nostalgic

I feel as though all the factors involved are working against me.

1. I'm a single female.

2. I live in Phoenix, AZ, which is somewhat bicycle-friendly, but I've heard quite a few complaints about the bike-friendliness and the metro bus system.

I'm returning to college to become a professional Math tutor, and my goal is to accomplish that without using a car.

People continue to tell me I NEED a car, and behind their words is the fear that I will end up in a helpless situation if I sell the car.

My gut says "sell it" because I know what I can do without a car, and I feel more free without it.

Ideas?

Torrilin

Well, I think it's pretty silly to sell the car before you have a routine down... and we're on year 3 of officially car free, and year 5 of practically car free. So... how often are you getting places by bike, on foot, and via mass transit?

donrhummy

I would do some research on a few things:

1. The area where you'll be living and commuting - are the roads ride-able, are there any bike clubs you can speak with

2. See how far you'll need to commute on a regular basis and determine if you can handle that

3. Find all the bike stores in the area and talk to them about your plans, ask for suggestions

4. See if there are any services like zipcar or rental groups in the rare cases you'll need a car

5. See if there's any public transportation

6. Scope out the grocery stores, etc

Also, check walkscore.com.

Artkansas 

As others have said, selling your car is the last thing to do. If you want though, get a safety deposit box in a bank and put the keys there. The car will be available, but hard to use. Though you will want to give it a spin on a monthly basis for its own good.

Then tackle things one by one, commute, do shopping, whatever. And figure out what works for you. Any problems you have, bring them up here and in the utility and commuting forums. Then after you have gone through a complete year and have faced most situations, you will have the confidence to become completely car-free.

travelmama

If you wish to be with an engine, sell the car and get a scooter. You can ride around in the evening and travel to places you may not want to by bike. Like someone previously mentioned, if you need a car, rent one.

bhc

If I understand your question right, you will be a tutor and will need to travel to the student's home, is that the case? Could you set up your tutoring location at a public spot such as a library? If so, you probably would have a place well served by public transportation, if there is a difficulty in traveling by bicycle. I also live in AZ, Bullhead City, so I understand the matter of riding in extreme heat.

wahoonc

1. Park the Car
2. Don't drive the car
3. After a period of time SELL THE CAR

You never know what you can do until you try!



Aaron

Llamero

This is what we do. We have a Kawasaki Ninja 250 for any trips to the nearest town (20 miles away). We use the rental car service for any trips longer than that. We've also turned away from our bikes more and more, learning the relaxed simplicity of walking wherever you need to go.

cerewa

I like the idea of putting the car keys in a safe deposit box.

I also think that if you can do without your car for a month, chances are you can do without it forever. (you might still choose to have a car at some point but you'll probably see it more as a choice with some benefits and downsides, and less as something forced upon you by life circumstances.)

If it doesn't work to "try it out" by leaving the car parked for a month, you might not be ready to be car free.

(but hey, if you want to, your "try-it-out" month could include trying out a nearby rental car or car-share company.)

Cosmoline

You still need to keep up insurance if you plan on using the vehicle for "emergencies." That's a tremendous cost when you add it up.

I think you should ditch it. You'll only learn what you can do by doing it. If the car is there you'll still be tempted to use it.

Snowman219

Oh wow my walk score is 26, I think it should be higher.

hshearer

I'm also a single girl (my husband is living 3000 kms away, so I think that counts). That's definitely not an obstacle to being car-free, for me. Are you nervous about travelling alone? A cell phone could be a good solution to that, and maybe isn't a bad thing to have on you, anyways (I'm also "cell-free", though... is that a thing yet?).

Any place can be bike friendly if you know how to handle it. The Advocacy and Safety forum will teach you how to take care of your own safety, even if your city won't.

NEVER listen to advice about cycling from people who don't ride bikes. They don't get it. Not even close. They probaly think you should ride on the sidewalk, and that 2 miles on a bike is a long way. You know what you're capable of.

Don't sell the car immediately. It's a nice safety net to have while you perfect your routine. Make an effort to choose the bike first, and eventually you'll figure out how to do almost everything without the car. You could even take the insurance off of it once you're relying on it less. I still have my car, because I haven't bothered to sell it yet, but it hasn't had plates for over 6 months. I have insured it with 24-hour permits 3 times since then, but those were for trips that I could have taken by taxi for about the same cost.

