Anyone made a commitment to live car free?
#1
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Thread Starter
Anyone made a commitment to live car free?
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?
#2
~>~
No, although I have commuted a good many miles over decades by bicycle I live in the real world where such "commitments" are just simply hair-shirted nonsense.
Why not just ride when practical and not make some big deal out of it when it isn't as will happen and "commit" yourself to being at work on time and getting the groceries home.
-Bandera
Why not just ride when practical and not make some big deal out of it when it isn't as will happen and "commit" yourself to being at work on time and getting the groceries home.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 06-13-19 at 07:24 PM.
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#3
Full Member
Thread Starter
I’ve done that before, and riding to work was very enjoyable. I’d like to kick it up a notch, and ride everyday, regardless of weather. This means riding through snow, cold weather, and rain. Making it a goal seems like something I can work toward.
#4
~>~
Good luck with that, have fun and use common sense.
How bad could that be, and you won't need a Hair-Shirt but full fenders are a good idea.
BTW: If you ride over to St. Paul stop in at "Grand Performance" bike shop to chat w/ the owner Dan.
Aside from being a former US National Hour Record holder he knows more about commuting in your environment, how to equip, enjoy and survive in it year 'round than about anyone in MN.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 06-13-19 at 03:28 PM.
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I ride to work two-three times a week. I ride my scooter the other days. I haven't owned a car since 2005. For back up, I ride public transportation, uber, or rent a car.
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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?
I became car free for about 6 years when my then-husband's vehicle was totalled in an accident.
I was already car light at that point ... cycling to/from work, taking the bus to uni, walking to shops etc. so it wasn't much of a change.
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#7
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When I started commuting to work I made a commitment to myself that I would ride everyday I could, however as part of that I also allowed myself to uber / taxi / take my own car once per month on average for the days where that just wasn't possible. It was great, I initially thought I had underestimated how often I'd need to use my get out of jail free card, but after twelve months when I reassessed how I was going I realised I'd only needed to use it about six times in the year, so on average once every two months.
Everyone's circumstances are different in terms of commute length, nature of the commute, access to other transport means and lifestyle aspirations etc etc, but having such a commitment can be quite a motivating factor. If you allow yourself the occasional out, you won't feel so guilty about using it, and might find that you can more easily sustain your car free(-ish) status.
Everyone's circumstances are different in terms of commute length, nature of the commute, access to other transport means and lifestyle aspirations etc etc, but having such a commitment can be quite a motivating factor. If you allow yourself the occasional out, you won't feel so guilty about using it, and might find that you can more easily sustain your car free(-ish) status.
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I commuted without using a car for the better part of a decade, and over time, started doing many other tasks (small grocery runs, going out, etc.) without the car. My significant other had already quit driving, and since I rarely used the car, I sold it in March 2014. I bought a bicycle that was better suited to winters in western Wisconsin and a trailer.
Not using the car and then getting rid of it entirely was not a commitment so much as something that seemed reasonable for my household. I like cycling, and riding for everything rather than just commuting was not a big lifestyle change. Getting to work and getting the groceries was doable and even easy by bike; I've only used a backup a handful of times.
Circumstances change, and I'll be getting a vehicle (probably a large van) this summer. I still plan to do most everything by bike, but circumstances now warrant having an available vehicle as well.
Not using the car and then getting rid of it entirely was not a commitment so much as something that seemed reasonable for my household. I like cycling, and riding for everything rather than just commuting was not a big lifestyle change. Getting to work and getting the groceries was doable and even easy by bike; I've only used a backup a handful of times.
Circumstances change, and I'll be getting a vehicle (probably a large van) this summer. I still plan to do most everything by bike, but circumstances now warrant having an available vehicle as well.
#9
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When I started commuting to work I made a commitment to myself that I would ride everyday I could, however as part of that I also allowed myself to uber / taxi / take my own car once per month on average for the days where that just wasn't possible. It was great, I initially thought I had underestimated how often I'd need to use my get out of jail free card, but after twelve months when I reassessed how I was going I realised I'd only needed to use it about six times in the year, so on average once every two months.
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Anyone made a commitment to live car free?
I have previously posted,
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?
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?
