Go Back  Bike Forums > Bike Forums > Living Car Free
Reload this Page >

Man celebrates 20 years carfree

Notices
Living Car Free Do you live car free or car light? Do you prefer to use alternative transportation (bicycles, walking, other human-powered or public transportation) for everyday activities whenever possible? Discuss your lifestyle here.

Man celebrates 20 years carfree

Old 12-02-18, 09:57 AM
  #1  
Dahon.Steve
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
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!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...ment-1.4890425
Dahon.Steve is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 10:22 AM
  #2  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
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 ??
wolfchild is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 11:52 AM
  #3  
350htrr
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada, PG BC
Posts: 3,849

Bikes: 27 speed ORYX with over 39,000Kms on it and another 14,000KMs with a BionX E-Assist on it

Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1024 Post(s)
Liked 57 Times in 49 Posts
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...
350htrr is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 12:20 PM
  #4  
I-Like-To-Bike
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??..
Perhaps as heroic as being TV and/or cable free; or maybe smartphone free! How about a big celebration for people who don't own a dishwasher?

BTW, I am celebrating the $100,000+ that I don't spend every year on an expensive boat. Yaaa for us boat-free people!
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 12:56 PM
  #5  
tandempower
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,355
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8084 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
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.
I wonder how many animals he saved from being roadkill in 20 years.
tandempower is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 01:20 PM
  #6  
reishi
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 22
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 5 Times in 4 Posts
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.

Last edited by reishi; 12-02-18 at 01:29 PM.
reishi is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 02:14 PM
  #7  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Originally Posted by tandempower
I wonder how many animals he saved from being roadkill in 20 years.
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.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 02:21 PM
  #8  
Dahon.Steve
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
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 ??
I guess since the car is so part of our culture, an adult male without one for 20 years is an anomaly. Maybe it was a slow day for the CBC but the article hit home personally because I will be carfree for about the same amount of time in a couple of years. I guess he reminded me of myself.
Dahon.Steve is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 02:26 PM
  #9  
I-Like-To-Bike
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by reishi
.. 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.
I suspect that much if not all ridicule a frequent cyclist allegedly has to put up with all year long by car owners may be induced by gratuitous proselytizing and hectoring of said car owners by the halo wearing cyclist, just as any burden caused by voluntarily riding his bike in the snow to get some groceries is a result of the cyclist's own action.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 02:27 PM
  #10  
I-Like-To-Bike
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
Maybe it was a slow day for the CBC...
I suspect so.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 02:28 PM
  #11  
Dahon.Steve
Senior Member
Thread Starter
 
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: New Jersey
Posts: 7,143
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 261 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times in 10 Posts
Originally Posted by tandempower
I wonder how many animals he saved from being roadkill in 20 years.
Agreed.

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.
Dahon.Steve is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 03:51 PM
  #12  
tandempower
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,355
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8084 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by reishi
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.
I don't judge people according to whether they drive or not, because people are all individuals. I just know how much roadkill I've seen in all the time I've ridden a bike and I doubt much if any of it was killed by non-motorized vehicles. I also have seen many white painted 'ghost' bikes set up as monuments to cyclists who were KIA and I doubt that any of those were killed by other cyclists or anyone else moving around without a motor. I'm also aware of how much pavement covers the ground and how much of that pavement would be needed if motor-vehicles were only used sparsely, by necessity. Most of the people who drive to work are doing so because the economic geography of areas has evolved with people driving around to various opportunities. If the same area evolved for a few decades with people avoiding driving out of necessity, patterns of human geography would adapt to cycling/transit/etc. and people would scratch their heads thinking about why so many people used to drive everywhere in the past.
tandempower is offline  
Old 12-02-18, 03:55 PM
  #13  
tandempower
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 4,355
Mentioned: 90 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 8084 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 14 Times in 13 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
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.
I ran over a snake with my bike once and it slithered away but probably died of internal injuries later, I'm guessing. I told myself it was inevitable at the time, but years later I saw a guy on a bike bunny hop over a snake that slithered into the bike path in front of him. I don't personally see myself bunny-hopping a bike at all, but I don't think there is anyone who could suddenly jump a car or truck over an animal or pedestrian to save their lives, except maybe the Dukes of Hazard.
tandempower is offline  
Old 12-03-18, 03:40 PM
  #14  
JoeyBike
20+mph Commuter
 
JoeyBike's Avatar
 
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
Originally Posted by wolfchild
What is so heroic about being car-free ??...Why bother to celebrate it ??...
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.

