slisk

My family has been car free since July and so far we are really enjoying the benefits and are getting used to the costs. I'm new to the sans car forum so I'll tell the story from the start.

We (wife and I) had been tired of being broke and wanted a change in lifestyle. I won't get into politics, but I made a commitment to somehow find a way to live without a car. We were currently living in Phoenix with long commutes and being without a car isn't much of an option when you have 2 small kids. Phoenix has many great qualities but it is not very bike friendly in my view. Before we moved, I had been riding 56 miles round trip (3 times a week) and when the temps hit 100+, I wasn't able to keep up the pace...time to move.

We are both teachers and decided to leave the country for several reasons. Where we chose to live was influenced heavily by cycling. We found jobs working in Holland...arguably one of the best cycling homes. I guess I'm saying that the most important thing when getting rid of the car is to live somewhere that you can operate without one. What does that mean? The place must have a good network of bike trails. What about groceries, buying big things, and getting to a late night party? Use the subways, trams, trains, when and where you can. But let's talk about your bike.

You need an all-weather bike (fenders, etc.) with water proof bags to hold what you need for everyday runs. We have bike seats on the back of each bike and a 2-seater trailer that doubles as weatherproof cruiser for the kids, or cargo space for medium loads. Have big purchases delivered. It's also a good idea to have another bike as a backup in case your commuter is inoperable and you can't repair and get to work on time. You also need raingear for different seasons.

Before I moved, I was just a on again off again bike commuter. Now it has become a lifestyle. It has been an easy transition because of the move. I am not concerned about being hit because dedicated bikes lanes are great here in Rotterdam (NL). The shopping is always close by because this is a biking culture. We'll see what happens when the dark, cold, windy winter arrives.

Ritz

CONGRATULATIONS!
It's always nice to hear of another soul taking "the plunge."
Peace, Ritz.

WWW.TOURDEPANTS COM

SHOOP

I traveled car free before because I can"t drive yet so I was going to travel about a mile to the hardware store I had 2 choices bus or bike I did'nt use the bus cause it will take so long so i used my bike, So the road was up hill so it was a hard travel.the busses had a bike rack on the grill but it took to long so the way back home I went SO FAST

SO MY POINT IS : its better than walking but waiting and getting tired uphill and the time is not worth it
"Without a car or bus"

berts

was car free for 3 weeks - it was great while it lasted.
bike riding was not increased, unfortunately.

jamesdenver

great story! thanks for the post. are you there permanently? or just on work visas? i think that's terrific and a wonderful global experience for your kids too whether you stay there or not.

i think as the world continues to become "smaller" through communications americans will seek more opportunities overseas, just many immigrants seek better opportunities in our countries. even farmers and ranchers are buying property in brazil and northern argentina where they can buy land for much less, and they are able to pay workers a very good living wage. (just one example), and look at how much beijing has changed in 10 years, (shockingly fast)

i love denver and it's my home, but i can definetely see myself living part time somewhere in an urban center like amsterdam. my first far overseas trip was to buenos aires last year, and i absolutely loved being able to walk to the laundraumat, barber, hundreds of small shops and restaurants within walking distance, and good transport.

no country is perfect, but i see nothing wrong with taking an "al la carte" view of the world based on whats economically beneficial for you, and it doesn't hurt people socially.

DEWEY

It Is A Fallacy (not0) No To Be Care Free It Just Takes Planning

urban rider

This is my first time on a forum so please forgive any mistakes. I consider myself carless, although my household has two cars. I consider my bikes(3) as my primary means of transportation. One of the problems I have encountered has been an inability to attend as many bike trips as I would like. The two family cars are either too small or too old to make the trips. Any suggestions?

Urban Rider

adgrant

There are places in the U.S. that allow you to walk everywhere too.

John_1961

I'm in Southeastern Wis. here I use the Bike for short hops to the store. sure beats useing the Pickup.

likeakidagain

just went car free a few weeks ago..its a bit tought not being able to get into a vechicle and go anywhere at anytime..
right now my range is about 20 miles a day..though one day I hope to do 50 mile trips each way..if needed..
I am learing about alot of things..safety..weather..maint..clothing..what to eat..strorage..etc.
in 6 months I will be a expert..and such!

crypticlineage

Bicycle has always been my primary mode of transportation eversince I was a kid and I have lived in 4 different countries across the globe. I am 31 now and just bought a car six months ago, but it turned out to be a craphole. I am getting rid of it in a month or so and plan to stay on bike for all around the town activities. Until I got the car, I used to do all the shopping, laundromat trips on the bike.

