Double0757

Car lite for 8 month now. Not missing it at all! Double O

gerv 

Well tell us about it! Do you ride a car at all? Does your SO think you are nuts or something?

Double0757

Yes, my wife thinks I'm nuts, but not for riding the bike every where. She met me while riding 29 years ago and have supported the habit ever since. She even have join me in some of my bicycling follies.

I still drive my wife car when I need it. We recently went on a road trip that regretted not taking the bikes, but we where with another not riding couple on the trip. I have commuted more on than off for 30 years and taken my bike in many travels around the world with my job. But about two years ago, I started contemplating to just have one car, cut on cost and cut dependency on foreign oil. My son made my decision for me when he borrowed my 1991 fully restore show room quality 325ic BMW for college and returned it as a total wreck. The insurance gave me $3,500.00 (total) and I had maybe $6,500.00 not counting labor ( I do must of the mechanical).

So the combination of my desire to own one car, the lost of a dear car and the insult of the insurance company, all worked for me not to get a second car. The extra income from the insurance and maintenance, is welcome.

i ride to work, do groceries, go sometimes to the movies with the wife, if the weather is good, we go to restaurants, I go to doctors appointments, all in the bike now. I have had to manage time better and have found that I spent way to much time on T.V. and in front of the computer. So another good thing cutting down on those things. Have lost 35lb since I started commuting again a year and a halve ago. All positive! I do use the car to haul large groceries, bring large things from Home Depot, take my parents to doctor appointments and such. I thank God for allowing my car to be wrecked. Been there, done that, got the T-shirt with the car!

If I could get the wife to ditch the car..... Maybe not yet! Double O

gerv 

Great story Double0757. A family with one car used to be the norm in the US. Nowadays it's 2 or 3.

TheDavid 

Hey Everyone, I just sold my car. We are a now a one car family. I'm thrilled. Words cannot express.

wilfried

I owned a car for about two years of my life, a hand me down Toyota Turcel from my father at the end of college. That was about 1989-91. I crashed it on glare ice one winter. It was banged up but drivable, so I ditched it when I went off to grad school. Then I moved to NYC, where car ownership is pointless. The last time I drove a car was Jan. 21 2009 (driving back the day after the first Obama inauguration, hence I know the date).

wilfried

I owned a car for about two years of my life, a hand me down 1982 Toyota Turcel from my father at the end of college. That was about 1989-91. I crashed it on glare ice one winter. It got banged up in an accident on glare ice, so I ditched it when I went off to grad school. Then I moved to NYC, where car ownership is pointless. The last time I drove a car was Jan. 21 2009 (driving back the day after the first Obama inauguration, hence I know the date).

Badenoch

1981 to 1993 when I lived in Toronto. I took public transit, walked, biked and occasionally rented a car. When we moved to a rural community 20 years ago I faced a long daily commute so a car was a necessity. I work from home now and I've recently got back into cycling. The car is not being used nearly as much but is still required.

Machka 

Bump for some of the newcomers.

boojag1rl

18 years.

Roody

That's impressive. Also your first post. Welcome!!

I-Like-To-Bike

Just curious, how old are you?

plustax

25 years. 25 years old.

bragi

I've been intermittently car-free for 11 years. I've owned cars for 6-9 months at a stretch in this time, but I always end up going without a car again, because it feels more normal to me now. This last car-free stretch has been almost exactly 3 years. I don't think I'll ever own a car again, until I change my mind.

MikeRides

I've been car light for going on 3 years. I live rural (as in no civilization within a 10 mile radius), and I still bike or carpool everywhere I need to go. I basically only own a car for emergencies and to take my parents to/from doctors appointments. I've been supporting my family of 5 this way without any problems thus far.

Roody

Good going. There are a few people on this forum who claim it's impossible to live carfree or even carlight in a rural area. You prove them wrong every day!

I-Like-To-Bike

Who claimed that it's impossible to live carlight in a rural area? Do you have a unique definition of that term that fits your own agenda?

bigredkevbot

24 years. I've been legally able to drive for 8 of those 24 years.