View Poll Results: Are you car free ?
Yes
56
56.00%
No
44
44.00%
Voters: 100. You may not vote on this poll
Are you car free ? (POLL)
12-28-06, 12:50 PM
#26
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well i dont think i will ever be car-free but the vehical i do own is a very efficient 3 cylinder daihatsu hi jet van. it holds like 6 gallons of gas and i fill it up about 2 times a month. I do try to ride as much as possible. i have been commuting to work now for a yr, rain or shine. my only hang up is running errands, i find it hard to spend 1 hr of biking to run a errand that takes 5 min. i dont have a prob riding across town if i am planning on spending the day there.
12-28-06, 01:26 PM
#27
GATC
Originally Posted by JohnBrooking
According to the OP I am technically car-free, since our single family car is in my wife's name and she is the primary driver during the wek. However, I often drive it on weekend family outings and, of course, vacation trips. So I'm more comfortable describing myself as "Car-Lite".
After almost 20 years of car ownership, I've been without one (registered to me) for about a year now!
One of my non-commuting bike goals has been to transition from the habit of taking the car when possible and only using the bike when not, to always taking the bike when possible and only using the car when not. This means there have been plenty of times when my wife hasn't needed the car and I could have used it, but choosing to bike anyway. So instead of the car being primary and the bike being backup, as most non-cyclists would think of it, in my life now the bike is the primary and the car is the backup. I think it's an important distinction.
After almost 20 years of car ownership, I've been without one (registered to me) for about a year now!
One of my non-commuting bike goals has been to transition from the habit of taking the car when possible and only using the bike when not, to always taking the bike when possible and only using the car when not. This means there have been plenty of times when my wife hasn't needed the car and I could have used it, but choosing to bike anyway. So instead of the car being primary and the bike being backup, as most non-cyclists would think of it, in my life now the bike is the primary and the car is the backup. I think it's an important distinction.
12-28-06, 05:10 PM
#28
One speed: FAST !
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I am a spendthrift, and so is my fiancee... I am in deeeep trouble !!!! hahaha
Selling the car made it even easier for me to support by uncontrollable urge to shop online.....
Selling the car made it even easier for me to support by uncontrollable urge to shop online.....
12-28-06, 05:23 PM
#29
Plays in traffic
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I've been car free since April 1999. Only been cycling since March 2006 though.
12-28-06, 06:11 PM
#30
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I have been car free since ~1985 but I was living in New York City at the time so that does not really count as that big of a deal. I have been in MD a little over 10 years and only biking in the last 8. It’s harder being car free here but the bike rides are generally a lot more pleasant as it only a half hour or less getting into the country.
12-28-06, 06:32 PM
#31
Pedaled too far.
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Originally Posted by bmclaughlin807
so.... according to your 'rules' I'm not carfree. I own a car... well... a truck, actually. I haven't driven it since the middle of February, 2006.
However, if I would buy a motorcycle and ride it everywhere or drive my mate's car any time she wasn't using it, then I would be car-free.
Last edited by Artkansas; 12-28-06 at 06:38 PM.
12-29-06, 06:43 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by Artkansas
Me too. I have bought a station wagon in April of 2005. It's still got the only tank of gas I put in it when driving it back from where I bought it, and it hasn't been driven since June of 2005. ........
Good luck on getting that thing to start ! HHAHAAA
12-29-06, 12:29 PM
#34
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I voted "yes." I've never had my own car but in high school I drove my parents' cars regularly. For much of my high school time we were a two-car household with four licensed drivers. I usually used the car if it was available but about two thirds of my trips were by bike or by public bus. Now I live with my partner who owns a car, and between us we drive it about twice a month. (I drive more than she does because she likes the convenience of a car but doesn't really like to drive and we usually go together for the car trips.)
12-30-06, 02:12 PM
#35
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I've never owned a car. That would be about 11 years since I got my licence, and about 9 years since I've been on my own without a car.
12-30-06, 02:16 PM
#36
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I've had a licence for 20 years, but have never owned a car - so I'm a car-free lifer by the OP's standard.