Roody

In what sense is it more relaxing or simpler to ride a screeching motorbike instead of a real bike?

cZa

I would tend to agree alot with this philosophy. If you have gone over why you would need the car and have a solution that doesn't require the car then you don't need the car. I can't think of any emergency that requires a car for me... Maybe an ambulance but they don't offer a auto free method there.

cZa

I would tend to agree alot with this philosophy. If you have gone over why you would need the car and have a solution that doesn't require the car then you don't need the car. I can't think of any emergency that requires a car for me... Maybe an ambulance but they don't offer a auto free method there.

DX-MAN

In the sense that they don't wanna walk 20 miles at a time! Geez, fine print...! The relaxing simplicity was referring to hoofing it, not pedaling. I caught that, are you between projects at work? Too much coffee, not enough sex, what?

Elkhound

I weaned myself off of the car. Also, whenever a problem came up, I looked for a solution. For example, one of my bikes is a Surly Big Dummy, and I have a trailer for my short bikes, therefore very little is too much for me to do by car. (I'll be getting a bakfiest soon, which will make my cargo options even better.) We have some serious hills here in WV--we aren't called the Mountain State--so I got a Stokemonkey electric assist for the Big Dummy.

DX-MAN

OK, forgot to say what I was gonna....

I commuted by bike for 4 years before I got rid of the car for the last time; since winters are kinda bad here (not a prob in AZ), I drove about six weeks out of the year to work, and did errands 2-3x/month with the car before just parking the thing. The last full month I owned it, I never touched it. The following month, drove it 2x, and on the 3rd try, the engine decided it had had enough abuse. Since the repair would have cost more than the car did, I called the boneyard, and never looked back. That was 2004.

I have a kid trailer that I can haul a week's groceries for 8 in, and the bus service here goes from a block away from my house to the parking lot of my job in like, 10 minutes. So, if needed, I can grab the bus.

It IS all about the routine; figure out and pre-ride your route, and look for offshoots and alternates. Time yourself, and allow at least 10% fudge factor. Have a repair kit on you at all times (and since you're a single female, I don't think I have to tell you to carry self-protection of some sort).

PawsonBikes

I have to say, take it one day at a time! Two years ago I had an issue with my right leg & couldn't drive, I did all my errands & visiting friends via my touring bike. Once the issue was taken care of I still, out of habit just went for the bike. Mind you I live in South Florida and everything was very close by. I have now moved to Central Florida to care for my Mom who is ill. Last year I purchased a folding bike that has been my main transportation, she does have a car and it is used when I need to take her to the Dr. otherwise, it sits in the garage & I go by bike. I use the doggie trailer for grocery shopping and take rides with my dogs. No need to commute to work, I am lucky enough to work from home, so my commute is from the coffee pot to my desk. The less you stress about it and make your commute decision on a daily basis, I believe you will find that you will be opting more for your bike and less for the car.

WilliamH

You definitely shouldn't leap before checking the whole situation out less you'd want to end up in a bigger problem than having to decide selling your car or otherwise.

Every case is different and it'll only come down to what you can take personally so just give it a few weeks or so before you decide.

FreddyV

Having a car can indeed come in handy. But besides that, I've found that if I really need a car there's always someone who is willing to let me use his/hers.
I don't own a car. My commute is 30 miles round trip, and I'm loving it. Once in a while some saddle soreness comes up, but pain is only temporary.

Not having a car saves you some serious money, which can come in handy for well.. anything

crazybikerchick

Such as what? A cell phone? Or are you talking about a weapon, which is completely ridiculous.

travelmama

No, a hairbrush, toothbrush and condoms for the nights a woman rides over to her boyfriends house.

robi

I would assume that the boyfriend has condoms at home... but I could be way off on that..

There really is no big deal going with out a car.. I understand your worries, but like I said, there is no big deal!

Go for it....

But if you are still woried, park it, bike, sell the car when you are comfy without using it.

Have fun!

robi

Metzinger

Exactly. Including things like car rentals, bulk item delivery fees, or topping up the tank of that borrowed friend's car.