Anyone made a commitment to live car free?
#51
Full Member
Thread Starter
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.
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.
#52
meh
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Hopkins, MN
Posts: 4,700
Bikes: 23 Cutthroat, 21 CoMotion Java; 21 Bianchi Infinito; 15 Surly Pugsley; 11 Globe Daily; 09 Kona Dew Drop; 96 Mondonico
Mentioned: 22 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1109 Post(s)
Liked 1,011 Times
in
518 Posts
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.
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.
#53
Newbie
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.
Likes For alpharalpha:
Likes For Lucillle:
#55
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,150
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
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....
Likes For Digger Goreman:
#56
Junior Member
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?
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?
My 2010 Cannondale Quick
Likes For Steve06119:
#57
Full Member
Thread Starter
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!
Likes For Alligator:
#58
Junior Member
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!
#59
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,655
Bikes: iele Latina, Miele Suprema, Miele Uno LS, Miele Miele Beta, MMTB, Bianchi Model Unknown, Fiori Venezia, Fiori Napoli, VeloSport Adamas AX
Mentioned: 16 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1324 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
640 Posts
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
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
Likes For Miele Man:
#60
Member
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.
Likes For PDXCarless:
#61
Junior Member
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.
#62
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 18
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 6 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times
in
3 Posts
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.
#63
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oceanside, California
Posts: 27
Bikes: Gunnar Roadie SS, Colnago C40 B-Stay Mapei, 2013 Greg Lemond Commemorative TDF 90 (#55 of 100), 1992 Greg Lemond Team Z, Dario Pegoretti Marcelo "Why Not?", (2) x Zunow Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
5 Posts
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?
- 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?
#64
Member
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?
- 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?
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.
Likes For PDXCarless:
#65
Prefers Cicero
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.
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.
#66
Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: Oceanside, California
Posts: 27
Bikes: Gunnar Roadie SS, Colnago C40 B-Stay Mapei, 2013 Greg Lemond Commemorative TDF 90 (#55 of 100), 1992 Greg Lemond Team Z, Dario Pegoretti Marcelo "Why Not?", (2) x Zunow Road Bike
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 10 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 11 Times
in
5 Posts
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.
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
#68
Quidam Bike Super Hero
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Stone Mountain, GA (Metro Atlanta, East)
Posts: 1,150
Bikes: 1995 Trek 800 Sport, aka, "CamelTrek"
Mentioned: 2 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 331 Post(s)
Liked 415 Times
in
282 Posts
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!
Different when you share your world with another... but not willing to change that!
#70
Fxxxxr
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: falfurrias texas
Posts: 993
Bikes: wabi classic (stolen & recovered)
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2668 Post(s)
Liked 1,144 Times
in
869 Posts
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)
__________________
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
Nothing is true---everything is permitted
#72
Full Member
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.
#73
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Alabama
Posts: 519
Bikes: Konas: Jake the Snake-Fire Mountain-Zing Supreme, Dew Deluxe,Zone Ltd. (frame, needs parts), Surly Long Haul Trucker, Santana Arriva tandem, Montagues: Paratrooper-Fit, Trek 1200, Bianchi Ocelot, Fantom Cross Uno, Bridgestone 200
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 108 Post(s)
Liked 227 Times
in
122 Posts
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.
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.
Likes For SuperDave:
#75
Junior Member
Join Date: May 2020
Posts: 14
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 1 Time
in
1 Post
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!
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!