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Living Car Free/Car Lite Introductions

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Living Car Free Do you live car free or car light? Do you prefer to use alternative transportation (bicycles, walking, other human-powered or public transportation) for everyday activities whenever possible? Discuss your lifestyle here.
View Poll Results: How long have you been car light or car free?
Car light less than 1 year
172
15.87%
Car free less than 1 year
99
9.13%
Car light less than 5 years
140
12.92%
Car free less than 5 years
122
11.25%
Car light more than 5 years
98
9.04%
Car free more than 5 years
233
21.49%
Contemplating a car light or car free change
193
17.80%
Not interested in becoming car light or car free
27
2.49%
Voters: 1084. You may not vote on this poll

Living Car Free/Car Lite Introductions

Old 04-24-11, 11:09 PM
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I don't get criticism, but I do sell it so well nobody bothers. When people ask about my bike riding every day, I outline how much money I've saved each month, how much cash ...
Around here (Atlanta) a cyclist has to be "training" or else tearing up a trail on mountain bikes. Commuting is eccentric, possibly a death-wish. So when people ask me about it they tend to list those excuses for me themselves, staying healthy saving money etc. I just tell them I do it because I like it.

I drive a car in serious weather, to reassure people that I'm sane as much as for any other reason.
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Old 04-26-11, 05:40 PM
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I have been (almost) car free for almost 10 years. Using mostly public transport and now I am going to start to use my new bike. I only drive a few times a year the company car to do some on site work.
I live on Lower Mainland, BC, Canada, here there are a lot of people commuting to work.
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Old 05-08-11, 03:38 AM
  #403  
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I've been car free for over a decade...but I've also been bike free in that time. I just haven't needed one, living in either a small town where everything is walkable, or a large city with great public transit. I get my new(well, used) bike in a few days and I'm super excited!

I'm pretty much in the exact same situation as the poster above me, right down to living in the lower mainland. I've used my company van to move a few times, but I had a friend drive since it's been way too long for me.
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Old 05-10-11, 12:18 PM
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I haven't owned a car in over a year and I really don't miss it. I have found that 95% of the travel I need to do is accomplished easily by bike or public transit.

I will however consider myself car lite. I will rent a car maybe one weekend a month to see family and friends living too far to bike to, or outside of a public transit system.

Also, I use zipcar here and there for the occasional trip to the grocery store or Home Depot. A 2x4 is really hard to balance on a bike.
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Old 05-29-11, 03:52 AM
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I've been car light for more than 5 years using my bike as my transporter especially to work and whenever I can go by it. A lot of constrains here in Jakarta when wanting bike as our only transportation since we got no supports from regulator and very-very minimum facilities for bicycle. I still use my car when I have to go with my family since (I think) it's impossible to take 3 children and their mom on a bike...
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Old 05-30-11, 04:13 PM
  #406  
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Originally Posted by hukapits
I've been car light for more than 5 years using my bike as my transporter especially to work and whenever I can go by it. A lot of constrains here in Jakarta when wanting bike as our only transportation since we got no supports from regulator and very-very minimum facilities for bicycle. I still use my car when I have to go with my family since (I think) it's impossible to take 3 children and their mom on a bike...
I have read that Jakarta has many carfree areas and carfree days. How is that working out for people?

:
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Old 06-05-11, 04:48 AM
  #407  
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I've been car-free since I moved to Shanghai back in August 2007. I get around on my commuter bicycle (usually 3 or 4 work days per week) or using my electric scooter, often in conjunction with Shanghai's excellent Metro system (the world's largest). If I need to go further afield than the Metro can take me, there are plenty of buses or trains that can take me anywhere I need to go - and if I absolutely, positively couldn't get there by bike/public transport, I could rent a car (although I haven't yet had need to do so).

I will not be buying a car for as long as I live in Shanghai - it simply isn't necessary or practical to own a car here.
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Old 06-05-11, 04:19 PM
  #408  
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Originally Posted by The Chemist
I've been car-free since I moved to Shanghai back in August 2007. I get around on my commuter bicycle (usually 3 or 4 work days per week) or using my electric scooter, often in conjunction with Shanghai's excellent Metro system (the world's largest). If I need to go further afield than the Metro can take me, there are plenty of buses or trains that can take me anywhere I need to go - and if I absolutely, positively couldn't get there by bike/public transport, I could rent a car (although I haven't yet had need to do so).

