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Soon to join the LCF ranks. (maybe)

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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.

Soon to join the LCF ranks. (maybe)

Old 07-30-11, 11:35 PM
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Soon to join the LCF ranks. (maybe)

...

Last edited by CrimsonEclipse; 04-15-18 at 09:25 PM.
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Old 07-31-11, 01:11 AM
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Right.

You have public transportation, 3 bikes, and a driver's license. Sell your truck. It's not the last motorized vehicle on earth. If your lifestyle changes moving forward and you feel you need a vehicle...you can buy one.
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Old 07-31-11, 05:44 AM
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At the very least...put the truck up for sale and think of every way possible not to drive it to keep the mileage down and increase the value of it.

The best way IMHO is to just start doing it and find out how to handle things as you go along. I know some people just have to go cold turkey, you might be one of those. If so GO FOR IT!

FWIW I have my heavy truck up for sale...so I can buy a Brompton. It hasn't been driven regularly in over 2 years so it is time for it to go.

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Old 07-31-11, 07:04 AM
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CrimsonEclipse,

Are you single? Anyone else you need to take care of?

If the answers are yes and no, then you're as prepared as you can be. It sounds like your not mentally prepared. It's like jumping in a pool, except you can climb out later if you need to.

As I've posted elsewhere, I'm going through an amicable divorce. Once my wife moves out, and I finish settling with my old house (20 miles away) I'll be selling my truck. That will be this year.

In them mean time, I ride to work every day. I take grocery trips on my bike.

I live near the central part of Louisville and can ride to almost anywhere if I change jobs. I don't know where you live in Portland, but I'm assuming it's somewhere central. If not, at least you've got better public transportation that I do.

Have no fear. Just do it.
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Old 07-31-11, 08:06 AM
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Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
I really want to do this. I already completed the hard part, 3,500 mile slog across the country. This last bit really should be easy... right?

Right?
Wrong. You made a change in geography. The next step is a change in lifestyle. Those are hard.

Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
If the truck sells for the right price, I can pay my credit card with enough left over for a Brompton.
OTOH, you may have a fear of being unable to replace the truck if need be. Put the $$ in a CD or something for six months to a year. You can still get to it in an emergency, but it's out of reach for impulse buying. The daily savings on fuel, insurance, repairs and parking can go towards the plastic payments. The Brompton can be a reward for a year car-free.

On your other questions...


What if the perfect job opens up out of range of me or public transportation?

There is no perfect job, so forget that part.

I made a career change just over ten years ago, shortly after becoming car-free, which helped facilitate the change. I waited through a couple of knock-around jobs until the something better came along.

I just had faith (not necessarily the religious kind, but it that's your kind, that works too) that sooner or later someone would quit, get fired, get promoted, move, have a baby or something and a nicer, better job would come along. I just had to be patient and stay alert to possibilities. Meanwhile, the dot-com bubble burst, we had the recession of 2001-03, planes flew into buildings, and we went to war. It began to look like I had made a wrong decision.

Then my current job came along, right out of the blue. I was looking for the next book in a series I was reading, and right there on the front door of a library branch I'd never visited before was a "Help Wanted" sign. I got the book, put in an application, and they called me for an interview before I got home. It's the best job I've ever had. It's not perfect, BTW, but it's damned good, and I'm happy with it.


What if my bike gets stolen?

You have three. Use another. I've had one stolen. It's not fun, it can be wrenching, but I had two others so it had no effect on my mobility.

Better yet, make sure you have good locks, use them rigorously. And, on the bikes you use most often for transportation, "harden" them against component pilferage.


What to wear in the rain and 40F temps.

Understandably, coming from Florida that's a big concern. In reality, it's less of a problem than you may think. Ask people who ride in Portland. Pay attention to the answers. Watch what people riding around in Portland wear. You'll figure it out. You'll make mistakes--probably in the direction of wearing too much. (It's easy to forget how much heat we make when cycling.) You'll live through the mistakes and have good stories to tell and good advice to give to others.


What if I hurt my (knee/foot/ankle) and cannot ride for 1-6 months.

Use public transport, or cash in the CD you kept for emergencies after selling the truck.

Last edited by tsl; 07-31-11 at 08:19 AM.
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Old 07-31-11, 08:48 AM
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First, CE, I think you can do it. I judge this mostly on mental attitude. The very fact that you are so worried about the change indicates that you are able to prepare yourself for eventualities and deal with challenges when they arise.
What if the perfect job opens up out of range of me or public transportation?
What if my bike gets stolen?
What if I hurt my (knee/foot/ankle) and cannot ride for 1-6 months.
This is where your backup plans come in. You mentioned puglic transit, but maybe you lack confidence in the transit system due to unfamiliarity. Also, you may not know your way around your new city and its transit system. You might want to consider staying off your bike (and your truck) for a week or two See what it's actually like to use transit only. Explore your new city on buses (or trains, whatever) and gain familiarity with the system. Like riding a bike or driving, transit use is an acquired skill. It takes some practice to get good at it.

