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Anyone made a commitment to live car free?

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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.

Anyone made a commitment to live car free?

Old 09-19-19, 03:48 PM
  #51  
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For now, I’m car-lite, but not car-free yet. I will have completed four rides into work this week after tomorrow, but I drove on Wednesday because of two reasons: (1) I was physically exhausted since I’m not used to biking this much yet, and (2) it was pouring rain. I did get some rain gear, and have ridden in the rain, but for some reason I don’t have the endurance yet that I thought I had. I guess biking a couple of times a week for shorter distances does not mean you can instantly switch to 20+ miles a day, everyday. I hope to be biking all week soon. Biking to work is great once you are really familiar with the roads and your commute - then it feels very comfortable. As an added bonus, they just repaved one of the streets I use, so the road is VERY smooth!

Still, I consider this great progress. I love the cooler weather of fall, and I still enjoy biking in the winter. I’m just not sure how well plowed the roads on my commute will be, but I guess I’ll find out.
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Old 09-20-19, 09:48 AM
  #52  
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Nice!

It took me many years to build up to daily bike commutes, it doesn't have to take years, but I didn't push it.
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Old 11-30-19, 03:35 AM
  #53  
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I've pretty much always used my bike; even when I had a car I'd often bike instead; haven't had car in over 15yrs.
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Old 01-19-20, 05:24 PM
  #54  
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I am retired and happily car free.
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Old 01-19-20, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by Lucillle
I am retired and happily car free.
Lucky duck! I am still many(?) years away and hating each time I feel necessary to drive. Today I had to dodge, within an hour, two BMW's. One never stopped coming, despite my screaming horn, and I had to swervingly dodge him and an oncoming road post.... I often feel safer on my bike....
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Old 01-23-20, 09:24 PM
  #56  
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Originally Posted by Alligator
I’m changing jobs again soon, and I’ll be working 10 miles from home. I’ve biked the distance many times in the past, and can commute to work in 40-45 minutes. However, I’ve never biked to work every day of the week, all year round. Winter here will be challenging, but I’ve ridden in the winter before. I’m thinking of making a commitment to myself to try biking 100% of the time to work to start my car-free living.

Have you ever made a commitment to yourself (or someone else) which caused you to become car free? If so, did you make it? If not, what caused you to fail?
I‘m 58 year old New Englander (CT), and I commute fairly frequently on my bike and would LOVE to one day get rid of my vehicles. No better way to get around, get healthy, save $ and have fun. My wife and son think I’m crazy! Steve

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Old 01-24-20, 08:37 PM
  #57  
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Originally Posted by Steve06119
I‘m 58 year old New Englander (CT), and I commute fairly frequently on my bike and would LOVE to one day get rid of my vehicles. No better way to get around, get healthy, save $ and have fun. My wife and son think I’m crazy! Steve
Saw your post in the other commuting topic, and was glad someone referred you to this one. You’ll fit right in. Welcome and I share the same thoughts as you. And letting others think you are crazy is half the fun!
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Old 01-24-20, 10:15 PM
  #58  
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Originally Posted by Alligator
Saw your post in the other commuting topic, and was glad someone referred you to this one. You’ll fit right in. Welcome and I share the same thoughts as you. And letting others think you are crazy is half the fun!
Hi Alligator - Thanks so much for confirming I’m in the right place. I just find cycling as I get older is becoming more and more apart of my life. Ride On!
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Old 01-25-20, 06:17 PM
  #59  
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I don't own a car but sometimes I'll get someone to drive me someplace if it's too far to get there by bicycle in the time I have. Does that make me no longer car-free?

If a person uses a taxi or an Uber does that mean they are no longer car free? After all in both cases they are making use of a car.

