Name a beloved activity you had to give up to be Car-Free.
#1
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
210 Posts
Name a beloved activity you had to give up to be Car-Free.
I'll confess first.
Canoeing and kayaking. I miss that dearly.
Canoeing and kayaking. I miss that dearly.
Likes For JoeyBike:
#2
Senior Member
Driving.
(sorry, couldn't resist)
(sorry, couldn't resist)
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,297 Times
in
7,230 Posts
Don't have any friends that can drive you to go canoeing? Or is that not allowed when LCF?
#5
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,951
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times
in
1,031 Posts
Friends, or at least friends with cars willing to chauffeur the car-less ideologue about, are probably not likely for someone verbal about his dislike for the activities of members of the "automotivist culture" and/or an unwillingness to spend money for his own transportation.
#6
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
210 Posts
Friends, or at least friends with cars willing to chauffeur the car-less ideologue about, are probably not likely for someone verbal about his dislike for the activities of members of the "automotivist culture" and/or an unwillingness to spend money for his own transportation.
I do not consider myself part any cycling or environmental "culture" in any way. Strictly a monetary decision. If I owned a dependable car I would then have to give up a lot of other things I love. And my health insurance at $730/month. Everything in life is a trade-off.
I don't have friends because I don't enjoy the company of others. I have the perfect wife with a thousand friends of her own - all of whom leave me alone most of the time. Kayaking is ruined with some other person blathering on about things I do not care about.
I seriously doubt that everybody in Car-Free is some kind of cult member, although I have seen a few here.
Last edited by JoeyBike; 10-17-18 at 01:53 PM.
Likes For JoeyBike:
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,297 Times
in
7,230 Posts
Friends, or at least friends with cars willing to chauffeur the car-less ideologue about, are probably not likely for someone verbal about his dislike for the activities of members of the "automotivist culture" and/or an unwillingness to spend money for his own transportation.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,058
Mentioned: 210 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18320 Post(s)
Liked 15,297 Times
in
7,230 Posts
#11
Senior Member
I haven't given up sailing, canoeing, even advanced education courses, tourism even flying, camping, eating out and just about any of the stuff I would be remotely interested in.
And this was over a period that exceeded 10 years to living without owning and very rarely driving any motor vehicle.
Growing up and and using the mind to work out alternatives is very hard for some, but not really me.
As far as the canoeing goes, I live near a river and there is storage for enthusiasts to put their craft in a building that is also a yacht club. If necessary, I could choose that option instead of storing two craft -- one a single, the other large canoe -- plus two sail boards at home, and maybe using a motor vehicle to move them for water use.
And this was over a period that exceeded 10 years to living without owning and very rarely driving any motor vehicle.
Growing up and and using the mind to work out alternatives is very hard for some, but not really me.
As far as the canoeing goes, I live near a river and there is storage for enthusiasts to put their craft in a building that is also a yacht club. If necessary, I could choose that option instead of storing two craft -- one a single, the other large canoe -- plus two sail boards at home, and maybe using a motor vehicle to move them for water use.
#12
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
210 Posts
As far as the canoeing goes, I live near a river and there is storage for enthusiasts to put their craft in a building that is also a yacht club. If necessary, I could choose that option instead of storing two craft -- one a single, the other large canoe -- plus two sail boards at home, and maybe using a motor vehicle to move them for water use.
Would I NEED one in the sense that I NEED to keep my health insurance premiums and doctors paid? No. Do I WANT one based on the fact that I have no place to park one where I live? No thanks. BUT...if I were RICH, I could pay to park the car in a private garage out of the weather and away from thieves and vandals, afford to insure a decent, dependable car with full coverage so I could lend it to car-free friends (I still would not use it enough to make the car happy). I would LOVE to have a dependable car at hand anytime I wanted one. No doubt. Need? Does my next-door neighbor NEED a pickup truck? He's not a farmer. But he has one.
You still have drive in movies near you???
#13
Senior Member
#15
In Real Life
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Down under down under
Posts: 52,152
Bikes: Lots
Mentioned: 141 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3203 Post(s)
Liked 595 Times
in
329 Posts
I didn't give up anything during all the years I was car free. Still went to work, went to uni, walked lots, cycled more than ever, went to the places I wanted to go, etc. etc.
I actually added an activity ... I travelled a whole lot more.
I actually added an activity ... I travelled a whole lot more.
__________________
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
Rowan
My fave photo threads on BF
Century A Month Facebook Group
Machka's Website
Photo Gallery
#16
Cycleway town
Car shows
#17
Senior Member
Hauling dirt for landscaping projects and scrap metal to the recycler. Solved the problem when I bought a truck. Still car free, but now have a way to get the big jobs done. Only used when needed and hasn't seen 1000 miles yet this year.
#18
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
210 Posts
Good idea! I hope no one on Car-Free takes issue with a utility vehicle on hand to get WORK done. If I could figure out a way to have a vehicle actually make money for me, or save me considerable expense, I would likely have one.
#19
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 8,050
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
Does that mean all yours are dying too? Bummer, ain't it?
