Challenge: a Week Without Driving
#1
Happy banana slug
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
Challenge: a Week Without Driving
October 2 - 8, one week, no driving. https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/p...ymobility/wwd/
Our local transportation advocacy group is going to get something going in our area, especially with our local government officials. How about you?
Our local transportation advocacy group is going to get something going in our area, especially with our local government officials. How about you?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
October 2 - 8, one week, no driving. https://www.disabilityrightswa.org/p...ymobility/wwd/
Our local transportation advocacy group is going to get something going in our area, especially with our local government officials. How about you?
Our local transportation advocacy group is going to get something going in our area, especially with our local government officials. How about you?
Roughly 20 years ago, I came home from overseas landing on July 4th. Given the timing, and wanting to celebrate I decided to declare independence from OPEC. The plan was to do it for a month, including commuting 6+ miles each way. That went so well, that I extended it through the summer, than until Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then until weather made miserable. That year we had a mile winter, and soon it was March, and having made it through winter, I saw no reason to stop. Ultimately it lasted 9 years until I retired.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#3
Happy banana slug
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
Good for you! (I've never owned a car; 95% of my transport needs are supplied by boots, bike, and bus pass. Hubby's econobox covers the rest.)
The rules of the challenge are basically that you can get around any way you want, including ride hail and rides from friends, but:
The rules of the challenge are basically that you can get around any way you want, including ride hail and rides from friends, but:
... make a note of how much you “owe” this person in their time, and if you felt obligated to support them in other ways (ie, doing all the dishes). You can use ride hail or taxis if they exist where you need to go, but again, think about how the cost could impact your decision to take this trip if this was regularly your only option.
Be careful here.
Roughly 20 years ago, I came home from overseas landing on July 4th. Given the timing, and wanting to celebrate I decided to declare independence from OPEC. The plan was to do it for a month, including commuting 6+ miles each way. That went so well, that I extended it through the summer, than until Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then until weather made miserable. That year we had a mile winter, and soon it was March, and having made it through winter, I saw no reason to stop. Ultimately it lasted 9 years until I retired.
Roughly 20 years ago, I came home from overseas landing on July 4th. Given the timing, and wanting to celebrate I decided to declare independence from OPEC. The plan was to do it for a month, including commuting 6+ miles each way. That went so well, that I extended it through the summer, than until Halloween, then Thanksgiving, then until weather made miserable. That year we had a mile winter, and soon it was March, and having made it through winter, I saw no reason to stop. Ultimately it lasted 9 years until I retired.
Likes For Korina:
#4
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
40 Posts
Yes, it it is easier to be car free, and bike about or walk about, than it is to try and wean yourself off a car while you have one. I lived almost exclusively in small towns, especially small college towns, and never needed a car.
#5
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,978
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
It is also easier to be "car-free", when a spouse, partner, roommate or friend can be counted on to use their motor vehicle to cover whatever chores, shopping or transportation requirements that cannot be supplied conveniently by the "car-free" person's boots, bike, and bus pass.
Likes For I-Like-To-Bike:
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
My average mileage/year since 2016 is going to be right around 3,000, up from mid-2000s, thanks to the bikeable office being closed and me driving about 34 miles round trip to work. I have also had to do more shopping by car since my illness, but that is changing. Maybe I'll be able to go on your again by the week of 10/2. That would certainly be something to shoot for.
#7
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,947
Bikes: Trek 1100 road bike, Roadmaster gravel/commuter/beater mountain bike
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2281 Post(s)
Liked 1,710 Times
in
936 Posts
I live in a small rural town about 20 miles from anywhere, so not able to go car free. There is zero public transportation and the nearest Uber is 30 miles away.
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,947
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3777 Post(s)
Liked 1,048 Times
in
792 Posts
I usually go well over a month between filling my gas tank and many times it's still about 3/4 full. I do wonder if it's worth keeping, because of the other expenses, especially insurance.