Cheers
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Old 02-03-20, 11:22 AM
  #60  
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My wife and I are carless. We moved back and forth between Portland and London multiple times and just got tired of buying/selling cars. We were already biking just about everywhere but had one car for my commute to my job in the suburbs of Portland. My current job does not require a highway so we are fully carless. It's not difficult in Portland, at all. We can afford cars, but really dislike driving and would rather have the estimated $10k a year for something other than cars. We keep track of all of our bike expenses as well as the times when we have to use Lyft or rent a car for a weekend road trip. It's usually less than $1000 per year for the both of us, combined. Factor in our lack of need of a gym membership and the extra time we save by not sitting in traffic and it's a real no-brainer.
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Old 02-03-20, 09:00 PM
  #61  
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Originally Posted by PDXCarless
My wife and I are carless. We moved back and forth between Portland and London multiple times and just got tired of buying/selling cars. We were already biking just about everywhere but had one car for my commute to my job in the suburbs of Portland. My current job does not require a highway so we are fully carless. It's not difficult in Portland, at all. We can afford cars, but really dislike driving and would rather have the estimated $10k a year for something other than cars. We keep track of all of our bike expenses as well as the times when we have to use Lyft or rent a car for a weekend road trip. It's usually less than $1000 per year for the both of us, combined. Factor in our lack of need of a gym membership and the extra time we save by not sitting in traffic and it's a real no-brainer.
BRAVO! Congratulations - Steve
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Old 04-04-20, 05:29 PM
  #62  
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Just moved to Edmonton, one of the most car dependent cities out there. Going to have a go at riding year round. It's been -15 here all week (YES in April!). I've never seen such scarce bicycle listings either.
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Old 05-05-20, 10:43 AM
  #63  
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i have been pondering this for a while, at least dropping down to 1 car for me and my family. I have a couple questions for the veterans,

- how do you get groceries to the house? do you just buy a little bit at a time?
- If you own a house, what about bringing larger items home? (im thinking home project type stuff)
- keeping your clothes decent for work, especially during bad weather or in the summer?
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Old 05-05-20, 04:02 PM
  #64  
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Originally Posted by monkeytusmc
i have been pondering this for a while, at least dropping down to 1 car for me and my family. I have a couple questions for the veterans,

- how do you get groceries to the house? do you just buy a little bit at a time?
- If you own a house, what about bringing larger items home? (im thinking home project type stuff)
- keeping your clothes decent for work, especially during bad weather or in the summer?
1) We get the bulk of our groceries through a delivery service (Imperfect Foods) but we lived for years without a car just getting what we needed a bit at a time on our bikes or walking. My wife and I use an app with a running grocery list that we share. One or both of us stop by a grocery store on the way home from work pretty frequently. The bonus to this method is you will be more efficient in that you will rarely buy too much of something so less will go bad in the fridge.

2) I have a Burley bike trailor rated for 100lbs or so. I've maxed that out with a tall stack of lumber, furniture, etc. You also can get items delivered for free over a certain price, at most places. Sometimes, we do short-term car rentals using Getaround but this is pretty rare. We have an elderly neighbor that we are constantly running errands for or helping her with some task. We'll borrow her Subaru occasionally, but this is also quite rare......I'm talking once a quarter to take the cats to the vet (this is where we draw the line, traumatizing our pets with a bike ride through a city on the way to their version of hell)

3) Clothes are easy for me. My office has a secured bike room and showers. I also have a belt-drive bike so grease wouldn't be the issue if I didn't have those facilities. It'd mostly be about sweat or inclement weather. My wife's office has no showers and she has a chain drive. She's a therapist and has to see people face to face all day. It doesn't seem to be an issue for her, but it's an easy 2.5 mile commute.

In the end, these will all feel like inconveniences until you get used to it. Once the fitness and financial benefits kick in none of it seems like a big deal. All issues are solvable.
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Old 05-05-20, 08:21 PM
  #65  
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Originally Posted by PDXCarless
1) We get the bulk of our groceries through a delivery service (Imperfect Foods) but we lived for years without a car just getting what we needed a bit at a time on our bikes or walking. My wife and I use an app with a running grocery list that we share. One or both of us stop by a grocery store on the way home from work pretty frequently. The bonus to this method is you will be more efficient in that you will rarely buy too much of something so less will go bad in the fridge.

2) I have a Burley bike trailor rated for 100lbs or so. I've maxed that out with a tall stack of lumber, furniture, etc. You also can get items delivered for free over a certain price, at most places. Sometimes, we do short-term car rentals using Getaround but this is pretty rare. We have an elderly neighbor that we are constantly running errands for or helping her with some task. We'll borrow her Subaru occasionally, but this is also quite rare......I'm talking once a quarter to take the cats to the vet (this is where we draw the line, traumatizing our pets with a bike ride through a city on the way to their version of hell)

3) Clothes are easy for me. My office has a secured bike room and showers. I also have a belt-drive bike so grease wouldn't be the issue if I didn't have those facilities. It'd mostly be about sweat or inclement weather. My wife's office has no showers and she has a chain drive. She's a therapist and has to see people face to face all day. It doesn't seem to be an issue for her, but it's an easy 2.5 mile commute.