Think also about Plan C and Plan D. Consider walking, taxis, car rental, rides from friends, etc. These can all be backups to your backup.

If you have an injury, you might also be unable to drive. I had a serious right knee injury and I couldn't drive or ride for several weeks. Strangely, I could walk short distances because you donn't need to bend your knee much to walk. I used the bus, which has enough legroom to stretch out your leg. My worst injury was a hand injury, and I couldn't drive or ride then either, for a total of 10 months I walked a lot and got a bus pass.


What to ware in the rain and 40F temps.
Even good rain gear is hot and sweaty, so I'd rather ride in 40 degree rain than 90 degree rain.
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Old 07-31-11, 09:47 AM
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I'm not car free, but I do bike commute, including in rain. I find a cape works reasonably well to keep you fairly dry and not too sweaty. However you get buffeted a bit by wind. I also keep a complete change of clothes, including shoes and socks, at work.
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Old 08-07-11, 08:01 PM
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Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
Update 1.

Truck is up for sale. After thinking extensively about it, and the advice posted here, I have chosen to give up the truck.

Other factors include: Recent unemployment, insurance payment due, uncertain financial future.

I live in Hillsboro which has a train into downtown Portland that I've used several times already with a bike. Still looking for a good safe bike route from Hillsboro to Portland over the big hill.

Thanks for the input, I will try to update my progress.

CE
Sounds great so far CE. Maybe somebody from Portland will have suggestions about a good route. And yeah, keep us posted,
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Old 08-08-11, 09:32 AM
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Originally Posted by CrimsonEclipse
I've lurked here for quite some time, watching, listening. I admire those who gave up the car or never even owned one. Florida was not exactly safe for cycling (hit 3 times) nor comfortable (90+ humid 10 mouths out of the year), which is why I've moved to Portland, OR.

It's time to sell my truck, I have had enough. I'm also in one of the best places in the USA to live without a car and I already own 3 bicycles. So what am I waiting for.

Even after all of the reading, I'm still having a hard time starting the listing to sell the truck. A million "what if's" keep haunting my mind.

What if the perfect job opens up out of range of me or public transportation?
What if my bike gets stolen?
What to ware in the rain and 40F temps.
What if I hurt my (knee/foot/ankle) and cannot ride for 1-6 months.

Quite frankly... I need a push... a nudge out the door.

The biggest (immediate) pluses are:
If the truck sells for the right price, I can pay my credit card with enough left over for a Brompton.

I really want to do this. I already completed the hard part, 3,500 mile slog across the country. This last bit really should be easy... right?

Right?
Portland OR is considered one of the best bike orientated cities around the US. But look closer. And what do you see? People obviously still drive there. I would ask why they do before I part with the truck. Portland is one of the cities on my West Coast bike orientated cities tour (sans the bikes) I am planning to do I hope soon to see for myself.

".....What if the perfect job opens up out of range of me or public transportation?
What if my bike gets stolen?
What to ware in the rain and 40F temps.
What if I hurt my (knee/foot/ankle) and cannot ride for 1-6 months...."


Your thoughtful questions seem to be very valid and should be addressed by both yourself and your significant other (if there is one) before you actually put the truck up for sale. It seems like many people leave that very important variable out when they do important decisions that impact all underneath your roof. By the way, Do not automatically assume that they will be your personal chauffeur with their car, either! I would add to the list myself aging (like how old are you now?) and your overall physical condition. From my own experience, I have waxed and waned on cycling as time marched on. I was forced to stop cycling for a month or so last year due to illness. That period of time was marked by renting a car to get around while my bikes were place in storage. That was an eye opener for me as I decided to return to driving full time and buying a-only one I might add-new car. I realize that at this point in my life I cannot afford to rent or borrow a car-just try to get one when there is a rush/heavy demand for them i.e. a transit strike-as I need to not only drive myself, but my elderly mother and rheumatoid arthritis prone sister around. A bike does not cut it for those people that are important to you (it is not always about yourself).

I will be writing on my decision and clarifying why bikes do not work all the time in all periods of a person's life in the near future-within a day or two. Then I hope people can make a better informed choice about giving up the car or not. I predict massive grumblings and complaints that what I will say might not be to other's demands that I live a certain way. Too bad.

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Old 08-08-11, 08:57 PM
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You could sell the motor vehicle and bank the money from the sale for a while. If you later decide you need a car, you'll have the funds to buy one.
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