(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).
JoeyBike is offline  
Old 12-14-18, 06:15 PM
  #15  
takenreasy
Full Member
 
takenreasy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 435

Bikes: ’83 Bianchi Special ’96 Specialized Stump Jumper Comp ’09 Gary Fisher Paragon ’09 Surly Cross Check ’11 Surly Long Haul Trucker

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 71 Post(s)
Liked 76 Times in 50 Posts
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.
takenreasy is offline  
Old 12-14-18, 08:23 PM
  #16  
prathmann
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Bay Area, Calif.
Posts: 7,239
Mentioned: 13 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 659 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 7 Times in 6 Posts
Originally Posted by wolfchild
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.
Seems hard to believe. No little splats (other than bird poop) that you ever had to clean off your windshield or that were stuck in your radiator? Of course I've also killed quite a few animals that I've inadvertently inhaled while cycling.
prathmann is offline  
Old 12-14-18, 08:30 PM
  #17  
radroad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 423
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 343 Post(s)
Liked 31 Times in 24 Posts
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."
radroad is offline  
Old 12-15-18, 11:21 AM
  #18  
ironwood
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Boston area
Posts: 2,039

Bikes: 1984 Bridgestone 400 1985Univega nouevo sport 650b conversion 1993b'stone RBT 1985 Schwinn Tempo

Mentioned: 7 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 542 Post(s)
Liked 151 Times in 100 Posts
I was car free from birth to the age of 22. How come there was no mention of that on national TV?
ironwood is offline  
Old 12-15-18, 11:56 AM
  #19  
I-Like-To-Bike
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by ironwood
I was car free from birth to the age of 22. How come there was no mention of that on national TV?
Heck, that is nothing. I've been car free whenever I am not driving or being driven in a car/truck for over 71 years.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 12-15-18, 03:25 PM
  #20  
radroad
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Posts: 423
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 343 Post(s)
Liked 31 Times in 24 Posts
Originally Posted by Dahon.Steve
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!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north...ment-1.4890425
Yeah, the guy rents cars on a regular basis and drives all the time. Not exactly "carefree." Read the article first.
radroad is offline  
Old 12-16-18, 01:18 PM
  #21  
jon c. 
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Tallahassee, FL
Posts: 4,812
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1591 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1,015 Times in 570 Posts
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
jon c. is offline  
Old 12-16-18, 01:38 PM
  #22  
I-Like-To-Bike
Been Around Awhile
 
I-Like-To-Bike's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,950

Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi

Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,517 Times in 1,031 Posts
Originally Posted by jon c.
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
There are eight million stories in the Naked City, there must be at least a few hundred thousand about them in NYC, the OP has posted about one of them.
I-Like-To-Bike is offline  
Old 12-19-18, 12:58 AM
  #23  
Maelochs
Senior Member
 
Maelochs's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 15,453

Bikes: 2015 Workswell 066, 2017 Workswell 093, 2014 Dawes Sheila, 1983 Cannondale 500, 1984 Raleigh Olympian, 2007 Cannondale Rize 4, 2017 Fuji Sportif 1 LE

Mentioned: 144 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 7628 Post(s)
Liked 3,452 Times in 1,823 Posts
Originally Posted by JoeyBike
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. .
I celebrated more than 20 years care-free by buying a car. Totally worth it. I also bought a good battery charger, because the cars sits a lot .... but when i need to go several hundred miles in several hours hauling a load of gear ... my legs just aren't up to it.

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?
Maelochs is offline  
Old 12-19-18, 08:39 PM
  #24  
wolfchild
Banned
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Mississauga/Toronto, Ontario canada
Posts: 8,721

Bikes: I have 3 singlespeed/fixed gear bikes

Mentioned: 30 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4227 Post(s)
Liked 2,488 Times in 1,286 Posts
Originally Posted by jon c.
There are likely at least a few hundred thousand people in NYC who fit that description.
...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.
wolfchild is offline  
Old 12-20-18, 06:46 AM
  #25  
Walter S
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Atlanta, GA. USA
Posts: 3,804

Bikes: Surly Long Haul Disc Trucker

Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1015 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time in 1 Post
Originally Posted by wolfchild
...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.
As is the whole planet in a universe with hundreds of billions of galaxies each with hundreds of billions of stars and even more solar systems and planets strewn thru 15 billion years of history.
Walter S is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Use of this site indicates your consent to the Terms of Use.