Juan Foote

She told me to put my coffee down, that something MUST be in it.

I think it's totally feasible at least part of the year. We live three miles from almost anything we could need, and about five from the rest.

mercator

Go for it. My wife said the same thing to me when I proposed it 10 years ago, but she doesn't even think about it now.

indyfabz

I am 50. I have owned one car in my life. I bought it for my mom in '95 (no car ownership since 1983) and we shared it until she transferred title to me in the late 2000s when she was no longer capable of driving safely. Last year some dolt kid slammed into it while it was parked on the street outside my GF's parents' house. Poor thing was totaled. Over 18 years old with only about 108,000 miles on it. The GF and I share her dad's former company car. She uses it mostly to visit her elderly parents in NJ. The other major use it gets is when we drive to ride starts outside the city. We both ride short distances to work. We also often ride to go out to dinner and the movies. If conditions are inhospitable to riding (i.e., ice on the roads), it's not uncommon for us to walk many miles for dinner and/or a movie. Our mindset is "car last."

bt

that's pretty cool

Seattle Forrest

When I get home, I park the car for the night and don't go near it again. If we need groceries, or want to go out for dinner, we walk. Girlfriend wasn't thrilled at first, but she likes it now.

Stucky

Now that I've taken-up cycling, and see what I am capable of (of consistently being able to cover substantial distances, in all weather, except ice and snow), I'm wishing that I would have gone car-light when I lived in the suburbs. All those wasted years; I could have stayed in-shape; saved a lot of money; had a lot of fun. Here in the sticks, I maintain two trucks- as they're a necessity- buti guess I could still be considered car-light, 'cause I only drive, on average, once a week- or, less than 3000 miles a year (Which is less than I ride).

But yeah...the average person has no idea, unless they're into riding.... Once they get the idea, I'm sure many, like myself, regret the lost opportunity. Just the health benefits alone.... so worth it!

RPK79

LCF is leaking.

Stucky

I'll say! That's the way it should be!

BillyD

Really?

I drive my car everywhere.

mlander

Same reaction from my wife. I've beent trying to break her down, but she's stonewalling me.

TrojanHorse

Ha ha, me too - I've got four of 'em between my wife and I.

I think living in a city with compressed services would make it easier to live car free, as well as not having kids.

RPK79

I don't drive my car to the corner bar half a block from home. Except for when I do.

kc0bbq

I enjoy driving a car and I enjoy riding a bike. I enjoy driving my car with the bike on the roof to get to places to ride the bike, sometimes more than 20 hours essentially non-stop.

I love my car when it is -40 degrees.

softreset

Man, if only BF had a forum decided to living car light/free. That'd be awesome!

Velo Vol 

What is "car lite"?

Seattle Forrest

I ****ing hate driving.

eyewannabike

Where do you live exactly? Things 3-5 miles away isn't exactly a high walkability score. Do you have ride share options nearby? Have you looked at how much you spend on transportation vs how many trips you do? If it's just a matter of an occasional trip to Home Depot, you might be able to rent a car, car share or just cab. I'd look in to the economics of it.

Should you have ride share nearby or even a car rental outlet, that would make it much easier. Cars are cheap to rent on the weekend.

If you're looking at the $500 a month car payment, plus insurance, upkeep, etc, and you don't care about what you drive, walking/Uber/ZipCar/Hertz can make the change an option for the things you can't/don't want to do on a bike.

For me, I have a nice bike and I don't want to leave it places, so I don't use it around town.

Stucky

I love driving- but I HATE how cars have taken over our culture; how cities and suburbs are designed moire-so to be hospitable to cars, than people; how cars so clutter the landscape almost everywhere you go; how much of the earth is paved-over for cars; how we must wage illicit wars for oil; how cars are used as a means of restricting our freedom, etc. etc.

What really makes me sick, is how so many American towns have lost their identity, and now all look exactly the same- e.g. four-lane roads flanked by shopping centers/box stores/businesses/restaurants, all with sprawling parking lots out-front. Everywhere you go...it's the exact same thing. You can't tell one town from another anymore...it's all just for the convenience of cars- and as such, such places are pretty inhospitable to walking/cycling or any other form of transportation.

Suburbs and residential areas are now segregated, so instead of having businesses and workplaces that one uses often, right near ones home, instead people are forced to drive. What's the point of living in a city/town/suburb if you can't walk to perform your daily activities?

StanSeven

Car with fewer calories

Juan Foote

I don't live somewhere that being without a car (truck) is a viable option, and walk-ability wouldn't be preferred. My vehicle is paid for, so that isn't really a part of the decision. Gas is and certainly will be when prices correct. We have the time and availability to do some of our mundane shopping around, groceries, etc by trikes with the addition of a trailer. Most other things we typically have UPS bring anyway.
The real catch, aside from my wife, with us would be seeing if we can get to a point where we drive so little as to get the insurance discount...that will be after our son moves out and gets his own policy, of course.

BillyD

You're kidding, right?

Juan Foote

Well duh, guys! If we decide to go "car-lite" we will be Road Cycling a whole lot more.....