I will not be buying a car for as long as I live in Shanghai - it simply isn't necessary or practical to own a car here.
Very interesting.

From what I've been reading in the western press, it seems like the Chinese are having second thoughts about encouraging car ownership and use. Where do you think they will go with transportation policies?

Also, what kind of bike do you ride in Shanghai? Did you buy it in China or take it with you?
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Old 06-13-11, 06:04 AM
  #409  
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I'm a car lite lady and proud! I've been bike commuting to work for three years (when it's not below 40-- haven't gotten that hardcore yet) and now I've been sharing my car with my boyfriend for the last six months. In fact, I can't imagine having two cars between the two of us anymore... it just seems wasteful.

St. Louis is not the best city for car free living and I'd have to walk into some pretty sketchy areas to catch the bus (as a young woman, this does not appeal to me), but otherwise the city is great for bike commuting. There are plenty of roads with bike lanes, and for the most part drivers are attentive and courteous. It also helps to know some of the back ways around the streets with heavier traffic. I've got my car when I need to go somewhere in the middle of the night, or when I need to haul something (like materials for my chickens, or the veggie garden I run at my workplace).
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Old 06-15-11, 05:21 PM
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Actually there is no such a car free area in Jakarta but car free days (CFD), yes there we have. CFD come on 2nd and last sunday of every month when no cars or any other engine-powered transportation are allowed to pass certain main road areas between 6 AM-12 AM. Citizens use these days as a sport-leisure day where they can jog, cycle or just walk with family.
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Old 06-16-11, 04:15 PM
  #411  
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Originally Posted by hukapits
Actually there is no such a car free area in Jakarta but car free days (CFD), yes there we have. CFD come on 2nd and last sunday of every month when no cars or any other engine-powered transportation are allowed to pass certain main road areas between 6 AM-12 AM. Citizens use these days as a sport-leisure day where they can jog, cycle or just walk with family.
Interesting. What is it like to cycle in Jakarta?
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Old 06-17-11, 02:58 PM
  #412  
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My local editor of patch.com (a hyperlocal news site) invited me to keep a blog on the side. So far, it's about my living car-light, though it will eventually branch out. I've gotten a lot of good feedback, and other editors of Patch have started to carry it. Last I knew, it's carried on eight sites.

https://maplewood.patch.com/users/noglider/blog_posts
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Old 06-17-11, 04:21 PM
  #413  
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Originally Posted by noglider
My local editor of patch.com (a hyperlocal news site) invited me to keep a blog on the side. So far, it's about my living car-light, though it will eventually branch out. I've gotten a lot of good feedback, and other editors of Patch have started to carry it. Last I knew, it's carried on eight sites.

https://maplewood.patch.com/users/noglider/blog_posts
It sounds like you're doing good work there in NJ. Good luck on the blog too.

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Old 06-18-11, 06:07 PM
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Thanks. It's an uphill battle. Lots of folks think I'm nuts. Or some sort of Olympian athlete. Or on the fringe. Or whatever. I'm writing in a way that (I hope) will show that you don't have to be nuts, and you don't even have to do everything I do.

Today, I went to the town recycling center (dump) with my bike. I carried an old computer in my kiddie trailer.
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Old 06-27-11, 07:22 PM
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Hey, great thread!

Since moving to Coastal NC I’ve been bicycling to work almost every day, rain or shine, roughly 14 miles round trip. Unfortunately, the main roads in our small city can be dangerous, but I’m fortunate to have a flexible work schedule, & there are some side roads most of the way in case I do need to ride home during rush hour. My employer even provides showers & locker rooms, so I can arrive at my office clean, cool & refreshed. I count myself very blessed.
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Old 06-30-11, 01:28 AM
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Tokyo

hey

it's easy to be car free in Tokyo.
Well, I take taxis occasionally - does that count? And I rent a car when I visit USA.
Have not owned a car in 9 years.

