HOW do you survive without a car?
#126
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don't know the history on the vega, but I meant in terms of size of the car , and also weight of the car. Instead they made huge SUV which were basically full size pick up truck platforms but when u can charge 40k for a fancy pick up truck then I guess it is all about profit, . as far as surviving with out a car at this point in history is "almost" impossible our economy would be crippled. Even if u are car free totally your job may some how tie in to the car economy. On a different note, have u heard not only Volkswagen,, but also Fiat and Chrysler have been cheating on emissions test , fooling the computer to run the engine a different way when the test plug gets plugged in, ??
#128
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I had a '76 Chevy Monza which shared the Vega's chassis. Mine had a 350ci V8 under the hood. I liked the car, but it was not fuel efficient. Well, maybe it was more fuel efficient than a heavier car with the same engine...
#130
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Okay, knock it off with the car talk. I don't know the WHO, the WHY, or the WHEN it was even broached in a thread entitled "HOW do you survive without a car?" in the first place.
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#134
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It wasn't too hard when I lived in a city with good public transportation. I couldn't go car-free where I live now, which is unfortunate because I was much healthier when I didn't own a car. Eventually I'd like to move again, perhaps to Portland or Chicago or some city with a good public transportation infrastructure.
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Riding my bicycle keeps my errands around town interesting and fun. Life itself is more sustaining LCF. Surviving becomes thriving. There's really nothing to it. A better question is how the car drivers survive.
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I can ride the 9 miles to work, but working 6 days a week, it's tough to keep up with bike maintenance. I usually ride to work twice a week. The rest of the time, I use a monthly bus pass to take the bus to work (buses around here also have bike racks, BTW), then get a ride home from a co-worker (the bus stops running before I get off work). I use rear racks and panniers on my bikes which are usually adequate for groceries. I usually walk to the supermarket, though, because I'm afraid my bike will get stolen. I have a Burley trailer for loads up to 100lbs. 4 30lb buckets of cat litter and a 25lb bag of cat food lead me to ask a friend for a ride to Petco and BJs roughly once a month. I could break that up into a couple trips and use the trailer, but time is in short supply.
Other than a folder you can try and find a piece of junk that doesn't cost more than a couple of bucks at a
yard sale and use that,if it gets stolen you haven't lost much.
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I don't know if one of your bikes is a folding bike but one thing you can try if you are afraid of having a bike stolen(and I share that attitude) is buy a cheap folder just for grocery runs.I have a Brompton and have never been refused entry to shop with the bike,but the cost may not be what you would want to spend.However you can find low priced one that might suit you and you don't have to worry about them kicking you out of the store if you fold it up and stick it inside the supermarket's shopping cart. (or underneath it).
Other than a folder you can try and find a piece of junk that doesn't cost more than a couple of bucks at a
yard sale and use that,if it gets stolen you haven't lost much.
Other than a folder you can try and find a piece of junk that doesn't cost more than a couple of bucks at a
yard sale and use that,if it gets stolen you haven't lost much.
Also, no matter how cheap and worthless the bike I ride, I'm going to worry about it getting stolen, leaving me stranded.
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#140
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Actually, two weeks ago, I was riding home from work. It was around 11:30PM and I realized I had nothing at home for breakfast, so I stopped at the local supermarket. I was trying to find a safe place to lock my bike when one of the cashiers invited me to leave it inside, right up front by the registers, where she could keep an eye on it while I shopped. That's a way to get customers to come back!
Also, no matter how cheap and worthless the bike I ride, I'm going to worry about it getting stolen, leaving me stranded.
Also, no matter how cheap and worthless the bike I ride, I'm going to worry about it getting stolen, leaving me stranded.
Every time I see an unlocked bike leaning against the wall in a store, I think how easy it would be to get on and ride away. You could be a mile away before the owner noticed the bike was missing, and 10 miles away before the police showed up to take a report.
But still, there's a lot of information here and elsewhere on the internet about effectively locking bikes. After a little while, it becomes second nature and actually takes less time than parking a car!
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Car talk
When I retire I will definitely look at Europe in areas where they have foot traffic and bike. I am a pessimist and dont feel humans can look at this massive problem in a system that we were born into and wake up (collectively) from it and say we need to stop polluting and our system is entirely based on polluting and destroying the earth. I can only limit my foot print.
The song comes to mind🎶🎶 "despite all my rage I'm still just a rat in a cage "🎶🎶
Last edited by rossiny; 12-16-20 at 03:54 AM.
#142
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I'm sorry if this offends your delicate sensibilities, but some of us around here also happen to be automobile enthusiasts, and we're absolutely not ashamed.
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When I gave up my car in 2015 I opted for a motorscooter and I read this book: How to Live Well Without Owning A Car by Chris Balish. https://www.amazon.com/How-Live-Well.../dp/1580087574 Thinking back now I see more progress through internet shopping/grocery delivery, and the advent of the ebike. It's is easier now due to technology changes to live well without owning a car. I'm currently contemplating what to do when I can no longer ride my scooter. I'm looking at getting an eCargo Bike. Now I'm trying to determine how ECargo bikes do in the snow. In light of COVID, I think living with a car is a luxury. I prefer to invest my money saved from not owning a car and build wealth. Lately, I've been reading Copenhagenize and watched Motherload film on Cargo bikes.
When people question my reliability about getting to work, I tell them look at my record. I'm more reliable getting to work than people getting to work than car drivers. I point to Uber/Lyft, renting a car, and public transportation.
When people question my reliability about getting to work, I tell them look at my record. I'm more reliable getting to work than people getting to work than car drivers. I point to Uber/Lyft, renting a car, and public transportation.
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#145
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I was probably 20 on this day. I arrived early for my job at a store when I realized I forgot to change my shirt. I started riding home but my rear wheel jammed with a loose axle nut. I walked back to the store and bought a wrench. The ride home was much slower than the ride to the store, with a slamming and very cold headwind. I stopped at various businesses to go in and warm my hands. At the end of the three mile ride I called to say I would not be at work that day, two hours late in a four hour shift. Later I upgraded my gloves to leather mittens.
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#146
Bike Bum Extrordinare
I don't even think about the how anymore...I just do. This evening for example... Took this
to the store (only about a mile) got about 50 lbs of stuff. Lots of looks while loading it...mostly in disbelief. But whatever. Disbelief turns to smiles when they see me capably navigating out the parking lot. Bicycles are able of amazing things...truly.
to the store (only about a mile) got about 50 lbs of stuff. Lots of looks while loading it...mostly in disbelief. But whatever. Disbelief turns to smiles when they see me capably navigating out the parking lot. Bicycles are able of amazing things...truly.
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#147
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Please take the title of this thread literally. Tell us HOW you do it. How have you have adjusted your habits or developed new skills in order to be carfree, or at least less dependent on cars?
If you read this forum, I assume you have an interest in being less car-dependent. Pass along some of what you've learned to help others who share your interest in being carfree or less car-dependent,
(Obviously you don't have to be carfree to participate--just less dependent on cars than you once were.)
If you read this forum, I assume you have an interest in being less car-dependent. Pass along some of what you've learned to help others who share your interest in being carfree or less car-dependent,
(Obviously you don't have to be carfree to participate--just less dependent on cars than you once were.)