In the end, these will all feel like inconveniences until you get used to it. Once the fitness and financial benefits kick in none of it seems like a big deal. All issues are solvable.
Are you sure the cats wouldn't enjoy the bike ride? What about taking them to some non vet destinations so they don't think of the bike trip as tumbrel ride to the guillotine?
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Old 05-05-20, 09:18 PM
  #66  
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Originally Posted by PDXCarless
1) We get the bulk of our groceries through a delivery service (Imperfect Foods) but we lived for years without a car just getting what we needed a bit at a time on our bikes or walking. My wife and I use an app with a running grocery list that we share. One or both of us stop by a grocery store on the way home from work pretty frequently. The bonus to this method is you will be more efficient in that you will rarely buy too much of something so less will go bad in the fridge.

2) I have a Burley bike trailor rated for 100lbs or so. I've maxed that out with a tall stack of lumber, furniture, etc. You also can get items delivered for free over a certain price, at most places. Sometimes, we do short-term car rentals using Getaround but this is pretty rare. We have an elderly neighbor that we are constantly running errands for or helping her with some task. We'll borrow her Subaru occasionally, but this is also quite rare......I'm talking once a quarter to take the cats to the vet (this is where we draw the line, traumatizing our pets with a bike ride through a city on the way to their version of hell)

3) Clothes are easy for me. My office has a secured bike room and showers. I also have a belt-drive bike so grease wouldn't be the issue if I didn't have those facilities. It'd mostly be about sweat or inclement weather. My wife's office has no showers and she has a chain drive. She's a therapist and has to see people face to face all day. It doesn't seem to be an issue for her, but it's an easy 2.5 mile commute.

In the end, these will all feel like inconveniences until you get used to it. Once the fitness and financial benefits kick in none of it seems like a big deal. All issues are solvable.

That cat comment had me laughing. great advice, i appreciate your input.

Mike
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Old 05-12-20, 03:44 PM
  #67  
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I'd love to be able to give up my car - given up flying for a few years now but the car seems impossible to get rid of where I live.
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Old 05-12-20, 09:22 PM
  #68  
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After seeing another increase in my car insurance (today), after not costing them a dime in over 10 years, asked wife about selling car. Short conversation turned "no" quickly. Even though we could be considered "car light" already.

Different when you share your world with another... but not willing to change that!
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Old 05-13-20, 11:30 PM
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I build cars for a living,haven't driven a car for 30 years......on the street.
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Old 05-14-20, 12:39 PM
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i will always own a powered vehicle BUT over the last 3 years i have sold my motorcycle & drive less miles than i bike > with this COVID crisis hanging over everything my cars have been parked for almost 10 weeks ( i drive each once a week to just to maintain & treat the dog)
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Old 05-15-20, 08:35 AM
  #71  
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I don't bother to get a driving license. I suppose I am committed.
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Old 05-17-20, 04:39 PM
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Love my Veloster which I use during the Winter months and to transport my bike (from/to) other Counties so I can try different trails within the State and it's good on gas. Can't go car-free in my household because my wife will always have her SUV but I have been driving less with the weather getting warmer and better. In fact, the current tank in my Veloster has lasted me three weeks so far and I have about 110 miles until empty.
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Old 05-17-20, 04:56 PM
  #73  
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Went super car lite for a few years, and it worked pretty well where I was. Still used my van for some of the more obvious purposes.
Never had a thing against cars (philosophically, if I want folks to accept me and my choices, I reciprocate), but *do* have a problem with people who choose not to get along and play well with others... no matter what their mode of transport.
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Old 05-26-20, 08:21 AM
  #74  
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I haven't owned a car since 1993, nor a license since 1998. Guess you could say I'm committed.
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Old 05-26-20, 07:13 PM
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There are some excellent, helpful (and not so helpful) comments in here.

I am working on the "commitment," aspect and taking it day by day. It was much easier when I lived in a dense metropolitan area!
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