy the best quality that you can afford.

[HR][/HR]
This is a tentative list. I hope others will make additions and corrections.

1983

Wow that was an article. Best advice I could think of is to use a bike that you are absolutely comfortable on and don't give yourself an option to drive. Do you experience a real winter? If so, then fenders for wet, studded tires for ice, layers for cold, lights for low visibility.

Roody

Very good!

Another addition...Have a way to carry loads on the bike. This can range from a backpack to a rear rack, panniers, cargo bike or longtail, trailer, etc. There is lots of info on the bikeforum.net LCF and Utility forums about this.

1983

Ah forgot about carrying stuff. I used to have axiom panniers but now use a back pack with much of my daily junk stored in a locker at work.

Buffalo Buff

I chose it. When I decided to go car free, I had two nice cars at my disposal. I've never gotten into cars either. I don't enjoy driving them unless I'm on a secluded country road on a sunny afternoon breaking sped limits, but that's a far cry from being stuck in traffic on a commute. I hate the idea of having to pay someone 5$ just to drive across town. I hate all the monetary and legal bull**** that goes with driving a car. License, registration, update your tags, oh your license expired, pay your insurance yet this month? etc. None of those concerns when you're on a bike / skateboard. Plus those forms of transportation are just more fun. I look at a car commute as time I spent sitting in traffic, wasting away. I look at a bike ride as one of the highlights of my day, because I enjoy the hell out of it, even if I'm just going to work.

I don't have exceptional public transit where I live. If I wanted to take a bus, I'd have to walk down multiple 45mph roads with no bike lane, shoulder or sidewalk just to reach the nearest bus stop. The light rail starts miles from my zip code. We have no subway. The only time it is a hassle is when my bike breaks down to the point where it isn't useable. In those situations I just pay a friend to drive me to the closest bike shop.

It took time to transition into. At first it wasn't a full time thing. If it was raining or snowing, I drove. If I was hung over or feeling lazy, I drove. If I had **** to do after work, I drove.

Over time I just sorta forced myself into the mentality that the bike / skateboard is going to be my default method of transportation. Since then I've used it for commutes ranging from 1 mile to 12.5 miles (one way). Once you get used to it, it's not that bad. Where I live, I can get around on bike in around the same time a drive takes, depending on traffic. It doesn't rain much, and snow is no concern. Grocery store is 2.5 miles from my house, so I can just use a backpack if I want.

Aside from the habitual side of it, simply learning to how to optimize bike commuting was a challenge in itself. Some examples....

- When I started bike commuting, I 100% stayed off the roads except to cross them. I exclusively took trails, bike paths, sidewalks, or just rode on the grass if none of those options were available. I used a suspension mountain bike. Over time I transitioned to where I am now, nearly 100% road riding on a road bike, at much higher speeds. This drastically expanded where I was comfortable riding to and from, since I could now replace my car with my bike instead of limiting myself to certain roads / parts of town. Also, it significantly reduced my commute time, cutting it down to less than 1/3 of what it was for certain rides.

- When I began road biking, I used the same routes I would to drive somewhere. Then I figured out I could often find shortcuts through neighborhoods etc. Then I realized it was worth my while to find longcuts through neighborhoods if it meant riding on an empty road for 3 miles VS riding on a 45mph speed limit road jam packed with traffic for 2 miles.

- I started out using a backpack to store everything. Then I found a rack and commuter bag I could use with my road bike. Then I ditched the idea of bringing stuff with me to and from work everyday, and just loaded up my backpack with two weeks worth of clothes, a spare tube and some clif bars. I strap it down to my rack and bring it one day, and bring it back home two weeks later. Daily commute is me, bike, water bottle, handlebar bluetooth speaker, and my phone/keys/wallet in an aero top tube bag. No panniers here.

- I had no lights when I began bike commuting, only reflectors. Eventually I decided to clip an LED light to my waistband when I did night rides. Then I found a handlebar mount for that flashlight, which I used for commutes and my first cross country tour. Also had one of those 5$ clicker tail lights. Then I bought a bike specific headlight and tail light, then I bought more expensive ones with more lumens etc.

Moving did help. I moved from northern Ohio to the NC/SC border. Snow doesn't happen any more, much less rain, etc. If I were still living in Ohio, I'd have to maintain the mountain bike I never use, and outfit it with studded tires. Here, I just ride a road bike 365 and its great. The roads and traffic blow for bike commuting, but I'll still take it over driving.

Ekdog

Very interesting post, Buffalo. May I ask which Bluetooth handlebar speaker you're using? I've been thinking of getting one.

wolfchild

I think every car-free cyclist should have more then one bike...Personally I have 3 bikes, if I have a problem with one I just grab another one...My area has pretty good public transit, so I could use it if I wanted to and I do occasionally few times per year, but I really prefer to be on a bike, it's a lot more fun.

Buffalo Buff

Small bluetooth speakers for bicycles - Buckshot | OutdoorTech

Buffalo Buff

I do have multiple bikes, but it's over 12 miles to the nearest bike shop and I don't fancy riding down a bunch of 45mph roads with no shoulder/sidewalk/bike lane on a knobby tired suspension mountain bike with a road bike strapped to my back.

wolfchild

I have my own tools and do my own maintenance/repairs, so there is no need for me to take a whole bike to my LBS. I just go to an LBS to pick up parts/components and then do all the work at home.

Buffalo Buff

I'm working on getting there.

I still suck at fine tuning my rear derailleur, and I haven't tried wheel truing yet.


The last time I needed a ride there was when a car hit me and my wheel was ****ed. Nothing I could do there.

Otherwise I can usually at least ride my road bike there and have them true the wheel while I wait or something.

If you have any suggestions for books or youtube channels for bike repair I'm all ears.

Artkansas 

Good list. I added my 2¢

Roody

Very good post, with lots of practical knowledge. Thanks for sharing! I can't disagree with anything, except that I happen to love snow and cold weather. Also, I was wondering, how doyou deal with shopping and hauling groceries and other moderate loads?

kickstart

Its just riding a bicycle, and not that complicated, don't over think it.

Just do it, and you will figure out what works for you, and what doesn't.

konsole

What I may do is wait and see what happens early next year with the possible move to South Carolina. If they decide to move then I can consider the area they move to and if it would be feasible to try going car free. It certainly would be a warmer climate and it sounds like they want to be somewhat close to the beach which would mean flat roads to ride. For all I know the area they move to could be ideal for car free living. If I moved with them and decided I didnt like the area or it wasnt suited for going car free then I could consider my options from there.

Thanks for the responses so far, everyone.