No, although I have commuted a good many miles over decades by bicycle I live in the real world where such "commitments" are just simply hair-shirted nonsense.
I think we can agree that LCF, as discussed above is mostly a lifestyle choice (excepting circumstances like poverty, revocation of driver’s license…).
When I was asked while living in Boston a few years before starting my career ,“Where would you like to live?.” my criteria were living near a big body of water, and the ability to live without a car as I had been much of my earlier two-plus decades; and I was already an avid cyclist….
I learned to love the water from the Great Lakes in [my native] Michigan, and the Atlantic Ocean in Boston. I vaguely considered my ambition not as “Car Free," per se, but a lifestyle choice. Through certain life circumstances I was already primed to be Car Free.
Fortunately I found a happy career here in Boston, and Living Car Free then became easy.
When I was asked while living in Boston a few years before starting my career ,“Where would you like to live?.” my criteria were living near a big body of water, and the ability to live without a car as I had been much of my earlier two-plus decades; and I was already an avid cyclist….
I learned to love the water from the Great Lakes in [my native] Michigan, and the Atlantic Ocean in Boston. I vaguely considered my ambition not as “Car Free," per se, but a lifestyle choice. Through certain life circumstances I was already primed to be Car Free.
Fortunately I found a happy career here in Boston, and Living Car Free then became easy.
Last edited by Jim from Boston; 06-14-19 at 06:02 PM.
#11
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I'm not car free nor really that close to it, but I do commute to work every day of the year by bike, so in that sense I am car free.
I don't think of it so much as a commitment, but a lifestyle choice I made years ago and now it is just second nature. I have a perfectly good car in the driveway, but I never consider it a way to get to work (unless I inure myself playing basketball or something).
I don't think of it so much as a commitment, but a lifestyle choice I made years ago and now it is just second nature. I have a perfectly good car in the driveway, but I never consider it a way to get to work (unless I inure myself playing basketball or something).
#12
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Just FYI...
It would be nice to have a safety net of some sort for days where you just don't feel great. I have done it two ways:
1) I had a motorcycle at hand even tho I rarely used it to get to work. Public transport options would be helpful as well.
2) I got a job that was VERY understanding and able to live with me being late, leaving early, or just staying home due to weather now and then. I was late a few times and don't think I stayed home more than once or twice a year.
It sure took a lot of pressure off of me to have 1) and/or 2) in my back pocket. Pressure creates stress. Stress creates fatigue. Fatigue is not helpful to biking 20 miles a day, five days a week.
Cheers! And good luck however you do it.
It would be nice to have a safety net of some sort for days where you just don't feel great. I have done it two ways:
1) I had a motorcycle at hand even tho I rarely used it to get to work. Public transport options would be helpful as well.
2) I got a job that was VERY understanding and able to live with me being late, leaving early, or just staying home due to weather now and then. I was late a few times and don't think I stayed home more than once or twice a year.
It sure took a lot of pressure off of me to have 1) and/or 2) in my back pocket. Pressure creates stress. Stress creates fatigue. Fatigue is not helpful to biking 20 miles a day, five days a week.
Cheers! And good luck however you do it.
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1. Not a commitment, I haven't been able to afford to drive since 2006.
2. Eight bikes are about as expensive over time.
3. Nobody is giving away a 1972 Plymouth 340 Duster like that fully restored 1973 Challenger that golfer won and gave to his caddy (that would be my best friend for life).
2. Eight bikes are about as expensive over time.
3. Nobody is giving away a 1972 Plymouth 340 Duster like that fully restored 1973 Challenger that golfer won and gave to his caddy (that would be my best friend for life).
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#14
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No car since '96.
Living car-free is easy in NYC so kudos to those who do it in car-centric cities.
I have car sharing, such as Zip Car for when I need to haul used furniture from Craigslist.
Other than that, even with the availability of cheap yellow cabs, Lyft, Uber, Juno, Via, etc, I will ride my bike rain or shine 365 days a year as long as there is traction.
New York is good about clearing out the snow immediately after snow storms so I only miss riding one or two days a year.
I really hate driving and so I will do my best to never get a car again.
Living car-free is easy in NYC so kudos to those who do it in car-centric cities.
I have car sharing, such as Zip Car for when I need to haul used furniture from Craigslist.