Own 3 bicycles now (here) and 1 in storage in USA. Fortunate enough to live just 4km from my office. I can cycle, take a bus, take a train, and combine different distances of walking to make the bus or train a little easier or cheaper.

Of course, this abode is not palatial. But nicer than most units the masses have in this town.

I thought it would be lousy to be cycling in Tokyo - with narrow streets and kind of crowded. But after getting into it more, it's easy to find empty streets, since all the autos pretty much head for the main thoroughfare, which goes a little faster, and I can just cruise through all these neighborhood streets at cycling speed.

There are excellent delivery services for most things. I haul plenty of stuff on my mtn bike / rack equipped. In a pinch, I could rent a car as I have done on a few out-of-town travel occasions. So I don't really move things around by car.
So far so good.

They do have nice hybrid and electric cars out now so I may reconsider sometime, especially as the family grows. But it's not just about Eco.
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Old 06-30-11, 04:13 PM
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Although I'm still a child at 24, I haven't had the need for a car. Heck, I've never gotten my license. I've lived in small towns, La Crosse Wisconsin and Decorah Iowa, and big towns, St. Louis MO and Minneapolis MN, and I still haven't seen the need for cars in cities. People live way too much out of their means. It's only been two weeks in Minneapolis, and no I haven't experienced a winter commute here yet, but I just see no reason why we need so many damned cars on the road. Minneapolis is a great city to bike. There are bicycle lanes on most major roads, plenty of space on backroads, and the bicycle freeways are just beautiful. If all cities, no matter their climate could support it's biking culture like Minneapolis and Seattle do, the world would be a happier, healthier, less toxic place.
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Old 07-05-11, 08:00 PM
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Car Free since April. Bogus DUI in new mexico that I never took care of. I should probably get on that...
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Old 07-07-11, 03:52 AM
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My family lives in a great place to be car free. We are in a university city with crazy good bus lines. I have two children ages 3 and 13 and I am a 41 year old homeschooling mom. We ride our bikes as many places as we can and use the bus for the rest. My husband works at the university and takes the bus to work every day. We save $50 a month by not having to pay for a parking pass.
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Old 07-13-11, 03:04 AM
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Hi! I'm car free in the Groningen, Netherlands area. I moved here a year ago and I really love it. Survived my first winter snow without a car. Pretty awesome.

I now have a fleet of bikes and I can't seem to stop collecting them. I need more room!!!!

Rona
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Old 07-13-11, 11:36 AM
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Originally Posted by mellie
My family lives in a great place to be car free. We are in a university city with crazy good bus lines. I have two children ages 3 and 13 and I am a 41 year old homeschooling mom. We ride our bikes as many places as we can and use the bus for the rest. My husband works at the university and takes the bus to work every day. We save $50 a month by not having to pay for a parking pass.
Welcome to the forum. Believe it or not, there are some people here who believe there is no such thing as a carfree family with children! so your input will be very welcome.
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Old 07-13-11, 11:38 AM
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Originally Posted by Rona
Hi! I'm car free in the Groningen, Netherlands area. I moved here a year ago and I really love it. Survived my first winter snow without a car. Pretty awesome.

I now have a fleet of bikes and I can't seem to stop collecting them. I need more room!!!!

Rona
Welcome! To many of us, Holland is the mecca of carfree cycling. I look forward to reading your perspective on carfree living.
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Old 07-13-11, 11:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Believe it or not, there are some people here who believe there is no such thing as a carfree family with children!
Really? Who made that statement here?
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Old 07-14-11, 01:38 PM
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Originally Posted by Roody
Welcome! To many of us, Holland is the mecca of carfree cycling. I look forward to reading your perspective on carfree living.
Oh yes... it's quite the Mecca. Groningen is one of the best car-free areas in the world.
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Old 07-15-11, 12:10 AM
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I live without a car for 4 month now and I love it. Recession effected all of us so I had to cut back on some things such as driving a car. I now ride an electric bike that I bought and I love it.
It's a good way to get to work. Plus I save a lot of time not being stuck in traffic.

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