Fingers crossed, finally going car free
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Fingers crossed, finally going car free
Well, I applied to the State of California car retirement program to retire my 2002 Honda Civic. It takes about 4-6 weeks to see if I qualify, but if so, they dismantle the car for parts and I get $1500.The goal is to get older cars off the road, as they likely pollute more. Probably more than the car is worth now. Been a great car, 135,000 miles and still has the ORIGINAL brakes and clutch. But I only drove 400 miles last year, so it's time. That $1500 plus the savings on car insurance will cover the cost of any car share if I need it, although I am hoping to use my bike/trailer exclusively (especially once i get my friction drive set up). It's kind of scary letting it go - thinking what if I am making a mistake - I certainly won't be able to buy even an old used car for that $1500 privately. Leap of faith. I guess I could always get a motor scooter. Hoping it all works out, I've done as close to a "test pedal" as I can by using it so little. It's felt like an albatross hanging over me this last year, what with having to remember to move it on street sweeping days and run it up so the battery didn't die.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
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Well, I applied to the State of California car retirement program to retire my 2002 Honda Civic. It takes about 4-6 weeks to see if I qualify, but if so, they dismantle the car for parts and I get $1500.The goal is to get older cars off the road, as they likely pollute more. Probably more than the car is worth now. Been a great car, 135,000 miles and still has the ORIGINAL brakes and clutch. But I only drove 400 miles last year, so it's time. That $1500 plus the savings on car insurance will cover the cost of any car share if I need it, although I am hoping to use my bike/trailer exclusively (especially once i get my friction drive set up). It's kind of scary letting it go - thinking what if I am making a mistake - I certainly won't be able to buy even an old used car for that $1500 privately. Leap of faith. I guess I could always get a motor scooter. Hoping it all works out, I've done as close to a "test pedal" as I can by using it so little. It's felt like an albatross hanging over me this last year, what with having to remember to move it on street sweeping days and run it up so the battery didn't die.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
I used to search for bathrooms near work to change into pants before arriving. One day I realized I could just wear pants over shorts and change without a bathroom. Everything keeps getting easier the longer you practice it. You keep figuring out new ways to tweak your routine and you wonder why you didn't think of the tweak sooner.
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I did grocery shopping with a trailer for a while but that gradually gave way to doing more shopping trips per week with just a crate on the luggage rack.
I used to search for bathrooms near work to change into pants before arriving. One day I realized I could just wear pants over shorts and change without a bathroom. Everything keeps getting easier the longer you practice it. You keep figuring out new ways to tweak your routine and you wonder why you didn't think of the tweak sooner.
I used to search for bathrooms near work to change into pants before arriving. One day I realized I could just wear pants over shorts and change without a bathroom. Everything keeps getting easier the longer you practice it. You keep figuring out new ways to tweak your routine and you wonder why you didn't think of the tweak sooner.
#4
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The way you described your civic I'd bet you can get closer to $3k for selling it privately, if it's a good working car. If you listed it for $2k, I bet you'd sell it fast, likely to a flipper who will sell it for more, just mention the brakes. At least that would be the value in the Los Angeles area.
135k miles is nothing on the clutch, my 03 Accord has around 202k miles on the original clutch.
In any case, good luck with going car free.
135k miles is nothing on the clutch, my 03 Accord has around 202k miles on the original clutch.
In any case, good luck with going car free.
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The way you described your civic I'd bet you can get closer to $3k for selling it privately, if it's a good working car. If you listed it for $2k, I bet you'd sell it fast, likely to a flipper who will sell it for more, just mention the brakes. At least that would be the value in the Los Angeles area.
135k miles is nothing on the clutch, my 03 Accord has around 202k miles on the original clutch.
In any case, good luck with going car free.
135k miles is nothing on the clutch, my 03 Accord has around 202k miles on the original clutch.
In any case, good luck with going car free.
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Hoping it all works out, I've done as close to a "test pedal" as I can by using it so little. It's felt like an albatross hanging over me this last year, what with having to remember to move it on street sweeping days and run it up so the battery didn't die.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
I cannot think of any situations that caused difficulty - immediately after selling the car, or in general, in the past close to five years. The only unanticipated result was that the homeowner's insurance bill went up, as I previously had a bundle discount with the car insurance. (Should have known that, though.)