#9
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
40 Posts
It is also easier to be "car-free", when a spouse, partner, roommate or friend can be counted on to use their motor vehicle to cover whatever chores, shopping or transportation requirements that cannot be supplied conveniently by the "car-free" person's boots, bike, and bus pass.
#10
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Middle Earth (aka IA)
Posts: 20,435
Bikes: A bunch of old bikes and a few new ones
Mentioned: 178 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5888 Post(s)
Liked 3,471 Times
in
2,079 Posts
It's time for me to start riding to work again. Winters can be a challenge but doable. Grocery shopping is also a challenge but again doable.
#11
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
40 Posts
Doable…..
I found that bike shopping for groceries made me have a healthier diet as well. Bulky junk food gave way to vegetables and fruit. It is tricky and things like milk are heavy and ice cream is out if the question. Or is it? 🤣
#12
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,947
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3777 Post(s)
Liked 1,048 Times
in
792 Posts
It is also easier to be "car-free", when a spouse, partner, roommate or friend can be counted on to use their motor vehicle to cover whatever chores, shopping or transportation requirements that cannot be supplied conveniently by the "car-free" person's boots, bike, and bus pass.
BTW, all the kids are gone now, but we do have two cars, because I had to get an old pick-up truck to haul stuff; however, I hardly use that truck and I'm thinking of ways to rent a vehicle so I can dump the truck.
.
#13
Happy banana slug
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
It is also easier to be "car-free", when a spouse, partner, roommate or friend can be counted on to use their motor vehicle to cover whatever chores, shopping or transportation requirements that cannot be supplied conveniently by the "car-free" person's boots, bike, and bus pass.
#14
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,978
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
However, we were abnormal for the typical American family by only having one car for a household of two adults and 3 children. If more people did that, imagine the amount of fuel saved, as just one example. From the mid-80's to 2018 we were a one-car family.
BTW, all the kids are gone now, but we do have two cars, because I had to get an old...
BTW, all the kids are gone now, but we do have two cars, because I had to get an old...
#15
Been Around Awhile
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Burlington Iowa
Posts: 29,978
Bikes: Vaterland and Ragazzi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 12 Post(s)
Liked 1,538 Times
in
1,047 Posts
I think this type of challenge is similar to previous one week boycots of gas stations to protest the price of gasoline. Innefective and unlikely to change anybody's behavior in the long run.
Likes For DonkeyShow:
#17
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
40 Posts
Different interpretation..,
It reminds me more of the Great American Smokeout. I think the point is to get folks to give thoughts about cycling/walking vs short car trips a fair shake. The destruction of neighborhoods/communities in recent decades makes this a much greater challenge than it would have been, say in the 1950s. But it is a good start.
#18
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Atlantic Beach Florida
Posts: 1,947
Mentioned: 18 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3777 Post(s)
Liked 1,048 Times
in
792 Posts
If more people owned only one vehicle, rather than multiple vehicles, but still used that vehicle to drive the same annual mileage there would be zero fuel saved, especially if the single vehicle had to fulfill multiple transportation roles for a family such as towing, hauling stuff, transporting family for trips, commuting,etc.
#19
Punk Rock Lives
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Throughout the west in a van, on my bike, and in the forest
Posts: 3,305
Bikes: Long Haul Trucker with BRIFTERS!
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 119 Post(s)
Liked 46 Times
in
40 Posts
I just wish people would realize that INDIVIDUALLY, they can use multimodal as well. Walking, biking, ride sharing, and busses make sense of in a lot of places. If consciousness raising was focused on health and wealth benefits, it would be far more effective.
Last edited by Roughstuff; 06-28-23 at 01:08 PM.
Likes For Roughstuff:
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
I have a bit of an issue with challenges like this and the implied virtue signalling. Everyone has his own unique situation, and circumstances. It might relate to geography, ie. distance and terrain, schedule, family responsibilities, health or physical condition, economic considerations, and so on. We arrange our lives as best we can based on that and that may or may not include going car free (even for a day).