If everyone considered biking seriously unless its absolutely necessary to drive, I am sure America would not be facing such high fuel prices and also we will all live much healthier lives.

Two thumbs up to car-free living.

Crypticlineage

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Trek 3500
Cannondale Alu Frame waiting

LilSprocket

I commute so often, to work, to the store, to friends homes, to simply ride...
I went to start the car today... no go... had to get a jump start from the neighbor....
and I felt pretty ok about that

I do like having the option though...

bragi

Actually, don't sell your home town short; it's a great place for bikes nine months a year, as long as you don't live out in Highlands Ranch (which is CO's answer to Hell, and destined to become a slum some day). Denver/Boulder has one of the best bike path networks I've ever seen (it puts Seattle utterly to shame), there are a lot of nice side streets everywhere, the terrain is friendly, and there's a healthy bike culture there. Compared to most places in the US, you live in bicycle Nirvana!

gizmocat

I have never liked cars or been impressed by guys who used them as extensions of a certain portion of their anatomy.

I'd be a lot more impressed by a man who had a good bicycle and thought highly enough of the world and his health to ride it instead of drive.

When I moved to Europe I did all my commuting on a bike and was never in better health. A bicycle is equal to a car in many parts of the Continent and I enjoyed that. Of course you had to follow the rules of the road too, that is only fair.

Americans treat bicycles like children's toys, which is a childish attitude.

Ny Cykel

No car, I enjoy that idea.
I have to drive truck at work, it's part of the job 20,000lbs, I had to take it in for service today, I threw my Specialized in the back and declined the free shuttle service.
I am permitted when out of town to use the company vehicle as I wish, within reason, I chose not, I take my bike and use it for all my travel.
It makes me feel good and I can't explain why.

I must now open a can of worms:
Global Warming, it's done, it's getting worse fast, why? Cars, sure other things contribute, but without cars, it would not have happened.

90% of them do not need to be here.

Ny Cykel

Well, it ain't fair for me to say, you see I have to drive a lot on my job, and I have to bring the truck home.
In the summer I will waite till I get home and ride the bike to the store, in the winter when its cold and icy out and very dangerous (I chicken out)I will stop by the store on the way home.
As far as some of the comments go about ladies on bikes, I hope none here are offended but, I say there ain't nuthin hotter than a lady on a bike.
And as far as coffee goes I like a little milk in mine,
and as far as Koffee goes, nice thread.

landrover4

i live car-free but i miss driving a lot. i live in Paris so i don't need a car at all, and if i go somewhere i take a train, but i suppose i could easily get into having a car again. for now i ride my track bike in the city, at that's all i need.

therailleur

Yeah, I've been there. A good solution though is a car-share program. Most bigger cities have at least pilot programs launched now such as citycarshare, flexicar, etc... They're generally much more affordable than owning a car, and much more convenient. You don't even have to mention it before you pick her up. When you show up it's an instant topic of conversation, probably more so than most any car you would own yourself.

hockeyteeth

I just have one question to people who live bike-free: How do you avoid arriving somewhere without being sweat-soaked? It just seems to me no matter how liesurely I ride, I still end up sweating at least a little bit. I suppose part of the problem is living in central Florida, with humidity generally in the 80th percentile and temperatures in at least the high 70s. I don't let the heat or sweating get to me too much though; I still ride my bike to classes (I'm in college), work, and other miscellanious places. I really only drive to get groceries and to visit my family back on the east coast 95 miles away. I think I'm doing a decent job abstaining from car usage since I only use about $5 in gas a month.

Oh yeah, and rain... What do you car-free people do when it rains?

bspalteh

I use an electric assisted bike to make the ride a bit easier and not sweat so much on the way to work. I ride 18km each way every day, and don't have to change my clothes at work. As for rain, look up "velomobiles" on Google.

Hope that helps.

