Man celebrates 20 years carfree
Here's another carfree hero whose celebrating 20 years without a vehicle! Michael Dougherty became carfree in 1998 and figures he saved $200,000 in that time. To make things even more interesting, he did it without the use of a bicycle! His mode of travel are a good pair of walking shoes. Incredible.
When I think about, I'm approaching 20 years carfree myself. I inherited my father's car in 1987 but had the vehicle towed to the crusher in 1999 or 2000 because it was money pit. If I live to be Michael's age (70 years old), I will be 40 years carfree! Yes, I intend to receive a full page on the CBC! :lol: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...ment-1.4890425 |
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??...Being car-free is just a normal state of existence for millions of people around the world. There are millions of people in this world who don't own cars and they never brag or boast about their lfestyle and never have any celebrations it. Should we throw a party for every car-free person out there ??
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People usually do NOT brag about being "car free" , as it is looked down upon in general, (or more like looked up to, to own a car)... and... those millions who don't own a car, I would suggest usually "aspire" to own a car in general... IMO Now if they are so poor they don't know where their next meal is coming from then they would not aspire to own a car I would suspect... ;)
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20687423)
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??..
BTW, I am celebrating the $100,000+ that I don't spend every year on an expensive boat. Yaaa for us boat-free people! |
Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
(Post 20687409)
Here's another carfree hero whose celebrating 20 years without a vehicle! Michael Dougherty became carfree in 1998 and figures he saved $200,000 in that time. To make things even more interesting, he did it without the use of a bicycle! His mode of travel are a good pair of walking shoes. Incredible.
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I know plenty of car owners who I'd consider hero's for the earth and champions of sustainability. You have to take in consideration the persons entire lifestyle, livlihood, purpose and direction.. and not just owning or not owning a certain device or one specific possession. If you have the privilege and luxury to live car free by choice, good for you. Some people have jobs not within walking distance or where public transportation does not go, kids that need to be driven to school and other functions, etc.. I consider people who Carpool and use public transportation as sustainability heros too. In America it is a pretty big deal to live car free. I've tried it for a year by necessity. A good friend of mine has been car free for several years by necessity. Owning a car now, i would not voluntarily get rid of it even though i could live without it. The time I save by not having to walk or bike everywhere i feel is well worthwhile spent writing my elected officials on local transportation and sustainability issues, attending public sustainability events and meetings, etc.. I think the ridicule you have to put up with all year long by car owners who think youre somehow below society by not driving everywhere you go is probably equally burdensome as having to ride your bike in the snow to get some groceries.
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Originally Posted by tandempower
(Post 20687646)
I wonder how many animals he saved from being roadkill in 20 years.
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20687423)
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??...Being car-free is just a normal state of existence for millions of people around the world. There are millions of people in this world who don't own cars and they never brag or boast about their lfestyle and never have any celebrations it. Should we throw a party for every car-free person out there ??
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Originally Posted by reishi
(Post 20687673)
.. I think the ridicule you have to put up with all year long by car owners who think youre somehow below society by not driving everywhere you go is probably equally burdensome as having to ride your bike in the snow to get some groceries.
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Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
(Post 20687751)
Maybe it was a slow day for the CBC...
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Originally Posted by tandempower
(Post 20687646)
I wonder how many animals he saved from being roadkill in 20 years.
Those in this forum who are liberated from auto ownership with the help of a bicycle makeup a very small portion of the carfree population. Most of those who are carfree are exactly like Michael. They are using human transit. |
Originally Posted by reishi
(Post 20687673)
I know plenty of car owners who I'd consider hero's for the earth and champions of sustainability. You have to take in consideration the persons entire lifestyle, livlihood, purpose and direction.. and not just owning or not owning a certain device or one specific possession.
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20687741)
In my 30 years of driving I never killed an animal with my vehicle...In my 12 years of cycling I killed two squirrels with my bicycle.
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20687423)
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??...
(Disclosure: My wife owns a car, and I rent them fairly often. I am not a car hater in general. I just don't like the expense or keeping them serviced). |
It's clearly a personal thing but for me cars suck. I still own three (mainly due to "adult" kids) but drive only once a week for currently unavoidable long distance travel. However, as I frequently warn my insurance company, I will one day own none.
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20687741)
In my 30 years of driving I never killed an animal with my vehicle...In my 12 years of cycling I killed two squirrels with my bicycle.
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Fake news! He rents cars regularly:
"Dougherty said he isn't against cars entirely and often rents one himself. He just thinks car ownership isn't worth it." |
I was car free from birth to the age of 22. How come there was no mention of that on national TV?
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Originally Posted by ironwood
(Post 20705828)
I was car free from birth to the age of 22. How come there was no mention of that on national TV?
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Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
(Post 20687409)
Here's another carfree hero whose celebrating 20 years without a vehicle! Michael Dougherty became carfree in 1998 and figures he saved $200,000 in that time. To make things even more interesting, he did it without the use of a bicycle! His mode of travel are a good pair of walking shoes. Incredible.
When I think about, I'm approaching 20 years carfree myself. I inherited my father's car in 1987 but had the vehicle towed to the crusher in 1999 or 2000 because it was money pit. If I live to be Michael's age (70 years old), I will be 40 years carfree! Yes, I intend to receive a full page on the CBC! :lol: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...ment-1.4890425 |
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
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Originally Posted by jon c.
(Post 20707058)
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
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Originally Posted by JoeyBike
(Post 20689400)
I have no idea. But...Next year on April 15th i will be car free since 1989! 30 Years, woohoo!!. Probably throw a party!. Then go buy a used car. 30 years is enuf. .
This article was comical, because the guy wasn't even close to "car-free." But the whole idea that people should be praised for doing what they like to do .... Achievement Awards for Everyone! I have gone for decades death-free! Where is my party? |
Originally Posted by jon c.
(Post 20707058)
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
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Originally Posted by wolfchild
(Post 20712065)
...and nobody even pays any attention to their car-free status... No TV coverage, no celebrations, no stories written about them....they're just a speck of dust in the universe like everybody else.
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