I recently posted to this thread,
Originally Posted by
BobbyG
…I realize that some people are in situations that precludes car ownership, and I sympathize with them.
Others have made a decision to live car-free and I admire that kind of commitment if it doesn't negatively impact their families.
Time, weather, distance local topography and cargo and passenger-carrying ability, funk and mess..for a truly car-free life these require the kind of committment I am not willing to make, and fortunately, I don't have to.
But I am willing, able and eager to bike to work and back. It is a great joy, and yields the level of fitness I desire to enjoy life and be healthy enough to be there for my family.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
Nice summary @
BobbyG, and
very similar to my preferences and situation.
Similarly as I replied to @BobbyG, I see similarities with my situation and @Steely Dan
Originally Posted by
Steely Dan
I was a city-living car-free bachelor for most of my 20s and early 30s.
Then I met the woman of my dreams, and she came bundled with a car.
Now we have two young children, and our car is ABSOLUTELY very useful at times, especially for frequent family trips up to Milwaukee to visit my wife's parents and sisters.
But my bike commuting, along with living in a walkable city neighborhood very close to multiple bus and train transit lines, helps keep us a one-car family.
I don't see us getting rid of our car, especially because our 3-flat unit came with a deeded off-street parking space, thus removing one of the biggest annoyances of owning a car in the city: where to park the damn thing. But it is my hope to continue the one-car family thing for as long as possible (ideally forever).
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
…However,
Boston City Proper is quite amenable to a car-free, and detrimental to a car-intense lifestyle.
Though I have a 14 mile one-way
pleasant commute to the suburbs,
I also have very convenient Commuter Rail at the start and finish ends, and can even take my bike on board, as a reverse commuter.
Originally Posted by
Jim from Boston
I have posted that I consider myself (seriously) Car-Lite…It’s my wife’s car and I use it sparingly at her convenience, though I’m the major breadwinner.
A new twist is that our adult son who lives in our building recently bought a car, mainly for his weekday job, So now with three drivers (not including the daughter) we share two cars, me the lowest priority since I don’t have one.
I mostly commute by bike (14 miles) and convenient commuter rail, and nearly always use the car only on weekends when the Commuter Rail schedule is reduced and family activities frequent.
We live in an area with tight parking restrictions. nearly entirely two-hour metered parking, except on Sundays and Holidays, from 8 AM to 6 PM; many residential-only spots with vigorous enforcement; and only one block in this high-density residental and commercial neighborhood with time-unlimited parking with a residential sticker.
We do own one deeded full-time unlimited parking space, that our son sometime uses. Our car is an SUV and more utilitarian than his sedan so we also share according to the purpose of the trip.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 01-26-20 at 04:22 PM.