Roody

Welcome! It sounds like you'll have experience and wisdom to share with us.

Cycocross

Going on 9 years sans auto. Seriosly tho Roody, I spent 2 years in western Michigan and the first thing I thought was "well guess I won't be biking here!" Between the zero allowance for bike lanes then the abundance of roadkill, how do you do it?

Roody

I guess we can soldier on because we're not aware that we have fewer bike lanes (or more dead animals) than any of the neighboring states.

But welcome to the forum! I see your another one who should have lots of experiences to share.

peddlenow

I've got about 4 months of car free living under my belt and I'm pretty sure I'll be a lifer.

Oh, and cyclocross, I grew up in West Michigan (Hudsonville to be exact) and I didn't know a single adult that didn't own a car. So in that sense, bike commuting was impossible!

Roody

I get over to Grand Rapids once in a while, and always see a few bike commuters. Of course I don't know if they own cars or not.

harry2110

Im more car lite right now as Im going places wit my parents while in college during the summer otherwise car free the rest of the year.

Roody

Welcome, harry! I like your avatar picture.

Scottswnsn

I've been car free for 6 years now and haven't thought twice about it!

Roody

Happy New Year and welcome!

Stinky C

My family went down to one car for about a year - but my wife and three kids used it almost exclusively. We have a second car now, but I commute on my bike almost every day. (I drive the to work on Monday morning [with my work clothes] and leave it in our parking garage in case I need to go anywhere business-related.)

Chris516

I don't qualify as being 'car-free', I think. I never had a drivers license, driven a car. I will admit that, I battled to the state medical board to let me test for a drivers license. But by the time they gave me permission(two years later). I had changed my mind because of there being so many bad drivers on the road.

I feel 1000 times before not driving. Because I am doing the environment a tremendous favor.

JonnyBizzle

I am car light now for the past 3 months. When becoming unemployed (by choice) my insurance costs doubled so my car is now off road. I am getting around on public transport and borrowing my mother's car with occasional lift shares. I find public transport in the evening is poor and not regular.
I am blogging about my adventures at citytravelling.me.uk

Annalise

Car free for 3 years now. Get the driving out of my system when I am on the fork lift at work! Love the commute on my bike except for those rare days I wake up to a flat and the scramble is on

wahoonc

Well that is as good a reason as any. My son lived car free in Leeds for a couple of years while he was going to the U over there, loved every minute of it. Now he lives car free in Boston, MA.

I keep a spare bike for those flat tire days...

Aaron

Youaintgotjack

Hello, Just a little introduction from me. I'm going car free for 12 months with my toddler. I'm very overweight and recently realized the only times in my life when I haven't been overweight are those when I was cycling a lot. I also realized that all the time my son doesn't see me involved in a lifestyle that includes exercise he is very likely to grow up leading the sedentary life he see's his Daddy and I leading. I gave up smoking the second I knew he existed before that I'd tried a hundred times to quit and had failed a 100 times...but Jack took away the option to fail. So now I'm giving up my SUV and if I do it for him then I'm taking away the option to fail, at least that's what I keep telling myself.


I'm really glad to have found these forums, great place to find support and people that have such immense knowledge of bikes, its awesome. If you want to hear more about my car less year you can visit my blog, the address is below, leave a comment if you want I love the comments, there are really inspiring people in the world!

Roody

Welcome! I especially love it when new people with kids and families come onto the forum. If you ever do feel discouraged, or can't figure out a carfree way to do something, feel free to start a new thread. I can practically guarantee that you'll get some emotional support and worthwhile suggestions.

Youaintgotjack

Thank You, Thank You - I can practically guarantee I'm going to NEED emotional support and worthwhile suggestions lol ! I'm happy to be here! Thank you!

JeanSeb

Welcome Youaintgotjack ! I hope you enjoy this very special section of the forums.

wahoonc

Sounds like a worthy method of motivation to me!

Good luck and let us know if we can help...only thing I won't do is ride in your cold weather...too much of a wuss!

Aaron

Youaintgotjack

thank you!!

Youaintgotjack

Here in the corner of SE Washington we have brutally hot summers (up to about 105f) and frigid winters (20f lately...sometimes negative 10ish) So I guess I shall get used to it

wahoonc

I can do the 105...I live in the Deep South I just consider anything much below 50 too cold!

Aaron

Youaintgotjack

here is my new ride for my car free year! panniers arrive next week. my son loves it

Annalise

Eek!!! 105! Your a trooper. Where I am living now folks are dying when the temperature is higher than 70!

wahoonc

Acclimation!

I have lived a good portion of my life in the Deep South and have almost always worked out of doors. I was in Denver, CO back in 2009 during the July Heat Wave
It was 85* with humidity around 30%...I was wearing long sleeved T-shirts People thought I was nuts.

When the temps are below 40* I am dragging out the long johns and parkas.

Aaron