Originally Posted by
JBHoren
I'm car-free because I'm poor. Period. If I could afford to buy a car, insure it, maintain it, "feed" it, I would; but I can't. So, I ride a bicycle to the supermarket, farmers market, public library, VA medical center, and any/everywhere else that I need/want to. And, if I can't, I generally don't go there. Yeah, it's limiting, but it's a fiscal and physical thing. And yeah, I'm proud of being able to do so, of being independent and self-reliant (and the past two months, healing an !@#$ diabetic foot ulcer, have been difficult ones). I can ride 20, 25, 30, 40, even 50 miles, but I can't walk a quarter-mile. Ego? No; I go.
There are plenty of people like JBHoren and I ride the bus with them all the time. During the weekends, I'll sit in the front and watch all the passengers either show their monthly pass and board, or beg the driver to give them a free ride. About 10% of all bus riders during the weekend (in my town) either have little or no money for the bus. It's shocking!
These people can actually benefit from bicycle transport but if you don't have $2.40 for the bus, where are you going to come up with $100.00 dollars for a bicycle, lock and helmet?
I wish the best of luck for JBHoren.