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
#20
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 8,050
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
I had a launch about 20 minutes walk from my house. I pulled a kayak on a folding kayak dolly to the launch, then strapped the dolly to the deck while paddling. I could also pull the kayak for 20 minutes behind a bicycle to a different place. I just got bored with those two places and a 30 minute car trip would produce some much more interesting places to paddle. So YES, I can do it, just not worth it in the long run. Certainly I can, and do rent cars but there are rules about strapping boats to them. Were you insinuating that I am not smart enough to figure out how do do things? Shame.
Would I NEED one in the sense that I NEED to keep my health insurance premiums and doctors paid? No. Do I WANT one based on the fact that I have no place to park one where I live? No thanks. BUT...if I were RICH, I could pay to park the car in a private garage out of the weather and away from thieves and vandals, afford to insure a decent, dependable car with full coverage so I could lend it to car-free friends (I still would not use it enough to make the car happy). I would LOVE to have a dependable car at hand anytime I wanted one. No doubt. Need? Does my next-door neighbor NEED a pickup truck? He's not a farmer. But he has one.
Kayaking alone on a moonless clear night in the swamp is awesome. One other QUITE person is OK. I used to kayak on Lake Fausse in Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and pick a cold, clear, calm night. If I was careful with my paddle strokes to not stir the water too much it felt like floating in outer space, as the stars were reflected perfectly under me in the water. Literally surrounded on all sides by stars. The lake was just large enough to not see the shoreline from near the middle. A religious experience that company could not improve upon. And realize that I biked across the USA five times solo, self contained. I am not in need of constant companionship like most people. Except for scuba diving, I'm going alone.
You still have drive in movies near you???
Would I NEED one in the sense that I NEED to keep my health insurance premiums and doctors paid? No. Do I WANT one based on the fact that I have no place to park one where I live? No thanks. BUT...if I were RICH, I could pay to park the car in a private garage out of the weather and away from thieves and vandals, afford to insure a decent, dependable car with full coverage so I could lend it to car-free friends (I still would not use it enough to make the car happy). I would LOVE to have a dependable car at hand anytime I wanted one. No doubt. Need? Does my next-door neighbor NEED a pickup truck? He's not a farmer. But he has one.
Kayaking alone on a moonless clear night in the swamp is awesome. One other QUITE person is OK. I used to kayak on Lake Fausse in Lake Fausse Pointe State Park and pick a cold, clear, calm night. If I was careful with my paddle strokes to not stir the water too much it felt like floating in outer space, as the stars were reflected perfectly under me in the water. Literally surrounded on all sides by stars. The lake was just large enough to not see the shoreline from near the middle. A religious experience that company could not improve upon. And realize that I biked across the USA five times solo, self contained. I am not in need of constant companionship like most people. Except for scuba diving, I'm going alone.
You still have drive in movies near you???
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.
#22
20+mph Commuter
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New Orleans, LA USA
Posts: 7,491
Bikes: Surly LHT, Surly Lowside, a folding bike, and a beater.
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1422 Post(s)
Liked 315 Times
in
210 Posts
Well, I really compounded that problem. I "retired" (the first time) when I was 30. So most of my friends were retirees -- athletes who couldn't find peers to keep up with them, have time, or money to do hiking, climbing, canoeing, bike touring, road cycling, etc. So when I was 30-40, my friends were 65-75. All but one are gone. Then as I aged, like them, I had to recruit younger and younger friends who had time and money to pay their share. I didn't like most of them so I gave up. Down to two buds, in their early 50s. One just moved away. So....
Yes. It's a bummer. Thankfully I am good on my own. My wife is an athlete thankfully so I get enough friend time with her. Not a cyclist tho. Hiker/climber.
Yes. It's a bummer. Thankfully I am good on my own. My wife is an athlete thankfully so I get enough friend time with her. Not a cyclist tho. Hiker/climber.
Likes For JoeyBike:
#24
vespertine member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Land of Angora, Turkey
Posts: 2,476
Bikes: Yes
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 687 Post(s)
Liked 220 Times
in
163 Posts
Random road trips to deserted places and camping.
My significant other and I used to do this from time to time. Winter camping in southern California was great - not that cold, but too cold for Californians. We also enjoy the Badlands of South Dakota, and found a place in Colorado that was too far out for the usual summer crowd.
It's not much of a loss at this point. We do not like humidity, or trying to sleep in humidity, so it would be quite a drive to go anywhere suitable from our current location on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. We can still get a car to go places, it just requires planning ahead a couple of days.
My significant other and I used to do this from time to time. Winter camping in southern California was great - not that cold, but too cold for Californians. We also enjoy the Badlands of South Dakota, and found a place in Colorado that was too far out for the usual summer crowd.
It's not much of a loss at this point. We do not like humidity, or trying to sleep in humidity, so it would be quite a drive to go anywhere suitable from our current location on the border of Wisconsin and Minnesota. We can still get a car to go places, it just requires planning ahead a couple of days.
#25
What happened?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Around here somewhere
Posts: 8,050
Bikes: 3 Rollfasts, 3 Schwinns, a Shelby and a Higgins Flightliner in a pear tree!
Mentioned: 57 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1835 Post(s)
Liked 292 Times
in
255 Posts
To clarify, I'm not passing any Mustangs on the interstate like I used to.
__________________
I don't know nothing, and I memorized it in school and got this here paper I'm proud of to show it.