Originally Posted by
Newspaperguy
There's obviously a money saving aspect of going car-free. If the $10,000 figure includes car payments of $400 to $500 a month, then it would be very close to the reality. For those of us who spend a lot less on used cars and then drive them lightly, the cost of a car can go down considerably. My license and insurance costs, maintenance, depreciation and fuel costs work out to less than 30 per cent of that amount. But then, I've been known to go more than three months on a tank of gas. Driving that little means I need less fuel and as a result less servicing than my neighbour who fills up twice a week. And if I keep my car in good condition, it will last me many years before I need to replace it. By that time, my circumstances could change and I could be in a position where I no longer need a car.
This is what I would call a classic "car-light" strategy. You realize you can't completely do without a car, so you evolve to the level where you still have a car, but you buy something with the intention of putting fewer kilometers on and also with slightly less realibility. Reason is that you have a back-up... the bicycle!
Originally Posted by
cyclist5
How I wish I could be car free. It'd be an initial investment of moving 5-10mi closer to the places I work/school. But my car is about $10000/year. Average in $400/mo payment. $100/mo insurance/maintenance. $200/mo gas. And a $2000/yr depreciation. But I do love my car. Even if I never drove it I can't stand to think of not owning my little Element
Perhaps you could think about a car-light strategy. Decide to spend less on your 4-wheel transportation and use the bicycle as a back-up. \
Later, you will probably switch this, using the bicycle for your principal transportation and the car as a backup.
At some point, ZipCar may move into your area and you may see another opportunity.
Try to think in longterm goals and not what hitting the pavement just right now.