12-30-06, 06:46 PM
#37
Ya never know 'til ya try
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I have been totally car free since May of this year. The car sat for almost a year before I got rid of it though. I have a motorcycle but it hasn't been ridden since October of 2004. Having 6 bicycles and a kick scooter keeps me broke enough.
12-30-06, 08:33 PM
#38
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I own a car, so I answered No.
But to the second question. I have not driven any car or even touched my car for any reason in 2 years.
But to the second question. I have not driven any car or even touched my car for any reason in 2 years.
12-30-06, 08:45 PM
#39
Sophomoric Member
Originally Posted by Artkansas
Me too. I have bought a station wagon in April of 2005. It's still got the only tank of gas I put in it when driving it back from where I bought it, and it hasn't been driven since June of 2005. So I guess I'm not car-free by his definition, though I certainly live a car-free lifestyle because I pedal everywhere and on rare occasion, take a bus.
However, if I would buy a motorcycle and ride it everywhere or drive my mate's car any time she wasn't using it, then I would be car-free.
However, if I would buy a motorcycle and ride it everywhere or drive my mate's car any time she wasn't using it, then I would be car-free.
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12-30-06, 11:26 PM
#40
not a role model
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Out of curiosity, why are so many of you holding onto cars that you don't drive?
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
12-31-06, 01:28 AM
#42
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Out of curiosity, why are so many of you holding onto cars that you don't drive?
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
For me, my car is in Texas and I live in Chicago and I dont have insurance on it, so cant legally drive it atm, but, It is kind of a hassle to sell a car, and I dont need the money. I also want to keep it "just in case" i need to move somewhere someday that isnt as easy to be car free (god forbid). And I let my retired father use it, who sometimes needs a car, and cant afford to buy it from me.
12-31-06, 03:30 AM
#43
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Originally Posted by JeffS
Out of curiosity, why are so many of you holding onto cars that you don't drive?
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
Either you're paying taxes and insurance on a car you don't drive, or you don't, and you can't legally drive it anyway. Seems like a waste either way.
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12-31-06, 05:20 AM
#44
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I like another poster are "car lite" In other words I ride everywhere since june this year however my wife still uses the car. My only trips in it now are as a passenger going somewhere where "she says" I can not ride. In other words she wants us to arrive together. It is the best decision I have ever made I just love riding past the gas stations and not even worrying to check what the price is now!!
12-31-06, 05:37 AM
#45
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Originally Posted by JohnBrooking
According to the OP I am technically car-free, since our single family car is in my wife's name and she is the primary driver during the wek. However, I often drive it on weekend family outings and, of course, vacation trips. So I'm more comfortable describing myself as "Car-Lite".
After almost 20 years of car ownership, I've been without one (registered to me) for about a year now!
One of my non-commuting bike goals has been to transition from the habit of taking the car when possible and only using the bike when not, to always taking the bike when possible and only using the car when not. This means there have been plenty of times when my wife hasn't needed the car and I could have used it, but choosing to bike anyway. So instead of the car being primary and the bike being backup, as most non-cyclists would think of it, in my life now the bike is the primary and the car is the backup. I think it's an important distinction.
After almost 20 years of car ownership, I've been without one (registered to me) for about a year now!
One of my non-commuting bike goals has been to transition from the habit of taking the car when possible and only using the bike when not, to always taking the bike when possible and only using the car when not. This means there have been plenty of times when my wife hasn't needed the car and I could have used it, but choosing to bike anyway. So instead of the car being primary and the bike being backup, as most non-cyclists would think of it, in my life now the bike is the primary and the car is the backup. I think it's an important distinction.
We have considered getting a second car, but when we do we always agree, "Why? We've been a one car family for over a year and a half and doing okay."
If we ever do get a second car it will be a 4x4 P/U, to better suit my purposes. But I would still be car lite. I won't give up the bikes for many reasons, but primarily because cycling is so much more fun than driving.
01-01-07, 11:57 AM
#46
bragi
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Carless since May 2006; sometimes I think of getting a scooter because of time constraints (I work long hours), but then I don't actually do it, because bikes are better: bikes use no fuel, they're quieter, and you get exercise going to the store to buy beer.
Last edited by bragi; 01-07-07 at 06:38 PM.