It's also worth noting that when we got rid of the family car, we were new to the area (so no friends/family who we could really ask for rides) in an area that, at the time, had incredibly unreliable cab service, limited public transit, and no Uber/Lyft (I think they came in 2016). So, getting rid of the car really meant sticking to human-powered transportation - walking and biking!
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I got rid of my car in March 2014, for similar reasons - remembering to move the car, starting it to keep the battery from dying, and just generally keeping it maintained was no longer worth it. Part of the $1200 I got for it was immediately invested in a good cargo trailer and an older geared hardtail MTB (all my other bikes at the time were fixed gear).
I cannot think of any situations that caused difficulty - immediately after selling the car, or in general, in the past close to five years. The only unanticipated result was that the homeowner's insurance bill went up, as I previously had a bundle discount with the car insurance. (Should have known that, though.)
It's also worth noting that when we got rid of the family car, we were new to the area (so no friends/family who we could really ask for rides) in an area that, at the time, had incredibly unreliable cab service, limited public transit, and no Uber/Lyft (I think they came in 2016). So, getting rid of the car really meant sticking to human-powered transportation - walking and biking!
I cannot think of any situations that caused difficulty - immediately after selling the car, or in general, in the past close to five years. The only unanticipated result was that the homeowner's insurance bill went up, as I previously had a bundle discount with the car insurance. (Should have known that, though.)
It's also worth noting that when we got rid of the family car, we were new to the area (so no friends/family who we could really ask for rides) in an area that, at the time, had incredibly unreliable cab service, limited public transit, and no Uber/Lyft (I think they came in 2016). So, getting rid of the car really meant sticking to human-powered transportation - walking and biking!
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Having very good public transit and the options now of e-scooter/e-bike share along with car share is what makes me think this will work for me. Of course, once the car is gone...it HAS to work, lol. I've had a car since I was 16 so it just feels a little weird, but good weird.
You have lots of hills, right? I applied for a job in SF and that's one thing I've thought about...were I to get the job (a really long shot at this point), just commuting might be a pretty serious workout!
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All of that will definitely help! It's of course a good idea to have a backup plan, and it sounds like there are many available options in your area.
You have lots of hills, right? I applied for a job in SF and that's one thing I've thought about...were I to get the job (a really long shot at this point), just commuting might be a pretty serious workout!
You have lots of hills, right? I applied for a job in SF and that's one thing I've thought about...were I to get the job (a really long shot at this point), just commuting might be a pretty serious workout!
Working in SF is great, but if you get an offer make sure it pays enough to afford the rent - it's pretty expensive.
Last edited by linberl; 12-10-18 at 11:32 PM.
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When I was car free, the town I lived in was"dry",i.e. you couldn't buy alcohol in town, so I had to go to the neighboring town to get beer with my bike trailer, and haul a case home. I eventually got a car again, and my town is no longer "dry", but I still carry beer on my bike. A few years ago VO sold a little attachment for a front rack to carry a six pack.
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Not always, our first Honda Accord (1988) would wear out the clutch at 90,000 mi and then before 200,000 mi. It's well document that gen Accord had weak clutch. Plus, we always had 4 people in the car. I bet the heavy load has something to do with it.
OP is in hilly San Francisco...having to start uphill probably wear out the clutch even faster.
OP is in hilly San Francisco...having to start uphill probably wear out the clutch even faster.
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You have a sound plan, it seems. And with the power-boost thing (assuming it ever arrives) you probably won't even need a scooter. I am interested in hearing how this goes.
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My bike is a Bike Friday Pakit - folding bike - 19lbs. I carry it everywhere with me or I don't go there. Although...I'm gonna buy a cheap sundeal folder for those rare instances when i do have to lock up outside. At under $125 if it gets stolen I won't cry too hard. I have a dr. appt. today and I will ride to Bart (light rail) and ride from the
nearest station to the kaiser offices. Bike is going inside folded. The trick is to not ask or act like it might be a problem, just carry it in like you know what you're doing and have done it before, lol.
nearest station to the kaiser offices. Bike is going inside folded. The trick is to not ask or act like it might be a problem, just carry it in like you know what you're doing and have done it before, lol.
