Hi astrammy! I'm new to bikeforums too, and I am also testing the possibilities of "one less car" here in Raleigh. I've started writing about it in my blog if you're interested: http://nickfrazier.com/category/project-park/.

I look forward to hearing more about your experiences.

Nick

PS Sorry, can't tell you much about a good bike to buy. My cycling budget is next to $0, so I'm sporting an old, slightly-modified 21-speed Specialized Rockhopper, and I haven't bought a bike in probably 15 years.