Other than that, even with the availability of cheap yellow cabs, Lyft, Uber, Juno, Via, etc, I will ride my bike rain or shine 365 days a year as long as there is traction.
New York is good about clearing out the snow immediately after snow storms so I only miss riding one or two days a year.
I really hate driving and so I will do my best to never get a car again.
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Everything is like 40 or 60 miles out one way and 200 the other. Even the cows want a Studebaker.
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#16
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Wow, such angry. What is wrong with someone making a commitment to themselves regarding something they want to accomplish? It's almost as if you have some need to tell others what they should consider important. You're not one of those people, are you?
Last edited by cooker; 06-19-19 at 03:00 PM.
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#17
~>~
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Why not just ride when practical and not make some big deal out of it when it isn't as will happen and "commit" yourself to being at work on time and getting the groceries home.
BTW: Where's your recommendation for the OP on who to get with in the Twin Cities for actual experience in the nitty gritty of commuter survival in his challenging local environment, or is the Real World not part of your role as self appointed LCF Monitor of Content and Self Righteous Indignation?
Enjoy wearing that Hair Shirt while sanctimoniously posting, I'll just get on with riding the bike as I choose to and post on LCF as I choose to also.
-Bandera
Last edited by Bandera; 06-19-19 at 07:33 PM.
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I've gone for literally years between times I drove into work. You don't need a resolution or "commitment" to do that, you just do it.
That's not really the hard part of going completely car-free though. The grocery grind, having to schedule the formerly trivial errands, the limitations in your range, those are the harder parts.
That's not really the hard part of going completely car-free though. The grocery grind, having to schedule the formerly trivial errands, the limitations in your range, those are the harder parts.
#19
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Oh man I wish that was the case for me. Where I'm from is pretty high taxing, even compared to other parts of Australia so I assume it's cheaper in the states, but I've calculated that I'm spending about $2000 Australian which is like $1400 US per year on just getting my car on the road, and that's before outlay for the car and the petrol to make it run. In the 13 years since 2006 that you've been car free I'd have spent about $18200 just in those basic costs, which is about $2275 per bike!
#20
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Did it for 13 years. State of Ohio made a decision that put me out of business. Didn't particularly want to keep living that way after that.
#21
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Oh man I wish that was the case for me. Where I'm from is pretty high taxing, even compared to other parts of Australia so I assume it's cheaper in the states, but I've calculated that I'm spending about $2000 Australian which is like $1400 US per year on just getting my car on the road, and that's before outlay for the car and the petrol to make it run. In the 13 years since 2006 that you've been car free I'd have spent about $18200 just in those basic costs, which is about $2275 per bike!
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Yes, implicitly in where I live... probably the only place in the US where it's easier to be car free than not.
The irony is lately I've been thinking about driving again, because I keep learning about interesting rides I'd like to do that are not reachable by train.
The irony is lately I've been thinking about driving again, because I keep learning about interesting rides I'd like to do that are not reachable by train.
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Really? When I was young and had a social life, I lived in a city with limited parking. Cycling was actually faster, by the time I'd have to sit in traffic and then drive around looking for parking. As a young woman, it was also safer - I could park right outside venues, rather than walking half a mile in the dark and taking the risk of getting mugged on the way or carjacked upon return to my vehicle.
Granted, times may have changed a bit. I have an extremely difficult time these days convincing teenagers and young adults that going places by bike is really quite easy, and is often faster and safer than driving.
Granted, times may have changed a bit. I have an extremely difficult time these days convincing teenagers and young adults that going places by bike is really quite easy, and is often faster and safer than driving.
#24
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Do you wonder why that is the case? Just how many teenagers and young adults have you convinced and/or converted?
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I do, however, wonder why teenagers and young adults are resistant to giving other transportation methods a try, including cycling as well as walking and transit. I have observed the following among individuals in this demographic whom I personally know: driving without a license to destinations less than a mile away; missing school due to lack of a car (although several buses conveniently service the school); and running out of money for food in order to pay for Uber rides to destinations serviced by transit and/or less than a mile away. Again, I do not judge peoples' lifestyle choices, as I prefer they not judge mine. I simply find some choices odd.
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