AlterEgo

I love it... your username is for a car, yet you're car-free! The irony.

Paris is perhaps my favorite city,and in many ways I love/hate it for similar reasons that I love/hate my town (NYC). My wife and I moved to the burbs a few years ago and have a car for groceries and getting my daughter to the Y for swim lessons, but we average <5k miles per year, and that includes ~2 trips to Portland, ME each year.

I was raised in Denver and didn't have a license until I was 18 (only got it for my job at the Denver Spoke), and didn't have a car until I was 25, which I sold 12 months and 4k miles later. I've always been lucky that I have never needed a car (until we had kids) as I could ride where I needed to go. Now I walk 10 minutes to the train station and the train takes 35min to get to Grand Central and then I walk 15 minutes to the office.

If people really tried, they could cut a lot of needless consumption. Some day we'll have no choice!

egelston

My car was recently stolen...living without one I realize the amount of money I have thrown away on car payments, gas, insurance, etc. I would like to start commuting via bike and city transpo. However, being absolutely new to bikes I don't know how or what to buy. Does anyone have any good info? Thanks!

Roody

Replacing the car with a bike is a great idea. For ideas on the type of bike to buy, start with the FAQs on Bikeforums. Also scroll through the threads on this subforum and on the subforum for Commuting. You'll find lots of suggestions. And of course you should also start your own thread here on Living Carfree and we'll give you lots of ideas.

theothertim

okay this is my rundown of needed/wanted items.

Needed: #1.Spare everything!! including shoes, wheels, or even a whole other bike.
#2. A good backpack. waterproofing isn't a real nessecity because plastic garbage bags make wonderful waterproof liners for the different compartments. (just remember to check them for holes and replace when needed (hence the need for a spare bag hanging around in there))
#3. lights! lights! lights! both front and rear are needed to keep cops at bay depending on your locale. (don't skimp on these as you need them to see and be seen!)
#4. Helmet. You need a helmet anyway, why not spend a few bucks more on one with a snap in place rain cover. This is also helpful in keeping your head warmer in winter.
#5. Chain or other easy to use anti theft. (a langth of heat treated chain with a towel wrapped around it and a good padlock is definately not somthing thieves laugh at! while it costs considerably less than the ones in bike shops.)
#6. Helmet visor. A short helmet visor can help to keep your night vision intact when road riding at night.
#7. good tires are easily the most important thing to have if you are going to commute by bike. Don't skimp here, but buy sensibly. The michelin lithion tires are great even though I can't spell them. I personally don't see any difference between the all condition tires and trainers as far as traction is concerned. If you really need traction in the winter, go with cyclocross tires with "real" tread.
#8. Tire pump. Yeah you need one when the nearest gas station is blocks away and you are headed to work with a flat front tire. Cheap ones work for a little while, and in my opinion, bell makes the best cheapie.
#9. spare tube. cheap tubes aren't cheap if you buy LOTS of them and could have used less if you purchased thornproof.
#10. waterbottles. Who said that you have to have that cool team colored waterbottle? all you need is a 1 liter coke bottle or gatorade bottles are already equipped with nice little easy to open valves.
#11. Firstaid Kit. You or someone else sure will be glad you have one. Make your own unless you can get a nice deal on one and spend less than you would for all the parts.
#12. Bike kit. Your bike kit should include things like spare parts, chain lube, small bottle of orange cleaner, allen wrenches of ALL relevent sizes, screwdrivers, spare cables and a few feet of extra housing, electrical tape, a patch kit, pliers, and last but not least, a few extra bucks $5-10.oo.
#13. last but definately not least, GLOVES!!! The nicer, the better, but ragwool gloves work fine for a dollar a pair. ( just cut off the indes finger about half way down and sew the edge so it doesn't fray.)


Want:
#1. A bob Yak trailer (about $300.00)
#2. raingear
#3. fenders
#4. riding buddies
#5. smart car drivers who hate cellphones.... oopse got out of hand there....
#6. what was it that I really thought I wanted??? ok, well I didn't have enough money, and gave up and forgot about it.

Platy

Hi theothertim! May I also recommend a chain breaker tool and a chain with a link you can open and close by hand. My Park multitool has a little chain beaker included.