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Well, I applied to the State of California car retirement program to retire my 2002 Honda Civic. It takes about 4-6 weeks to see if I qualify, but if so, they dismantle the car for parts and I get $1500.The goal is to get older cars off the road, as they likely pollute more. Probably more than the car is worth now. Been a great car, 135,000 miles and still has the ORIGINAL brakes and clutch. But I only drove 400 miles last year, so it's time. That $1500 plus the savings on car insurance will cover the cost of any car share if I need it, although I am hoping to use my bike/trailer exclusively (especially once i get my friction drive set up). It's kind of scary letting it go - thinking what if I am making a mistake - I certainly won't be able to buy even an old used car for that $1500 privately. Leap of faith. I guess I could always get a motor scooter. Hoping it all works out, I've done as close to a "test pedal" as I can by using it so little. It's felt like an albatross hanging over me this last year, what with having to remember to move it on street sweeping days and run it up so the battery didn't die.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
Anyone have any regrets or encounter any situations right after they went car-free where they wished they hadn't done it? Just trying to be fully prepared.
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I'm sure lots of people would consider if it fit better into their lives. I've just reached a place and time where it works for me, and after decades of commuting, I actually HATE driving now. It was fun when I was in my teens, blasting music but it gets old when you're crawling along a commute corridor every morning and night. January 30th is the big day - I kiss the car goodbye. I'm not emotionally attached to my car ( like I am my bikes, lol) but I will feel sad to see what has been a good car get chopped into parts. I'm sure I'll get over it when I take the family to dinner that night with some of the $1500 the state is giving me.
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Getting to the doctor's office when sick as a dog is another issue that only happened to me once, and a neighbor dropped me off, wife picked me up. Once in 30 years! Now with Uber proliferating, less of a big deal. Taxi is always an option as well, just sometimes harder to get one of those.
If you are single, young, and dating you may look like a loser without a car. So the shallow ladies get screened out automatically! A big PLUS.
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When i was entirely car-free, i sometimes had situations arise where a car would have been easier ... but i never "regretted." No point. Mostly, on those rare unforeseeable occasions where a car would be Really handy, the LCF folks just have to work harder to get there. But you have a good plan and those sorts of things won't come up much, if ever.
Kind of funny ... you can get a car-ride ride with someone and listen to non-stop complaints about traffic, gridlock, other stupid drivers ... but most car owners never even realize they chose that, let alone that they obviously sometimes regret the choice.
Kind of funny ... you can get a car-ride ride with someone and listen to non-stop complaints about traffic, gridlock, other stupid drivers ... but most car owners never even realize they chose that, let alone that they obviously sometimes regret the choice.
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When i was entirely car-free, i sometimes had situations arise where a car would have been easier ... but i never "regretted." No point. Mostly, on those rare unforeseeable occasions where a car would be Really handy, the LCF folks just have to work harder to get there. But you have a good plan and those sorts of things won't come up much, if ever.
Kind of funny ... you can get a car-ride ride with someone and listen to non-stop complaints about traffic, gridlock, other stupid drivers ... but most car owners never even realize they chose that, let alone that they obviously sometimes regret the choice.
Kind of funny ... you can get a car-ride ride with someone and listen to non-stop complaints about traffic, gridlock, other stupid drivers ... but most car owners never even realize they chose that, let alone that they obviously sometimes regret the choice.
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One thing I've found (both not having a car, but also when I left the car at home and bike commuted) is that I've become much more interested in the weather. I've also definitely forgotten to pack appropriate gear and ended up sitting around in soggy socks.
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Sounds like you'll be fine
One thing I've found (both not having a car, but also when I left the car at home and bike commuted) is that I've become much more interested in the weather. I've also definitely forgotten to pack appropriate gear and ended up sitting around in soggy socks.
One thing I've found (both not having a car, but also when I left the car at home and bike commuted) is that I've become much more interested in the weather. I've also definitely forgotten to pack appropriate gear and ended up sitting around in soggy socks.
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You will get very good at predicting weather, trust me. You will be out in it every day, and you will notice trends in your area---you won't have the benefit of national weather research centers, but you will remember, 'Last time it felt like this in the morning I packed light, it rained int he afternoon and got really cold in the evening and I suffered horribly."