As I posted earlier I went car free spanning 10 years, but it wasn't especially difficult. I'd been a lifelong recreational cyclist since I was 16, live in an area where the riding is pretty decent, owned my own business, so getting to work wet or sweaty wasn't an issue, have no children to ferry around, and where I live is not far off from what approximates a 15 minute city.
Over the years, people would congratulate me for how I take care of my health, or while car free for doing so. I always clarify that I don't ride for health, or out of some sense of social awareness. I RIDE BECAUSE I ENJOY RIDING and everything else is an unintended benefit. I say this because I feel that people should have maximum freedom to arrange their lives as nest suits them, without pressure to be "good". Hopefully they will, but it should come from within, not from a sense of obligation.
As I posted earlier I went car free spanning 10 years, but it wasn't especially difficult. I'd been a lifelong recreational cyclist since I was 16, live in an area where the riding is pretty decent, owned my own business, so getting to work wet or sweaty wasn't an issue, have no children to ferry around, and where I live is not far off from what approximates a 15 minute city.
Over the years, people would congratulate me for how I take care of my health, or while car free for doing so. I always clarify that I don't ride for health, or out of some sense of social awareness. I RIDE BECAUSE I ENJOY RIDING and everything else is an unintended benefit. I say this because I feel that people should have maximum freedom to arrange their lives as nest suits them, without pressure to be "good". Hopefully they will, but it should come from within, not from a sense of obligation.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
Last edited by FBinNY; 06-28-23 at 03:43 PM.
Likes For FBinNY:
#21
Happy banana slug
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
@FBinNY, did you notice that it's sponsored by Disability Rights Washington?
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,725
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5793 Post(s)
Liked 2,585 Times
in
1,433 Posts
Yes, but I focused on the message rather than the messenger. And, since this is a cycling forum, I focused on that aspect.
FWIW I find the attempt to connect folks who can't afford cars and those physically unable to drive kind of forced.
FWIW I find the attempt to connect folks who can't afford cars and those physically unable to drive kind of forced.
Likes For FBinNY:
#23
Along for the ride
Join Date: Dec 2022
Location: PNW US
Posts: 235
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 109 Post(s)
Liked 212 Times
in
107 Posts
If more people owned only one vehicle, rather than multiple vehicles, but still used that vehicle to drive the same annual mileage there would be zero fuel saved, especially if the single vehicle had to fulfill multiple transportation roles for a family such as towing, hauling stuff, transporting family for trips, commuting, etc.
Even if the miles are a wash, though, there's no doubt that when we've been in this situation it has caused us to be *much* more conscious of our trips in terms of optimizing them as much as possible. Plus reducing the demand for production of another vehicle is a net positive.
Likes For retswerb:
#24
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 39,254
Mentioned: 211 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18424 Post(s)
Liked 15,579 Times
in
7,337 Posts
Even if the miles are a wash, though, there's no doubt that when we've been in this situation it has caused us to be *much* more conscious of our trips in terms of optimizing them as much as possible. Plus reducing the demand for production of another vehicle is a net positive.
Thanks to a change in my work location and an illness from which I am still recovering, I have become much more car dependent. What I have done in response is to figure out how to combine trips, often during lunch. Just today I combined a trip to a nearby big box grocery store for some things and picked up a bag of mulch at a Home Depot located in the same shopping center. Those are errand that I would have normally made on a weekend via a totally separate car trip.
#25
Happy banana slug
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Arcata, California, U.S., North America, Earth, Saggitarius Arm, Milky Way
Posts: 3,696
Bikes: 1984 Araya MB 261, 1992 Specialized Rockhopper Sport, 1993 Hard Rock Ultra, 1994 Trek Multitrack 750, 1995 Trek Singletrack 930
Mentioned: 31 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1533 Post(s)
Liked 1,530 Times
in
917 Posts
Thanks, @indyfabz. I hope you recover completely. The challenge is also about getting drivers to think about how other people who, for whatever reason, don't drive, get around their community. What's good, what's bad, and how it can be improved. And if they discover that occasionally leaving the car at home isn't the horrifying nightmare they imagine, all the better!