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...