gerv 

Multiple years in my youth too. Two years lately. Although... come to think of it... I do jointly own a car with my wife... just that she and the car reside in another country.

How's that for a definition of carfree or car-light?

ShoreCyclist

It used to be that getting a license and a car at 16 was a huge right of passage... Good for you for sticking to healthy, green transportation...

Artkansas 

I'll give you a car-free on that one. Possession of a title means nothing if you are not using the car.

ShoreCyclist

I signed a new Mercedes lease in July of 2009. I left the suburbs and my daily commute to live downtown shortly after. For the first few months I found myself driving to get groceries less than a mile away in Pittsburgh's strip district. Each time I went shopping, I found myself getting angrier and angrier because there was no parking close to the various grocery markets (one place has seafood, another meats, another breads, etc.) I noticed a TON of hipsters riding bikes from the neighboring city neighborhoods and took notice. Shortly thereafter I started riding my Bianchi 928 with a backpack strapped on and quickly found this was silly because anything more than a few vegetable and my bag was full, and Pittsburgh's streets have quite a few potholes. I then bought a used Bianchi Milano Cita with a rear rack and bag. Much easier to fill a grocery list in one trip! Long story short, I haven't owned a car since, even though I've partially relocated, and enjoy life even more without owning my car. I've since gotten really in to bikes - I own six now and use each of them regularly. Even though I travel for work, grabbing a taxi to go to the airport and back or to a mall for holiday shopping is FAR less expensive than owning a car. I have a feeling I'm not the only one...

P.S. My used celeste bianchi always gets far more positive attention than the brand new Mercedes...

xuwol7

2 years now, don't miss it.
Still have a valid Drivers License and a perfect driving record.
I will still take my turn driving on long trips, but never really did like driving and I had a lot of high end cars and trucks.
Makes life simpler for me and I like that.

gerv 

Yeah... I recently drove a car for the first time in 9 months. I think "stressful" would be a good description.

Rowan

June 1997 to June June 2009. Total of 12 years. Included urban and rural living.

lucille

I've never owned a car, never had a need for one. I have a licence and can rent one when I need it, but very rarely do. I can bike, walk or take public transportation anywhere I need to get to.

JBHoren

When I lived in Israel (1980-2004) I didn't own a car... didn't have a driver's license! Didn't have a bicycle, either; so it was by foot or bus (or a combination of the two), rarely by taxi ($$$). Now, after three years in Fairbanks, AK (where I drove a 1988 Toyota 4Runner), I'm back in South Florida, and "car-free" for the past 15 months. Not gonna change, what with living on $700/month from Social Security (and SNAP). Being car-free and "frugal" were easier, when I was young; in my early-60s (particularly, here in South Florida), it's a PITA. No choice. Hat-tip to John Boehner... not!

Astrozombie

Hmmm not sure if it should count.........I "had" a car for like 4 years but never drove it, so I've actually never really had a car my whole short life. It was under my parents name and they bought it....

kookaburra1701

Oh, good. My name is on the title of a car, but it's permanently parked at my folks' house, 20 miles away out in the country. Fortunately they live on a road that is very popular among the roadie crowd, so it's always pleasant to pedal out there to visit them.

ETA: I do drive a city vehicle regularly for my second job.

JeanSeb

Nice thread. It brings up members we don't see posting very often (including me I guess haha).

Anyway, it's been 1 year and 5 months for me. I drove other peoples' cars a few times only in that period and really don't care for it anymore. I was a car enthusiast up to when I sold my last one and I now gladly approach the passenger side when I have to haul myself in a cage.

I prefer walking now and I bike once in a while. I'm also not sure what to do with my soon-to-be-expired driver's license.

billew

I have never had a license but I did buy a car in1979 and owned it for a few months. So at least 34 years, I'm 56.

Roody

I'm glad to hear its working well for you. IIRC, it was a difficult decision for you to be carfree.

Roody

That is very impressive!

Ekdog

1990 to the present, so about 23 years.

katsrevenge

Didn't buy a car till I was 28-29. Had a DL... didn't need a car. Had a bike and the bus.

We have a car now but it is just for him to drive to work.

gerv 

Isn't this the record for LCF? How did you manage this all these years?

billew

I have always been concerned with the environment since the first Earth Day. I will say that I took the test for a DL but I never went through with it.
I have had a tough time being a carpenter without a vehicle and lost many jobs because of my being carfree. I have always taken the bus and when younger would hitch-hike cross country without a second thought. It is a sacrifice I was willing to make to keep my ethics. I don't mind sitting on the bus and my bike is on the rack I can get over one toll bridge closed to peds. I can ride 30 miles in two hours with a loaded bike so I just do it.

Ekdog

The first Earth Day had a strong effect on me, too. I was only thirteen back in 1970. I wish I could say I never got a DL, but I did, and I owned three used cars for a total of about five years. It's inspiring to me to read about someone like you who's never given in to the pressure to drive.

mudfreek

i gave up my driving privileges 09/13/08 and never looked back

billew

Thank you Ekdog, I have to point out that millions of city dwellers get by without a vehicle so I don't feel all that special.
I was in eighth grade on the first Earth Day myself, I restore bikes and increase the effect by getting bikes out of the waste stream. I have saved them off the scrapper's truck and dump many times. It is great to know I'm not alone in yhe love of bicycles.

Alekhine

From 2001 to present.

In the city this was easy. Moved out to rural farm country last year though, so last winter was my first experience having to go round trip 3 to 4 miles to buy things like food and necessities in bitter winter cold and snow, and typically I hoof it for this unless the roads are clear and relatively dry. I do luck out since I work from home, however, so no daily commute.

fietsbob

1991.

JeanSeb

Thank you Roody. I guess it was difficult, but it feels so normal now that I can't really recall. Work was much further away than it is now, so I liked the option to have a car in the winter at least.